For many of us, getting to our favorite state park isn’t as easy as packing some snacks and jumping in a vehicle to spend a beautiful day in nature. Transportation to parks located in rural and off the beaten path locations where public transportation doesn’t service can be a challenge. And even if the park is in an urban setting, it may not always be accessible either.

That is why NY State Parks in the Niagara Region are partnering with Erie County, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) to kick off the second season of the Parks Adventure Bus! The program launched in the summer of 2022, offering riders (1) FREE transportation to and from a number of Buffalo-area parks as well as (2) FREE entry to those parks.

How it works:

On Saturdays from June to early August, NFTA-METRO buses depart from and return to the Metropolitan Transportation Center in Buffalo throughout the day. The Parks Adventure Bus is free and park entry is free to riders. Please arrive 10 minutes to board all buses downtown and at all parks. Bike racks are available, but are first-come, first-served.

To get more information about what to bring and what to know before you go, have a look at our Parks Adventure Bus brochure.

Schedule and Trip Times:

• June 17: Knox Farm State Park
• June 24: Chestnut Ridge Park
• July 1: Reinstein Woods and Como Lake Park (enjoy one or both)
• July 8: Fort Niagara State Park
• July 15: Emery County Park
• July 22: Beaver Island State Park
• July 29: Akron Falls State Park
• August 5: Evangola State Park

If any of the days are cancelled due to weather, August 12 is reserved as a make-up day. Two trips in September and one in December are also available. Learn more here.

Buses depart from the Metropolitan Transportation Center at 8:30 AM, 10:15 AM, 11:30 PM, 1:15 PM, and 3:15 PM.

Buses depart from the park destination (to return to the Metropolitan Transportation Center) at 11:10 AM, 12:20 PM, 2:10 PM, 4:05 PM, and 6:00 PM.

PAL Trip Times:

Using the same dates above, Parks Adventure Bus service to and from each park will be provided on PAL for eligible riders.

Reservations are available to arrive at the parks at 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:45 PM, and 3:45 PM.

PAL vehicles depart from park destinations at 11:10 AM, 12:20 PM, 2:10 PM, 4:05 PM, and 6:00 PM.

Visiting our state parks is something that should be available for everyone and we are grateful to all of our partners who make getting to our parks a little bit easier.

In 2022, the Parks Adventure Bus’ inaugural year, NFTA-Metro provided a seven-week pilot that saw free express bus service from downtown Buffalo to NYS and Erie County parks and beaches that are not usually accessible by public transit. The program was modeled on a similar initiative by the Capital District Transportation Authority in Albany and was well received by riders and parks alike.

At the NY State Parks that participated last year–Knox Farm, Beaver Island, Ft. Niagara and Evangola–riders were treated to special “swag bags” that included a scavenger hunt for each park, free swimming at the Ft. Niagara Pool (in a partnership with Ladders to the Outdoors, another State Parks program), as well as visits to nature centers. Overall, there were 566 riders during the 2022 season.

This year, special hikes and walks will take place along with the same fun offerings like swimming at the parks with beaches and pools. The program is being extended to 11 weeks and will run into the winter season to take advantage of holiday offerings at the Erie County Chestnut Ridge Park. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Reinstein Woods will be a new stop this year.

The full schedule can be found here.

-Written by Angela Berti, Marketing and Public Affairs