Top five last-minute road trips for fall break
Five road trips for fall break
Leave your books behind and hit the road for the long weekend.
With the upcoming fall break around the corner, Syracuse students have just enough time to plan a getaway. The break, which spans from Saturday, Oct. 7 through the 10, is the perfect opportunity for Syracuse students to explore a new city for a couple days in New York state or beyond.
If you’re currently looking for ways to spend the long weekend, grab some friends (preferably one with a car) and start planning your last-minute road trip now.
Here is a list of five potential road trip ideas:
Ellicottville, New York
Approximate Travel Time: Two Hours, 57 Minutes | 193 Miles
Ellicottville, a village in Western New York, will be hosting its Fall Festival from Oct. 7 to the 8. The weekend festival is a perfect opportunity for those who enjoy the fall season and all the festivities it has to offer!
Trevor Croff, a SU senior studying public health, will be spending his fall break exploring all that the festival has to offer.
“It’s a pretty stereotypical craft fest by day,” he said. “There’s food vendors, craft vendors, clothing vendors. The village is lined in boutiques and then there is a large music festival on top of the main ski lodge.”
Vendors will serve food and drinks and there will be live musical performances. “It’s pretty much just like a celebration of fall,” said Croff. The day festival is the perfect way to spend a long fall weekend.
Adirondack Mountains, Broadalbin, New York
Approximate Travel Time: One Hour, 57 Minutes | 119 Miles
Broadalbin, a town partially situated in Adirondack Park, offers the perfect destination for students looking for a fall break spent outdoors.
Emma Fraiser, a freshman biology student, is road tripping back home for fall break. “I live near the Adirondacks, there are nice hiking trails and there’s a lot of events on the lake [Great Sacandaga Lake] and nice restaurants on the lake as well, so I usually go there,” Fraiser said.
The Adirondack Mountains and the Adirondack Park are the main attractions in the city. The region provides a plethora of trails to explore, as well as lakeside activities and restaurants. The town and its location on Adirondack Park provides the ideal trip for those who enjoy outdoor recreation.
For more activities in the Adirondacks, visit the park’s 46 Fall Things To Do list.
Niagara Falls, New York
Approximate Travel Time: Two Hours, 31 Minutes | 162 Miles
Niagara Falls, New York is home to the popular tourist attraction, Niagara Falls. The waterfall attraction shares a border with Canada and is the perfect fall break destination for sightseeing and adventure.
Samantha Deffé, a junior anthropology and forensic science student, is spending her break road tripping to the falls to visit a friend. Then, she will be crossing the border to visit Canada.
On both the New York and Canadian side of the falls, there are boat tours and scenic viewpoints. The New York side of the falls is home to Niagara Falls State Park, which features several acres of trails, a garden and other attractions.
Montreal, Quebec
Approximate Travel Time: Four Hours | 252 Miles
Montreal, a city in the province of Quebec, is known for being one of the largest cities in Canada and home to several tourist attractions.
Nicolas Perez, a Syracuse native and senior studying international relations and Spanish, said he went to Montreal with a few friends last year.
“We went to a few museums,” Perez said. “We walked around the city and did the most touristy things.”
Montreal has several attractions to offer visitors including Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden, Parc la Fontaine, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and more.
Portland, Maine
Approximate Travel Time: Six Hours, 37 Minutes | 411 Miles
Portland, Maine is a port city known for its coastal scenery which includes waterfront views, fishing wharves, a lighthouse and more. The city is the perfect destination for students looking for a peaceful and scenic fall break spent by the water.
Brshna Sultan, a junior studying business analytics and supply chain management, is spending her fall break in Maine exploring the city with friends.
“My friends and I are going for two days and we’re planning to see the lighthouse and spend time by the water,” Sultan said. “Hopefully we check out some of the other stuff in the city.”
In addition to the activities Portland has to offer as a coastal city, the city also has many historical landmarks like the Portland Observatory Museum, Portland Museum of Art, the Old Port and more!
Pick your vacation, pack your bags, fill your gas tanks and go!
is a digital editor for The NewsHouse majoring in sociology and newspaper journalism.