The Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway parallels the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes in New York and Pennsylvania. This adventure includes Niagara Falls; 1000 Islands; 29 lighthouses; War of 1812, farm, and nature sites; welcoming harbors, world-class sportfishing, bridges/ferries to/from Canada, and the Seaway Trail Discovery Center.

Federal Highway Administration, America’s Byways
Length
518 mi / 833.6 km
Time to allow
Several days to fully enjoy this byway.
Fees
None

Who looks after this road

  • NYS Seaway Trail, Inc. · 315-646-1000
  • VisitErie · 800-524-3743 · their site

We publish 15 places that sit on this road, across 2 states, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.

Of those, 2 are roadside oddities — the sort of thing you would drive past without knowing it was there.

“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.

The New York stretch

  1. Shark GirlNYon the roadRoadside oddity

    Fiberglass girl with a shark head sitting on the waterfront

  2. BuffaloNYon the road

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

  3. Buffalo ZooNY2 miles offAnimals

    Hours
    10am-5pm daily; last entry 4pm
    Season
    year-round

  4. Niagara FallsNYon the road

    In our guide: 5 animal attractions · 2 lakes · 2 parks · 2 historic sites

  5. Aquarium of NiagaraNYon the roadAnimals

    Hours
    9am-3pm Mon-Thu; 9am-5pm Fri-Sun

  6. LewistonNYon the road

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

  7. Old Fort NiagaraNY1 mile off

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

  8. Seabreeze Amusement ParkNYon the roadFun park

    Site says closed for the winter.

    Season
    Seasonal

  9. Zoo New YorkNY8 miles offAnimals

    Located in Thompson Park (formerly New York State Zoo at Thompson Park)

    Hours
    10am-5pm daily

The Pennsylvania stretch

  1. Schaefer's Auto ArtPA4 miles offRoadside oddity

    Big sculptures welded from car parts, dressed up for holidays

  2. WaldameerPAon the road

    Also here: Water World

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

  3. Waldameer ParkPAon the roadFun park

    Seasonal; site previews 2027 coaster.

    Season
    Seasonal

  4. Splash LagoonPA5 miles offFun park

    Indoor water park resort; fall calendar shows select open days.

  5. Erie ZooPA2 miles offAnimals

    423 W 38th St

    Hours
    10am-5pm daily; last admission 4:15pm
    Adult
    13
    Child
    $9 (2-12, May-Sept rate); 23 months and under free
    Season
    seasonal (Mar 1 - Nov 30)

  6. EriePAon the road

    In our guide: 7 beaches · 2 parks · 1 lake · 1 animal attraction