Routes 5 and 20: A West-to-East Day Trip Guide

Routes 5 and 20 trace one of the most quietly rewarding east–west journeys across the Finger Lakes. Stretching roughly 67 miles from Caledonia to Auburn, this shared corridor passes through historic villages, lakefront cities, and agricultural landscapes shaped by centuries of travel, trade, and settlement.

In many places, Routes 5 and 20 aren’t experienced as a highway at all. They become Main Street or Genesee Street—familiar downtown stretches where drive-ins, inns, parks, museums, and waterfront paths invite you to slow down and explore on foot. The route follows paths established long before cars, connecting communities that still reward curiosity today.

This guide moves west to east, highlighting towns and cities where Routes 5 and 20 offer natural stopping points for day trips—whether you’re following the road end to end or dipping into just one stretch at a time.

Avon

Avon is one of the first places along Routes 5 and 20 where the drive begins to feel like a destination. Centered along Genesee Street near the Genesee River, the village blends classic roadside stops with a walkable downtown and river-adjacent parks.

Things to Do

• Watch a movie at the Vintage Drive-In, a seasonal favorite with deep local roots.
• Walk or picnic at Avon Driving Park.
• Follow the Erie-Attica Rail Trail where it crosses the river just outside the village.

Where to Eat

• Tom Wahl’s for burgers and root beer.
• Avon Inn for casual dining in a restored historic setting.
• Duffy’s Tavern or Avondale Pub for relaxed pub fare.

Breweries

• Mortalis Brewing Company

Avon Inn is one of the historic inns and hotels around Rochester where a meal can become part of the day’s exploration. Use the guide to find other historic dining stops along the route, including Lima’s American Hotel and Geneva’s Belhurst Castle.

Lima

Between Avon and Bloomfield, Lima makes a natural stop for a meal and a short walk. Routes 5 and 20 pass through the village’s four corners, where historic buildings reflect its past as a center of commerce and education.

Where to Eat

• American Hotel for homemade soup and a sandwich. It’s also featured in the guide to historic inns and hotels around Rochester.
• Fanatics Pub for pub food and live music.
• The Normal on Rochester Street for barbecue-inspired dishes, including brisket and pulled pork tacos and quesadillas.

Things to Do

• Follow the Lima Historical Society’s self-guided walking tour to learn about the village’s historic architecture.
• Visit the Tennie Burton Museum. Check with the historical society for current visiting hours or an appointment.

Bloomfield

Bloomfield is a quieter stop along Routes 5 and 20, known more for its small-town charm and specialty attractions than for a traditional downtown strip. It’s a good place to slow the pace and explore something unexpected.

Things to Do

• Browse handcrafted pottery at Wizard of Clay.
• Visit the Antique Wireless Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of historic radios and communications equipment.

Where to Eat

• Shark’s Ice Cream for a seasonal treat.

Breweries & Wineries

• Raymor Estate Cellars Winery

Canandaigua

Canandaigua is one of the most dynamic stops along Routes 5 and 20, offering a mix of lakefront recreation, historic estates, cultural attractions, and a lively downtown.

Things to Do

• Spend time along Canandaigua Lake at the City Pier or Kershaw Park Beach.
• Tour Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, a landmark of the region.
• Visit Granger Homestead, Roseland Waterpark, or the Canandaigua Lady paddlewheel boat.
• Attend a concert at CMAC or Lincoln Hill Farms.
• Follow the Ontario Pathways rail trail where it crosses Routes 5 and 20 in nearby Stanley.

Where to Eat

• New York Kitchen for regional food and wine experiences.
• Rio Tomatlan, Flavors Indian Restaurant, Eric’s Office, Rheinblick German Restaurant, or The Green Front.
• Cheshire Farms Creamery for ice cream.

Breweries & Wineries

• Naked Dove Brewing, Twisted Rail Brewing, Peacemaker Brewing, Bee Hive Brew Pub, Other Half Brewing.
• New York Kitchen and the Finger Lakes Wine Center tasting rooms.

