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Peer-to-peer car sharing · Ithaca

Car sharing in Ithaca and around Cayuga Lake

Levy is a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace for Ithaca and Tompkins County. Owners list their cars, and drivers rent them for gorge hikes, Cayuga Lake wineries, and trips out of a town with no train station. Hosts can create draft listings now. Bookings open when the marketplace launches.

Start your listing Get early access as a driver

Why it fits

Why car sharing works in Ithaca

For drivers

Ithaca is a walking and bus town. In 2020 to 2024 Census survey data, 25.7% of Ithaca workers walked to work and 9.1% took transit, and 27.4% of households had no vehicle (commute data, vehicle data, both via Census Reporter). TCAT covers the city and the campuses, but the gorges, the wineries, and the ski hill are easier with a car.

There is no train station. The nearest Amtrak stop is in Syracuse, about 60 miles away (Cornell), so most trips out of town start with a bus, a flight, or a car.

For hosts

Ithaca's year follows the academic calendar. Cornell has 16,138 undergraduates and 10,423 graduate and professional students (Cornell), and Ithaca College has about 4,700 students (Ithaca College). Move-in, fall break, Thanksgiving, and Commencement bring families to town for a few days at a time.

Parking downtown is metered, so a host with a driveway or an off-street spot makes pickup easy. On-street parking costs $2.50 an hour with a two-hour limit (City of Ithaca).

Arrival and pickup

Getting to a car in Ithaca

Airports

Ithaca Tompkins International (ITH)

At 1 Culligan Drive, with the first 30 minutes of parking free (ITH). Delta flies daily to JFK and United nonstop to Washington Dulles (airlines). Traditional rentals are Avis, Budget, and Hertz (car rentals), and TCAT serves the airport with Route 32 on weekdays and Route 72 on weekends (FAQ).

Syracuse (SYR)

The larger airport to the north. See the Syracuse page for pickup there.

Rail and transit

Intercity buses

Cornell's Campus-to-Campus coach to New York City is open to the public (Cornell). OurBus runs 9 to 10 buses a day to New York City in 4 to 5 hours, arriving on East Seneca Street downtown (OurBus), and FlixBus stops downtown and at Cornell (FlixBus).

TCAT

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit is funded by Cornell, the City of Ithaca, and Tompkins County, and the Cornell community makes up about 70% of riders (Cornell Chronicle).

Nearest Amtrak

The Syracuse Regional Transportation Center at 1 Walsh Circle, about 1.5 hours away by car (Ithaca College).

Practical pickup areas

Downtown and the Commons

Intercity buses arrive downtown, and the city's Green, Dryden, and Seneca Street garages charge $2.25 an hour (City of Ithaca).

Collegetown and Cornell

Close to campus and the FlixBus stops. Hosts here can open their cars around the academic calendar.

South Hill

Near Ithaca College, whose commencements fall in mid-May and mid-December (Ithaca College).

Popular trips

Where people drive from Ithaca

Taughannock Falls State Park

The falls drop 215 feet past cliffs nearly 400 feet high, and the park has a marina and beach on Cayuga Lake (NY State Parks).

Robert H. Treman State Park

Twelve waterfalls, including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls in Enfield Glen (NY State Parks).

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Just outside the city; the gorge trail climbs about 600 feet (NY State Parks).

Watkins Glen State Park

Nineteen waterfalls in one mile. The Gorge Trail usually opens in May and closes in October (NY State Parks).

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

Founded in 1983, it calls itself the first organized and longest-running wine trail in America (Cayuga Lake Wine Trail). Bring a designated driver.

Corning and Greek Peak

The Corning Museum of Glass is free for visitors 17 and under (I LOVE NY). In winter, Greek Peak in Cortland calls itself Central New York's largest ski resort (Greek Peak).

Local driving notes

What to know before you drive in Ithaca.

Rules change. Check the linked official sources before a trip.

Hills and snow

The city averages about 65 inches of snow a year and plows steep roads first to prevent cars from sliding (City of Ithaca). Leave extra room on the hills to and from campus.

Winter street parking

From November 1 to April 1, odd/even parking can apply from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. when the city calls for it. Cars must be moved every 24 hours on weekdays, and a car left 72 hours can be towed (City of Ithaca).

Meters and garages

On-street meters are enforced Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and are free on Sundays and holidays; ParkMobile adds a $0.45 fee per session (City of Ithaca).

Commencement road closures

On Cornell's 2026 Commencement day, central campus roads closed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Cornell Chronicle). The 2027 Commencement weekend is May 28 to 30 (Cornell Registrar).

