Part of the Finger Lakes Hub • See also: Seneca Lake 35 wineries 40 min southeast • Cayuga Lake Wine Trail 6 wineries.
Only Finger Lake with beach + concerts + waterpark + steamboat in 5 min. Canandaigua Lake 15.5 miles, CMAC 15k, Kershaw Beach $5, Lady $25, Roseland $35. Full guide below.
Canandaigua Lake at a Glance: North City vs South Quiet
- 15.5 miles long, 1.5 miles wide, most developed after Cayuga north: City at north, cottages south, Woodville at south tip
- North end = Canandaigua city: Kershaw Park beach $5, Canandaigua Lady steamboat $25, CMAC, Roseland Waterpark $35, hotels, restaurants walkable
- South end = Naples village: Quiet, vineyards, hills, Naples grape pie, 30 min to Bristol Mountain
- Why families love it: Only Finger Lake with beach + concerts + waterpark + steamboat + boat rentals in 5 min radius
CMAC: Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center — Concerts Guide
CMAC = Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, on Finger Lakes Community College campus, overlooking Canandaigua Lake. 5,000 covered pavilion + 10,000 lawn = 15,000 capacity. Season June to September, national acts: Dave Matthews, Phish, Zac Brown, etc.
- Location: 3355 Marvin Sands Dr Canandaigua NY 14424, on FLCC campus, 3 min from Kershaw Park, lake views from lawn
- Tickets: $40-250 depending on act, pavilion vs lawn. Lawn $40-80, pavilion $90-250. Buy via Ticketmaster, CMAC presale via FLCC
- Parking: Free on campus, $10 premium close lot, shuttle from Roseland. Arrive 90 min early for lawn spots, 60 min pavilion
- What to bring: Lawn chairs low-profile (rent $10), blankets, cooler small soft-sided no glass, poncho no umbrellas. Food trucks + beer/wine inside $8-12
- Best tips: Lawn is best value + lake sunset, sound good everywhere, pavilion front rows best. No re-entry. Kids under 2 free lawn, over 2 ticket
- 2026 season: Check cmacevents.com — typically 20-25 shows June-Sept, announce Feb-April. Wed-Sun nights 7:30pm start
Kershaw Park vs Deep Run vs State Marine Park: Best Swimming Beaches
| Park | Best For | Fee | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw Park | Best beach + families + walkable downtown | $5 vehicle, $3 walk-in | Sandy beach, lifeguards 10am-6pm Memorial Day-Labor Day, playground, pavilion rentals $75-150 |
| Deep Run Park | Quiet + kayaks + locals | Free | Small beach, no lifeguard, best for kayak launch, dog-friendly north end, parking 20 cars |
| Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park | Boat launch + fishing | $10 launch, free walk-in | No swimming, boat launch, 50 trailer spots, fishing pier, best for rentals pickup |
| Onanda Park | Hiking + camping + upland | $5 vehicle | Upland park, no beach, cabins $75-120/night, hiking trails, overlook lake, 1 mi south of Kershaw |
Boat Rentals, Canandaigua Lady Steamboat & Sailing
- Canandaigua Lady Steamboat: 19th-century replica paddle wheeler, 150 ft, 2 decks. 1846 original route. Cruises: 1.5 hr sightseeing $25 adult $15 kid, dinner cruise $55-75 2.5 hr, private charters $2k. Dock at Steamboat Landing 205 Lakeshore Dr, next to Kershaw Park. May-Oct, 2-3 cruises daily summer
- Boat Rentals - Seager Marine: 390 S Main St, 10 min from lake. Pontoon 24 ft $400 half-day $600 full day 8am-6pm, includes gas, 12 people max. Waverunner $150/hr, kayak $40 half-day. Reservation required weekends, book 2 weeks ahead July-Aug. Launch at State Marine Park $10 fee included if you ask
- Other rentals: Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park has Sutters Marina pontoon $350 half-day, Pelican Pointe kayak $30/hr at Kershaw
- Fishing: Lake trout, smallmouth bass, perch. Best south end near Vine Valley. License $25 NY, charter $400 half-day 4 people
Roseland Waterpark, Sonnenberg Gardens & Kershaw Extras
- Roseland Waterpark: 250 Eastern Blvd Canandaigua, 0.5 mi from Kershaw. Family waterpark, 10 slides, wave pool, lazy river, kids area. $35 adult $25 kid 4-11, under 3 free. Open 10am-6pm Memorial Day-Labor Day, weekends only May/Sept. Best after Kershaw beach morning, combo ticket $50. Parking free
- Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park: 151 Charlotte St Canandaigua, 5 min from Kershaw. 50-acre Victorian mansion 1887 + 9 formal gardens (Japanese, rose, etc). $18 adult $9 kid 4-12, mansion tour $5 extra. Open May-Oct 9:30am-5pm, best June rose bloom. Cafe $12-18 lunch
- Granger Homestead: 295 N Main St, Federal mansion 1816, $8 tour, 30 min
Canandaigua Lake Interactive Map
North = Canandaigua city Kershaw Park, CMAC, Roseland. South = Naples quiet, Vine Valley. Pins: Kershaw $5 beach, CMAC concerts, Canandaigua Lady dock, boat rentals, Roseland Waterpark $35, Sonnenberg $18. Zoom for directions.
