Craving lakeside charm, Finger Lakes wine, and small-town serenity? Head to Hammondsport! Nestled at the southern tip of Keuka Lake, Hammondsport is known for its scenic beauty, award-winning wineries, aviation history, and friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect getaway for relaxation and exploration.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Hammondsport is from late spring to early fall (May to October). Enjoy warm-weather lake activities, vineyard tours, and fall foliage. Summer brings festivals and waterfront fun, while autumn offers breathtaking views and harvest events.
How to Get There
- By Car: Hammondsport is accessible via Route 54 and Route 17/I-86. It’s about 1.5 hours from Rochester or 2 hours from Syracuse.
- By Air: The nearest airport is Elmira/Corning Regional Airport (ELM), about 45 minutes away. Rochester and Syracuse airports are also within driving distance.
- By Bus: Limited regional bus service is available; renting a car is recommended for convenience and lake access.
Where to Stay
- Best Western Plus The Hammondsport Hotel – Comfortable modern lodging with free breakfast and easy lake access.
- Blushing Rose Bed & Breakfast – Quaint B&B in a historic home just steps from downtown and the lakefront.
- Vinehurst Inn & Suites – Cozy, family-run inn located just outside town, ideal for wine trail travelers.
Top Attractions
⮕ Fly Through Innovation at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Explore aviation history and vintage aircraft.
© Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is dedicated to the age of transportation with a focus on the early aviator Glenn H. Curtiss. Located half a mile south of the village of Hammondsport, the 60,000-square foot facility honors the memory of pioneer aviator, Glenn Curtiss, and houses a priceless collection of vintage automobiles, aircraft, old motorcycles, and aircraft engines. The museum also features a Restoration Shop where visitors can watch volunteer artisans working on historic aircraft, a 75-seat theater, a museum store, and an event space for special functions.
8419 NY-54, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-569-2160
⮕ Sip the Legacy of a Wine Pioneer at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
© Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is a family-owned and operated wine estate that was established in 1962 by Dr. Konstantin Frank, who began the “Vinifera Revolution,” a movement that changed the course of wine-making in the Finger Lakes. Situated on the hills surrounding Keuka Lake, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery produces an array of award-winning wines, ranging from casual, easy-drinking wines to world-class reserves and limited editions. Visitors can enjoy wines tastings at Dr. Konstantin Frank’s historic former home with spectacular views of Keuka Lake, which include sampling over 30 wines from the estate’s entire portfolio, including the most premium wines. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery also offers seasonal cheese and wine pairings on The Terrace against a backdrop of magnificent lake views.
9749 Middle Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 800-320-0735
⮕ Soak Up Scenic Sips at Heron Hill Winery’s Tasting Room in the Sky
© Heron Hill Winery
Nestled on the west side of Keuka Lake a few miles outside the village of Hammondsport, Heron Hill Winery produces a range of award-winning wines, including eight styles of world-class Riesling. The Finger Lakes are known as ‘Riesling Country’ due to the cool, German-style climate and the gravelly loam soil that is so well suited to producing top-notch Rieslings. Heron Hill Winery sources its grapes from the estate’s own Ingle Vineyard, the only vinifera vineyard on that lake, and provides a range of varietals including Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Heron Hill Winery has an elegant vaulted tasting hall and winery overlooking the rolling vineyards around Keuka Lake, as well as tasting rooms on the west side of Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes.
9301 Co Rd 76, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-868-4241
⮕ Raise a Glass and Your Spirits at the Boldly Playful Bully Hill Vineyards
© Bully Hill Vineyards Winery
Nestled in the Hills overlooking beautiful Keuka Lake, Bully Hill Vineyards Winery is a vineyard and winery in the world-renowned Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area. Founded by Walter S. Taylor in 1967, the pioneering estate was one of the first wineries to open after the Prohibition Era in New York State. The estate pioneered the planting of French-American hybrid grapes in the United States, becoming an innovative leader in the wine industry, and continues to produce bold new wines today. Bully Hill Vineyards offers unique wine tastings and walking tours of the estate, and features a wine museum, an art gallery, a highly acclaimed restaurant, and a gift shop.