Hosts in Ithaca

Share your car in Ithaca

You set the calendar and the daily price. Open move-in, breaks, and Commencement, keep the car for yourself the rest of the time, or list it while you are away for the summer.

A driveway or off-street spot makes pickup simple and keeps the car out of the 24-hour move rule.

Create a draft listing today, before bookings open.
Set pickup at home, near campus, or near ITH.
Open the weekends around the academic calendar.
Describe snow tires or all-wheel drive for the hills.

Keyless handoff

On a connected car, drivers unlock with the app during their trip window, using the same technology as Levy Guestpass. You never have to meet anyone to hand over keys.

Automatic toll handling

Tolls from a trip are handled automatically, so you are not chasing drivers for toll bills weeks later.

Your calendar, your price

You decide when the car is available and what it costs per day. Block dates whenever you need the car.

Your price, nothing added

Drivers pay your price plus tax, with no Levy fees added on top. You keep 70%, 80%, or 90% of the trip price, depending on the protection plan you choose.

Hosting on Turo already? You can keep those listings and add Levy as another channel. See how it works for Turo hosts.

Start your listing

Not ready to list? Tell us about your car.

We will email you when bookings open in Ithaca.

Host a car in Ithaca

Earn from your car in New York. It takes a minute, and you can create your listing right after.

Drivers in Ithaca

Rent a car in Ithaca from a local owner

Arrive by bus or plane, pick up a car from a local owner, and drive to Taughannock, Watkins Glen, or the wine trail. Sign up for early access and we will email you when Ithaca cars can be booked.

Cars near downtown, campus, and ITH where hosts offer them
App unlock on connected cars
Tolls handled automatically on longer trips

Bookings are not open yet. Sign up and we will tell you when cars in Ithaca can be reserved. How renting will work.

Get early access in Ithaca

Rent cars from local owners across New York. Sign up and we’ll tell you first when bookings open near you.

FAQ

Car sharing in Ithaca: common questions

More answers for hosts and drivers are on the New York car sharing FAQ.

When can I rent a car from an Ithaca host?

Bookings are not open yet. Hosts can set up listings now, and cars become bookable when the marketplace launches. Sign up for early access and we will tell you when Ithaca opens.

How do I get to Ithaca without a car?

Fly into ITH on Delta from JFK or United from Washington Dulles, or take the Cornell Campus-to-Campus coach, OurBus, or FlixBus. There is no train station; the nearest Amtrak stop is in Syracuse.

Is a shared car useful on Cornell Commencement weekend?

It can be, but plan around road closures. In 2026 central campus roads closed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Commencement day, so pick up away from central campus.

Do Ithaca's winter parking rules affect a shared car?

Yes, on the street. From November 1 to April 1 the city can enforce odd/even parking overnight, and cars must move every 24 hours on weekdays. Hosts with off-street parking avoid both.

Which gorges and waterfalls can I drive to from Ithaca?

Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman are just outside the city, Taughannock is near Trumansburg on Cayuga Lake, and Watkins Glen is at the south end of Seneca Lake. The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is seasonal.

Can I pick up a car near Ithaca Tompkins airport?

If a host near the airport offers it. TCAT Route 32 on weekdays and Route 72 on weekends also serve the terminal.

New York car sharing

New York car sharing For hosts How hosting works For Turo hosts For drivers How renting works Car sharing FAQ

Nearby regions

Car sharing in Syracuse Car sharing in Rochester

Sources

Levy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Turo. Turo is a trademark of its owner. Tolls, parking rules, and park reservations change; confirm with the official source before you drive.

New York notices

NOTICE: New York State Law prohibits the following practices by peer-to-peer car sharing program administrators based upon race, color, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sex, marital status, residence or geographic location, income, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition or age: (1) refusal to allow participation in a peer-to-peer car sharing program; and (2) the imposition of any additional charge (except in certain instances where the shared vehicle driver is under the age of 25). In addition, it is unlawful for any peer-to-peer car sharing program administrator to refuse to allow participation in the program to any person solely on the requirement of ownership of a credit card.

Leased or financed car?

If your vehicle is leased or financed, you may need more insurance. If your vehicle is subject to a lease or loan, you may need additional insurance coverage, including motor vehicle physical damage coverage (collision and comprehensive), to share it through Levy. Check your lease or loan agreement and ask your insurer. For insurance questions, contact the New York State Department of Financial Services: (800) 342-3736, www.dfs.ny.gov.