MNWR Location

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, located at the north end of Cayuga Lake, is in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of central New York State. The Refuge Visitor Center and Office are located on Routes 5 and 20, near the Menard Memorial Bridge over the Cayuga-Seneca Canal (New York State Barge Canal). The Refuge is located between Seneca Falls and Auburn and is 35 miles (56 km) west of Syracuse, 40 miles (64 km) north of Ithaca, and 45 miles (72 km) east of Rochester. Routes 5 & 20, State Route 89, and the New York State Thruway (I-90) pass through the interior of the Refuge.

For visitors traveling on the New York State Thruway (from Syracuse or Rochester):
Take exit 41. Turn right (south) onto Route 414 and follow for approximately 200 yards (183 meters) to the traffic light. Turn left (east) at the light onto Route 318 and follow for approximately 5 miles (8 km) to the end of Route 318 where it meets Routes 5 & 20. Turn left (east) onto Routes 5 & 20 and follow for 1.25 miles (2 km), turn left into the refuge entrance.

For visitors from the Ithaca Area:
Travel north on Route 89 or Route 90 to Routes 5 & 20. From Route 90, turn left (west) onto Routes 5 & 20. Refuge entrance is on the right just past the Menard Memorial Bridge. From Route 89, turn right (east) onto Routes 5 & 20 and follow for 1 mile (1.6 km), refuge entrance is on the left.

From Areas to the north:
Take one of several highways (Route 89, Route 414, Route 38, Route 34) south to Routes 5 & 20. Travel east or west depending on where you meet Routes 5 & 20.

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