Summer is one of the best times to explore the Buffalo area. This part of the state has so much to offer – from beautiful parks to amazing waterways, great hiking, and so much more. So to help you get your bucket list going, here are 10 of some of the best day trips in Buffalo to take during the summer.

1. Stony Brook State Park (Dansville)
Stony Brook State Park, Dansville, NY 14437, USA
Sarah A / TripAvisor
Stony Brook State Park is about an hour and a half from Buffalo. The best part? It's got the wonderful Gorge Trail. The route is a 0.75-mile hike leading to an incredible spring-fed pool. The walk passes three waterfalls along the way, before ultimately leading to the dreamiest swimming hole in all the land!
2. Route 20 Scenic Drive
U.S. 20, US-20, United States
dougtone / Flickr
Route 20 Scenic Drive is the longest federal highway in America, but Buffalo is close to some of the most beautiful portions of the drive. Load up the car and merge onto it just outside of Buffalo. It'll provide tons of rural beauty and allow you to see some charming little agriculture towns. The route travels through New York from east to west and includes a few fun roadside attractions and unique things to do around New York, including seeing life-size dinosaur statues!
3. Secret Caverns (Howes Cave)
Secret Caverns, 671 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092, USA
roji65 / TripAdvisor
With a 3.5-hour drive, the trip to Secret Caverns is a bit more ambitious than the others on this list, but it's well worth it! The cave was discovered in 1928 and features an underground waterfall. It's simply magical. Once you've seen the cave, explore the area more for some of the other caves nearby.
4. The Anna Mae Bacon Bird Sanctuary (Hamburg)
Anna Mae Bacon Bird Sanctuary, 1-85 NY-391, Hamburg, NY 14075, USA
tcd123 / Flickr
This beautiful nature sanctuary offers more than six acres of lovely creekside views. It's named after Anna Mae Bacon Bird Sanctuary, a Hamburg High School teacher who, along with her husband, owned a part of the property. Known as the "Bird Lady of Hamburg," Bacon rehabilitated birds, often bringing them back to a level of health they may not have seen without her. Today it's a stunning place to enjoy bird species that might surprise you!
5. Tonawanda
Tonawanda, NY 14150, USA
gleepy / Flickr
There are many small towns you can visit outside of Buffalo, but Tonawanda is a gem on a beautiful day. Enjoy the water, have a meal, and remember why you're lucky to live in western New York. If you're searching for "getaway spots near me," be sure that Tonawanda is on your list!

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6. Darien Lake Theme Park (Darien Center)
Darien Lakes State Park, 10475 Harlow Rd, Darien Center, NY 14040, USA
Darien Lake Theme Park / Facebook
This fun amusement park is just 34 miles from Buffalo, making it far enough away to feel like a special trip, but close enough to do it in just one day. In addition to the rollercoasters, you just might be able to catch a show at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center! They're located at 9993 Alleghany Rd., Darien Center.
7. Panama Rocks Scenic Park (Panama)
Panama Rocks Scenic Park, 11 Rock Hill Rd, Panama, NY 14767, USA
management / TripAdvisor
Panama Rocks Scenic Park is located just 85 miles from Buffalo, making it a pleasant drive that leads to a park that you can easily spend the whole day exploring. The history of the rock formations that make this part feel so otherworldly date back about 400 to 350 million years to the Devonian period., and the landscape here is simply stunning!
8. Woodlawn Beach State Park (Blasdell)
Solé at Woodlawn Beach, 3580 Lake Shore Rd, Blasdell, NY 14219, USA
Woodlawn Beach Tiki Bar / Facebook
Located in the town of Blasdell along the shores of Lake Erie, Woodlawn Beach State Park is an underrated beach offering the same sandy experience as you'd get on a beach touching the ocean. It has a mile-long stretch of sandy shore with incredible views of the city. Stay all day to enjoy the sunset overlooking the lake.
9. Amherst State Park (Williamsville)
Amherst State Park, 390 Mill St, Buffalo, NY 14221, USA
Joshua H / TripAdvisor
While this park is a great way to get out of the city without traveling too far, what we love most is the Glen Falls Trail Loop. The 1.4-mile trail will take you to Glen Falls, a 27-foot-tall waterfall tumbling over the Onondaga Escarpment. It's a beauty and only 15 miles from downtown.
10. The Buffalo Museum of Science
Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14211, USA
management / TripAdvisor
From ancient artifacts to the Bug Works exhibit, the Buffalo Museum of Science is a must-visit if you're in the Buffalo area. There are dinosaurs, water exhibits you can play with, and tons of other things kids (and adults!) will love. It's located at 1020 Humboldt Pkwy. in Buffalo.

As you start cramming in all the things you wished you’d been doing all summer, don’t forget to check out the best places to enjoy the Buffalo waterfront. They’ll relax you and remind you that things don’t always have to be cold and snow covered in this beautiful city.

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More to Explore

Best day trips in Buffalo

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | June 29, 2022

Can you suggest some great places to visit on one tank of gas?

You’ve come to the right place, and we have several suggestions! For cultural art lovers, we highly recommend the Chautauqua Institution. Located about an hour and 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo, the Institution offers a wide array of live music events, performing arts presentations, interesting lectures, and more. In the town of East Otto, about 45 minutes south of town, the entire family will enjoy the Griffis Sculpture Park. You’ll find an astounding 250-plus sculptures dotted throughout the 400-acre property. Plan to spend at least half a day here, as there is so much to see and enjoy.

Where can I find structures built by Frank Lloyd Wright?

A lot of people don’t know that this famous architect designed and built a fair number of structures throughout The Empire State.  So much so that we’ve come up with an awesome day trip itinerary to give you some insights into visiting a few, including the Blue Sky Mausoleum, the Fontana Boathouse, and the Darwin Martin House, just to name a few.

We’re looking for some fun winter getaways in New York.

Just like during the summer, you can find some great winter getaways in New York. There are so many wonderful destinations that it would be hard to choose one over another. But for now let’s go with Lake Placid. It is definitely one of the most beautiful mountain towns in the state, and offers a lot of activities for both locales and visitors during the winter months. Skiing, snowboarding, and hiking are just a few.

Are there any haunted places near Buffalo?

Oh yeah, and some are downright creepy! For example, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park holds the distinction as the site of the largest military family loss during WWII when five brothers from the Sullivan family perished aboard the now aptly named USS The Sullivans. And we don’t know what it is about haunted opera houses, but New York has one of those too called the Lancaster Opera House. No one is really sure why it is haunted; nevertheless, passersby swear that they’ve seen apparitions watching them from the windows above.

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