A long weekend on the river from New York City.

Most weekend getaways from NYC are a couple of hours away. The Thousand Islands are farther, up where New York meets Canada on the St. Lawrence River. That's the point. It's a long weekend that feels like a real trip: islands with one cottage on them, a castle on the water, big ships in the channel, and fish fried over a fire for lunch.

Here's how to plan three days from the city.

Why a 3-day weekend is the right size

At 6 to 7 hours each way, a regular two-day weekend is mostly driving. Add a third day and the math changes. You get two full days on the river and only lose the travel days.

Alexandria Bay has hotels, motels, inns, and cottage rentals. Summer weekends book up early. Reserve a room early, then book the boat.

A sample long weekend from NYC

Friday: drive north

Leave the city by late morning if you can. Take I-80 west into Pennsylvania, I-380 north to Scranton, and then I-81 north all the way up through Binghamton, Syracuse, and Watertown. You'll get to Alexandria Bay in the evening. Take a walk by the water and stretch your legs.

Saturday: fish, then a shore dinner on an island

This is the classic Thousand Islands day. Meet Captain Richard Drake at Bonnie Castle Marina, Boathouse 3, where most trips leave from. Fish for about 4 hours for smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, and perch. Then he pulls up to an island and cooks a shore dinner with your catch. River guides have done it this way since the late 1800s.

For two people, a half day plus shore dinner is $710. For four, it's $870.

Sunday: Boldt Castle, or musky in the fall

Take a private Boldt Castle boat tour. It runs about 4 hours, just your group, past the castle, Millionaires' Row, and the islands. Sunset cruises are an option too.

Here's a fun New York link. Boldt Castle was built by George Boldt, who ran the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan. He started it in 1900 as a gift for his wife, Louise. She died in 1904, he stopped work, and the castle sat empty for 73 years. Read the full story in our Boldt Castle guide.

Coming in the fall? Late September through November is prime time for musky. Musky trips run 5 hours and troll big lures along the drop-offs. Almost every fish is released after a photo.

Monday: drive home

Sleep in, grab breakfast, and head south. You'll be back in the city by evening.

Is it worth the drive from NYC fishing?

City anglers have real options at home, and it's fair to say so. Party boats run out of places like City Island in the Bronx for porgy, fluke, striped bass, and bluefish. Long Island Sound and New York Harbor get good runs of fish in season. It's easy, and it's close.

The St. Lawrence is a different kind of day.

• It's your own boat. A party boat puts you at the rail with a crowd. Here it's just your group, up to 6 people, with a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.
• It's fresh water. You're fishing for smallmouth bass, the most common catch on the river according to the New York State DEC (opens in a new tab), plus pike, walleye, perch, and musky.
• The setting. You fish between islands, under a castle, while freighters pass in the shipping channel.
• Lunch. You don't eat a sandwich at the rail. You eat the morning's catch on an island.

You still need a license, but a different one. Saltwater fishing in New York uses a free marine registry. Fresh water like the St. Lawrence needs a New York fishing license for anyone 16 or older. Our fishing license guide explains it.

Getting there without driving

Flying is possible, but you'll still need a car. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is about 90 minutes from Alexandria Bay. Watertown International Airport is about 40 minutes away, and American Airlines flies there from Philadelphia, according to the Watertown airport (opens in a new tab). Schedules change, so check before you book.

Laurentian Tours doesn't offer pickups, so plan on a rental car.

When to plan your NYC getaway

• May to mid-June: Pike and walleye fishing. Bass is closed on the St. Lawrence until June 15, even catch and release.
• Mid-June to Labor Day: Bass, shore dinners, sunset cruises, and Boldt Castle. This is the busy season, so book early.
• September to November: Fall color, fall pike, and musky. Bass closes after November 30.
• About January into March: Ice fishing in a heated shanty, with a meal cooked on the ice.

Check the current NYSDEC regulations (opens in a new tab) before you go.

Trip ideas for city groups

Couples. Shore dinner Saturday, sunset castle cruise Sunday. The couples getaway page has a full plan.

Friend groups and bachelor parties. A boat holds up to 6. For a bigger group, Captain Richard brings in a second guide and boat (give him notice). See group trips and bachelor parties.

Total beginners. Most of Captain Richard's customers have never fished with a guide. He brings the rods, reels, tackle, bait, and life jackets. You bring a jacket and a license.

Frequently asked questions