Located at the western end of the Mohawk Valley, Utica is the natural gateway to the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and scenic Thousand Islands. The city lies near New York State’s geographic center; it is 233 miles from New York City, 190 miles from Buffalo, 100 miles south of the St. Lawrence River, 90 miles north of Binghamton, 90 miles west of Albany (the state capital), and 50 miles east of Syracuse. Utica is a regional transportation hub; visitors can arrive by air (at Hancock International Airport in Syracuse), train or bus (Amtrak and Greyhound service to Utica’s historic Union Station), or car (the New York State Thruway or state routes 5, 8, 12).

The Utica-Rome area is steeped in history—from the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution—and is enriched by both cultural diversity and support for the performing and decorative arts. Utica is home to the internationally recognized Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, the Utica Symphony Orchestra, Broadway Theater League, the Stanley Performing Arts Center, the Utica Zoo, and a municipal ski facility. The Utica Memorial Auditorium is home to the Utica Comets, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. Historical, cultural and recreational destinations in Rome include the Fort Stanwix National Monument, Erie Canal Village, historic Capitol Theatre, Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, and Delta Lake State Park. Utica is home to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, and hosts one of the sport’s premiere events the second Sunday of July: the Boilermaker Road Race. The race attracts the world’s elite runners in an annual field of about 10,000 participants.

Additional recreation and entertainment attractions are a short drive away, including: Woods Valley, Snow Ridge and McCauley Mountain ski areas; Hinckley and Oneida Lakes, popular fishing and boating locations; and hundreds of Adirondack lakes, parks, campgrounds, hiking trails, and scenic views. With its history, natural beauty, and vibrant communities, the region enjoys numerous social, cultural, and recreational opportunities.