Getting to New York State
Most visitors arrive through the three big downstate airports or by train into the city, but upstate has its own regional airports and the Thruway ties the state together. How you arrive depends on whether you are headed for the city, the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes, or Niagara.
Airports
The three major gateways are downstate and run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark Liberty (EWR) just across the river. They have the widest flight networks and the most ground-transport options into New York City.
Upstate has its own regional airports that are far closer to inland destinations: Albany (ALB) for the Capital Region, Buffalo Niagara (BUF) for Niagara and the west, Syracuse (SYR) for central New York and the Finger Lakes, and Rochester (ROC). Flying into the nearest regional airport often beats landing in the city and driving for hours.
Arriving by train
Amtrak's Empire Service runs up the Hudson from New York City's Penn Station to Albany, then west toward Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls; the Adirondack and Ethan Allen routes branch north toward the mountains and Vermont. It is a scenic, car-free way to reach the Hudson Valley and the upstate cities.
Within the New York City orbit, Metro-North reaches the lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut, and the Long Island Rail Road reaches Long Island, both from Grand Central and Penn Station. Confirm current schedules and fares on the official Amtrak and MTA sites before traveling.
Driving in
The New York State Thruway is the backbone for drivers: I-87 runs north from the city up to Albany and on toward the Adirondacks, and I-90 runs west from Albany across to Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. It is a toll road, so set up or check toll payment before a long drive.
A car is the most flexible way to reach the Adirondacks, the Catskills, the Finger Lakes, and small towns that rail does not serve. In and immediately around New York City, though, a car is usually a liability rather than a help. Check current road conditions on the state's 511NY service when timing a drive.
Reviewed source trail
- Port Authority of NY & NJ — JFK, LaGuardia, Newark airports — checked 2026-06-16
- Amtrak — Empire Service and New York routes — checked 2026-06-16
- MTA — Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road — checked 2026-06-16
- New York State Thruway Authority — checked 2026-06-16
- 511NY — New York State travel information — checked 2026-06-16