For a full day of gardens, downtown shops, and lakefront walks, use Explore Canandaigua to plan your stops.

Geneva

Geneva sits at the northern tip of Seneca Lake and feels distinctly shaped by the water. With a compact downtown, historic neighborhoods, and easy access to the lake, it’s a natural place to linger.

Things to Do

• Walk the waterfront at Seneca Lake State Park or along the lakefront path.
• Visit Rose Hill Mansion, Smith Opera House, or Bishop Nature Preserve.
• Explore downtown shops and historic streets.

Where to Eat

• Char Burrito Bar, Water Street Cafe, Bagels & Cakes, or Stonecutter’s Tavern at Belhurst Castle
• FLX Table or Geneva on the Lake for a special-occasion meal.
• Ports Cafe, The Rusty Pig, or Eddie O’Briens Grille & Bar for dinner.
• Long Pier Ice Cream along the waterfront.

Breweries & Wineries

• Webe Brewing, Lake Drum Brewing.
• Belhurst Castle and Estate Winery, Ventosa Vineyards.

Use Explore Geneva to build a day around the waterfront, historic streets, restaurants, and nearby wineries. For a longer detour south from Routes 5 and 20, the Seneca Lake guide offers more places to explore along both shores.

Waterloo

Waterloo’s identity is closely tied to national history, while still retaining a small-town feel along Routes 5 and 20. It makes for a meaningful, low-key stop between lakefront destinations.

Things to Do

• Visit the National Memorial Day Museum, commemorating the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Where to Eat

• Connie’s Diner or Mac’s Drive-In for classic roadside fare.
• Muranda Cheese Company just outside the village.

Waterloo pairs naturally with nearby Seneca Falls. The Seneca Falls day-trip guide includes Connie’s Diner, Mac’s Drive-In, and Muranda Cheese Company, making it useful for planning a day that connects the two communities.

Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls blends historic significance with natural beauty, sitting near the outlet of Cayuga Lake and close to the Montezuma wetlands. It’s one of the most layered stops along Routes 5 and 20.

Things to Do

• Explore Cayuga Lake and Cayuga Lake State Park.
• Visit the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, including the Wesleyan Chapel and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
• Stop at the National Women’s Hall of Fame or the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum.
• Explore Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge nearby.
• Shop at the Historic Route 20 Information Center.

Where to Eat

• Cafe 19, El Bajio Mexican Restaurant, Parker’s on Fall, Penny’s Place, or dining at the Gould Hotel.

Wineries

• Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery.
• Izzo’s White Barn Winery in nearby Cayuga.

Use Explore Seneca Falls to connect the women’s rights sites, canalfront walks, museums, and places to eat.

Auburn

Auburn marks the eastern end of the Routes 5 and 20 corridor and offers a strong mix of history, culture, and lake access. It’s a fitting place to end the journey—or begin it in reverse.

Things to Do

• Spend time along Owasco Lake at Emerson Park.
• Visit the Seward House Museum, Harriet Tubman Home, Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural Museum, or Willard Memorial Chapel.
• Attend a performance at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Rev Theatre Company, or the Auburn Public Theater.
• Catch an Auburn Doubledays baseball game or enjoy the Finger Lakes Drive-In nearby.

Where to Eat

• Moro’s Table, Osteria Salina, and Parker’s 129.

Breweries & Wineries

• Good Shepherds Brewing, Prison City Pub and Brewery.

The Auburn day-trip guide brings together the city’s historic sites, museums, restaurants, and performance spaces.

Visitor Resources

Visitor Guides

• Historic Route 20 Information Center
• Ontario County
• Canandaigua
• Geneva
• Seneca Falls
• Auburn

Wine Trails

• Canandaigua Wine Trail
• Seneca Lake Wine Trail
• Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

Where are your favorite day trips along Routes 5 and 20?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.