8843 Greyton H Taylor Memorial Dr, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-868-3610
⮕ Explore New York’s Oldest Bonded Winery - Pleasant Valley Wine Company
© Pleasant Valley Wine Company
Pleasant Valley Wine Company, also known as Great Western Winery, is a historic wine estate in the Hamlet of Rheims near the town of Urbana in Steuben County, New York. Located in the valley just a mile from the village of Hammondsport, the exquisite wine complex features nine fieldstone buildings, eight of which have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with caves carved deep into the hillside that are used as natural wine cellars. The Great Western Winery Visitor Center features fascinating exhibits documenting the history of the winery with 140 years-worth of artifacts from the Finger Lakes wineries, a fantastic working model of the Hammondsport Railroad, and as cooper’s shop filled with authentic tools and equipment used to make barrels and wine casks. Visitors can sample the estate’s award-winning vintages and Champagnes at tastings and enjoy guided tours of the complex year-round.
8260 Pleasant Valley Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-569-6111
⮕ Taste Precision and Passion in Every Pour at Weis Vineyards
© Weis Vineyards
Weis Vineyards is a family-owned winery dedicated to producing traditional, handcrafted, top quality dry German-style wines. Owned by Peter Weis, who comes from a multi-generational winemaking family in Germany, the award-winning winery produces exceptional German wines such as Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Blaufränkisch, and Schulhaus Red, among others. Tastings are offered in the winery’s charming one-room schoolhouse where visitors can sample five wines in a souvenir Weis Vineyards logo glass. Reservations are essential for tastings.
10014 Day Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-284-4011
⮕ Uncork Cool-Climate Elegance at Ravines Wine Cellars - Keuka Lake
© Ravines Wine Cellars - Keuka Lake
Ravines Wine Cellars - Keuka Lake is a small, family-owned winery dedicated to the craft of classical winemaking and producing wines that reflect the surrounding world-class wine Finger Lakes region. The artisanal winery crafts elegant and expressive wines using grapes from three vineyards on the hillsides overlooking the Seneca and Keuka Lakes. The winery has two tasting rooms where visitors can sample the estate’s vintages. The Ravines Seneca Tasting Room in Geneva is housed in a beautifully preserved historic barn with a slate roof overlooking the White Springs Vineyard, and the lovely Keuka Tasting Room has a large patio with breathtaking views over Keuka Lake.
14630 NY-54, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-292-7007
⮕ Cruise Through History at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum
© Finger Lakes Boating Museum
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history and heritage of antique boating on the Finger Lakes. Built in 1886 and based in the historic former Taylor Wine Company's main building, the museum focuses on the world of antique boating and how it played a role in the development of recreational and commercial boating in the Finger Lakes Region. The museum houses a collection of over 200 vintage boats and crafts built by local craftsmen throughout the Finger Lakes Region during the last century. The collection includes rowboats, canoes, sailboats, inboard and outboard motors, row outboards, and hydroplanes, as well as many artifacts and ephemera relating to boating on the lake. The museum also has an active boat shop where visitors can see restoration projects underway.
8231 Pleasant Valley Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-569-2222
⮕ Discover the Past, Pour by Pour, at the Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum
© Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum
The Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum was established in 1972 by Walter S. Taylor, the man behind the Bully Hill Vineyards. Built in honor of his late father, who founded the Taylor Winery, the museum is home to a plethora of vintage winemaking equipment, wine-related artifacts, and very rare bottles of wine. This wine museum focuses on American winemaking and tells the art’s beautiful history in the country, and especially the state of New York, with historical memorabilia as well as a unique collection of Presidential wine glasses, some of which date back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. The Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum is also home to the Walter S. Taylor Art Gallery and the Replica Cooper Shop.
