Need a couple ideas on where to stay the afternoon/evening in New York that is inbetween Niag Falls and New York City. My understanding is that this is a 8-9 hr drive.

Is this just a stop-at-a-roadside-motel stop because you don't want to drive more than 4 or 5 hours, or do you want to stop someplace where you can also do or see something interesting?

When we went, we packed a picnic lunch ahead of time (deli sandwiches, pickles, some soda cans) and at a rest area saw that they had picnic tables, and had a wonderful time just enjoying the weather and the sandwiches. Question is: who'll be traveling? Kids, Adults, Both? What type of stop r u looking for?

If you stop at the Corning Museum of Glass, you will learn something. http://www.cmog.org/video/glass-blowing
To avoid the toll on the NYS Thruway, you could go to Salamanca and head north on US 219. My DW and I spent a night at the Dudley Hotel in Salamanca last month.

If you want a half way point with lodging and restaurants, stop at Johnson City, New York which is one exit from Binghamton, NY

There is a Mall, several hotels and motels, food chains, and easy on and off access...

Looking forward to answers you get. I thought this was long enough to take Amtrak overnight, but they only have one train per day and it is on an awful schedule.

No, we will most likely stop and spend the night. I was thinking Ithica NY. Is this sort of inbetween Niag and NYC? Thought we'd have a nice dinner somewhere and go see a couple fun sights. What do you think?

I was thinking you were staying on the Interstate through Bath NY and then choosing to head toward Rochester or toward Salamanca and then north
US 20 is an alternative to the toll road.
Why Ithaca?

tom... she's going the other way... from Niagara to NYC

Ithaca is a great place... www.visitithaca.com

Good Choices along the way:
- Ithaca as mentioned above. Drive along Route 89 coming/going very scenic, a few wineries. Vibrant downtown area with many restaurant options. Stay at Holiday inn or Hilton Garden Inn downtown so you can walk to eat and shop. Take a walk around Cornell University grounds and view the gorges. Visit Buttermilk Falls just south of town, can see it form the road.
- Corning. Small town with surprisingly vibrant downtown area with a number of restaurant choices. Stay at the Radisson right downtown , go to the previously mentioned Corning museum of glass - well worth a couple of hours.
- Watkins Glen: Stay at the newer www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com . Drive along Seneca Lake and stop at a few wineries, very pretty drive. Take a little hike in Watkins Glen park, unique gorge with several waterfalls.
- Skaneateles: Pretty artsy town at the top of Skaneateles Lake. There are several B & B’s in town though I’ve never stayed there.

I gree with all of Dave S's recommendations for places tho I don;t know his lodging recommendations.

A detour that might please some of you would take you to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame (or Glimmerglass Opera). If you are interested in the history of feminism, Seneca Falls has a lot of interest.

Dave S. is spot on. The Finger Lakes are quite lovely.