Food & Where to Stay: Lakefront to Downtown
- Lakefront: Steamboat Landing Restaurant 205 Lakeshore Dr $25-45 seafood + lake views, Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake $20-35 American, Sand Bar beach bar $12-22 burgers
- Downtown Main St 5 min walk: Rio Tomatlan Mexican $15-25 best margarita, Simply Crepes $12-18 crepes, Beehive Brew Pub $12-20 craft beer + burgers, Patty's Place $20-30 Italian
- Stay lakefront: Lake House on Canandaigua $350-600 luxury 5-star, heated pool, spa. Canandaigua Inn on the Lake $180-300 best value lakefront, indoor pool
- Stay budget: Canandaigua Motor Lodge $90-130, Hampton Inn $150-220, Holiday Inn Express $140-210
- Stay south quiet: Sutherland House B&B $150-220 Naples, Vine Valley cottage rentals $200-400/night 3-night min
1-Day Canandaigua Lake Itinerary: Beach + Boat + Concert
- 10:00 AM - Kershaw Park 155 Lakeshore Dr $5 vehicle — swim, beach, playground, rent kayak $30/hr Pelican Pointe
- 12:00 PM - Lunch Steamboat Landing $25-45 lakefront or Sand Bar $12-22 beach burgers
- 1:30 PM - Canandaigua Lady steamboat 1.5 hr sightseeing $25 adult — lake history, 19th century replica, dock next to Kershaw
- 3:00 PM - Roseland Waterpark 250 Eastern Blvd $35 or Sonnenberg Gardens 151 Charlotte St $18 — kids vs gardens
- 5:30 PM - Boat rental return if morning rental, or walk Main St shops, Beehive Brew Pub $12-20
- 7:30 PM - CMAC concert 3355 Marvin Sands Dr — lawn $40-80 best value, bring low chair + blanket, free parking, lake sunset during show
- Stay: Lake House $350-600 or Canandaigua Inn $180-300 — walk to Kershaw + CMAC shuttle
Rules: Kershaw lifeguards 10am-6pm Memorial-Labor Day. CMAC no re-entry, low chairs only lawn. Boat rentals book 2 weeks ahead July-Aug weekends. Canandaigua Lady May-Oct, book online.
Day Trips: Naples, Bristol Mountain & Finger Lakes Wine
- Naples 20 min south: Grape pie at Monica's Pies $18, Grimes Glen waterfall hike 1 mi free, Naples Hotel $12-20 lunch, quiet south end lake
- Bristol Mountain 20 min southwest: Ski 1200 ft vert winter $70 lift, zip line + aerial adventure summer $45-75, 30 min
- Canandaigua Wine Trail 6 wineries 10 min: Arbor Hill, Heron Hill, Inspire Moore — small, 1 day doable
- Rochester 35 min north: Strong Museum, Public Market, Seabreeze Amusement Park $35
Canandaigua Lake - FAQ
How much are CMAC tickets?
$40-250 depending on act, pavilion vs lawn. Lawn $40-80, pavilion $90-250. Buy via Ticketmaster, CMAC presale via FLCC. Parking free on campus, $10 premium. Arrive 90 min early for lawn, 60 min pavilion. No re-entry.
Kershaw Park vs Deep Run — which beach is better?
Kershaw Park: best beach + families + walkable downtown, $5 vehicle, $3 walk-in, lifeguards 10am-6pm, playground. Deep Run: quiet + kayaks + locals, Free, small beach, no lifeguard, dog-friendly, kayak launch. State Marine: boat launch only, no swimming, $10 launch.
How much are boat rentals on Canandaigua Lake?
Seager Marine pontoon 24 ft $400 half-day $600 full day 8am-6pm, includes gas, 12 people max. Waverunner $150/hr, kayak $40 half-day. Sutters Marina pontoon $350 half-day, Pelican Pointe kayak $30/hr at Kershaw. Book 2 weeks ahead July-Aug weekends.
What is Canandaigua Lady steamboat?
19th-century replica paddle wheeler, 150 ft, 2 decks. 1.5 hr sightseeing $25 adult $15 kid, dinner cruise $55-75 2.5 hr, private charters $2k. Dock at Steamboat Landing 205 Lakeshore Dr, next to Kershaw Park. May-Oct, 2-3 cruises daily summer.
Roseland Waterpark vs Sonnenberg Gardens — which for kids?
Roseland: kids — $35 adult $25 kid 4-11, under 3 free, 10 slides, wave pool, lazy river, 10am-6pm, combo $50 with Kershaw. Sonnenberg: gardens — $18 adult $9 kid, 50-acre Victorian mansion 1887 + 9 formal gardens, May-Oct 9:30am-5pm, best June rose bloom.
Can I do beach + boat + concert in one day at Canandaigua Lake?
Yes — 1-Day: Kershaw 10am $5 swim, Lunch 12pm Steamboat Landing $25-45, Lady 1:30pm $25, Roseland $35 or Sonnenberg $18 3pm, Main St 5:30pm Beehive Brew, CMAC 7:30pm lawn $40-80. Stay Lake House $350-600 or Canandaigua Inn $180-300.