8843 Greyton H. Taylor Memorial Drive, Hammondsport, New York 14840
⮕ If You’re After Quiet Trails, Unwind at Birdseye Hollow Park
© thithawat/stock.adobe.com
The Birdseye Hollow Park welcomes guests all year round to come enjoy the outdoors of Hammondsport. It is one of the attractions in the Birdseye Hollow State Park, an expansive and multi-use grounds which cover 3,445 acres of forest land. There are great a number of recreational activities to enjoy in and around the park’s vicinity. Most visitors to Birdseye Hollow State Forest come for the 558-mile mix-use and hiking trails which stretch from southwestern New York’s Allegany State Park all the way to the Catskill Forest Preserve in the state’s eastern area. The trail is also part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which is a network of trails that travels from New York to North Dakota across 3,200 miles. The park itself has a lovely pond to rest at with picnic pavilions, charcoal grills, a playground, and even a floating fishing pier to enjoy.
7603 Birdseye Hollow Road, Hammondsport, New York 14840
More Local Attractions
- Keuka Lake – Swim, kayak, or boat in this Y-shaped Finger Lake known for its clear waters and scenic shores.
- Keuka Lake Wine Trail – Sip and savor award-winning wines at picturesque lakeside vineyards and tasting rooms.
- Depot Park – Relax by the lake with picnic areas, a charming gazebo, and scenic views of Keuka’s tip.
- Downtown Hammondsport – Shop boutiques, dine at local cafés, and enjoy the village’s welcoming, walkable vibe.
Where to Eat
- Timber Stone Grill – Farm-to-table American fare with craft cocktails and a cozy downtown setting.
- Union Block Italian Bistro – Warm, rustic spot serving Italian comfort food and Finger Lakes wine.
- Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn – Eclectic menu and lakeside atmosphere with a focus on local ingredients and wine pairings.
Local Events
- Hammondsport Festival of Crafts (August) – Juried craft show with handmade goods, food vendors, and live music in the village square.
- Keuka Lake Wine & Cheese Festival (July) – Sample regional wines, cheeses, and bites on the beautiful lakefront.
- Christmas in the Park (December) – Holiday celebration with music, lights, crafts, and a visit from Santa in downtown Hammondsport.
Day Trips Within 30 Minutes of Hammondsport, New York
- Watkins Glen (25–30 min) – Hike stunning gorge trails, tour Seneca Lake wineries, or enjoy racing history at the International Speedway.
- Bath (10–15 min) – Visit the Museum of Civil War History, stroll Pulteney Square, or shop local antiques and crafts.
- Penn Yan (25–30 min) – Walk the Keuka Outlet Trail, tour Finger Lakes wineries, or explore the historic downtown waterfront.
- Dundee (20–25 min) – Taste Finger Lakes wines, enjoy lake views, or visit seasonal farmers markets and country stores.
- Prattsburgh (15–20 min) – Drive scenic country roads, enjoy fall foliage, or stop at roadside farm stands and wineries.
- Keuka Lake State Park (20–25 min) – Swim, picnic, or hike wooded trails with panoramic lake views and peaceful scenery.
- Urbana (5–10 min) – Explore charming backroads, take in lake vistas, or visit tucked-away tasting rooms and vineyards.
- Avoca (25–30 min) – Hike rural trails, visit local shops, or enjoy classic small-town diners and peaceful countryside.
- Wayne (20–25 min) – Paddle quiet stretches of Keuka Lake, enjoy sunset views, or stop at quiet beaches and parks.
FAQ
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Where is Hammondsport, NY located?
- Located at the southern end of Keuka Lake, Hammondsport, NY is a quiet town with a small community of fewer than 1,000 residents that has been a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts since the mid-1800s.
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What makes Keuka Lake unique?
- Boasting an unusual Y-shape surrounded by steep vineyard-covered slopes, Keuka Lake is the most distinct of all the Finger Lakes and offers a variety of watersport activities such as fishing, paddle-boarding, and seaplane rides.
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What is Hammondsport known for besides outdoor activities?
- Hammondsport and its surroundings are also an award-winning wine region, producing world-class wines and other craft beverages, and has a burgeoning culinary scene.
Plan Your Trip
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