TG Safe Restrooms in Upstate NY

Attractions With Gender-Friendly Restrooms Across NY State

For many of us girls, one of the hardest parts of going out dressed, is finding a restroom to use, in which we won't be arrested or cause a scene. For those who pass very well, and have had years of experience in public dressed, I am sure this whole issue is silly. But for others, especially those with special needs, who cannot pass at all, or are afraid of creating an scene, or do not want to be discovered in their hometown, this can be a serious problem. Also, if you travel dressed, you can never be sure if a safe restroom will be available for your use.

Fortunately for us, there are many facilities available which have either single person female bathrooms, or unisex bathrooms. A "single person restroom" is one in which here is only one toilet and only one person at a time is in the restroom. A "unisex" restroom is similar to the single person restroom, except that it is indicated that either sex may use it; oftentimes, these restrooms are the only restrooms in a facility, or are specially built for handicapped access. The difference for us being, that the legal status of the unisex restroom is obvious, but the single person female restrooms still might get you into trouble; however, since only one person at a time uses it, it is very unlikely it will upset anyone.

If you have any to add, please contact me and let me know. Some things to keep in mind when using restrooms here in NY state, is that state, county and municipal laws and ordinances vary. If you go out often in a given area, it might be a good idea to do some research on this topic. I have been told on reasonably reliable authority, that it is illegal to use the women's restroom on state property, and you are subject to arrest if caught. State property includes Thruway service areas, highway rest stops, state owned buildings, etc. If someone can give me the point me to the specific laws concerning this, or disprove this totally, please let me know, so I can prove this to others definitively.

I recently took a trip to Philadelphia, PA, and have decided to add some information about PA as well. If you have some information about PA, let me know.

I need info on Cortland, Horseheads, and the route 11 commercial strip in Binghamton. ANY info on safe restrooms in small towns along well-traveled routes is especially appreciated!

Malls and Shopping Centers

Arnot Mall, Horseheads NY
In addition to the male and female restrooms, there is a single stall unisex bathroom. You can find this restroom down the corridor just off the food court, just past the entry to the male and female bathrooms.

Carousel Center, Syracuse NY
There is only one unisex restroom in the entire facility that I was able to find. It can be found at Kahunaville, on the lowest level of the mall. You have to pass through the game room to get to it, so be careful of the children there. It can be found just to the left of the steps leading up to the main restrooms.

Colonie Center Mall, Albany NY
There are NO unisex restroom facilities, nor any single person female restrooms at this mall.

Downtown Ithaca, Ithaca NY
There is a single use unisex restroom inside Juna's Cafe. It is for "customers only", so please purchase something if you are going to use it. Local TGs have used this restroom with no problem. This is the only safe restroom in all of the downtown area.

Marketplace Mall, Rochester NY
There is a unisex single use restroom right next to the regular restrooms in the food court area.

Eastview Mall, Rochester NY
In addition to the male and female restrooms, there is a single stall unisex bathroom. You can find this restroom across the hall from the regular bathrooms. A sign on the restroom says it requires a key you have to get from mall security, but when I was there it was not locked.

Downtown Elmira, NY
There is a single-use female restroom in the 50s Retro Diner. You will probably have to be a customer to use it.

Oakdale Mall, Binghamton NY
There is a single user restroom in the McDonald's in the food court. The restroom can be found down the hall off to the left of the counter.

Olean Center Mall, Olean NY
There are NO unisex restroom facilities, nor any single person female restrooms at this mall.

Pyramid Mall, Ithaca NY
There is a unisex restroom in the new Target store, located adjacent to the pharmacy. This is the ONLY safe restroom in the entire area.

Ithaca Route 13 commercial corridor, Ithaca NY
There is a handicapped single use restroom inside the Lowes. There are single use female restrooms inside Taco Bell, Burger King, Wendy's and the Salvation Army Family Store. Wal-Mart has NO safe restrooms, nor does Wegman's or Tops. The Fastrac on the corner of 13 and 89 has a single use female restroom, as does the Citgo along route 13 south heading into Ithaca, behind Purity Ice Cream.

Route US 20/NY 78/Transit Road Corridor, Buffalo NY
There is a single use female restroom inside Mighty Taco, 6888 Transit Road.

Shoppingtown Mall, Syracuse NY
There are NO unisex restroom facilities, nor any single person female restrooms at this mall.

Waterloo Premium Outlets, Waterloo NY
There are NO unisex restroom facilities, nor any single person female restrooms at this mall. There is a single use female restroom at the convienence store at the corner of 318 and 414 if totally desparate.

Walden Galleria Mall, Buffalo NY
There is a unisex single use restroom right next to the regular restrooms in the food court area.

Attractions

NY State Fairgrounds/Expo Center, Syracuse NY
The expositions which occur during the non-Fair season are located in the buildings across the fairgrounds. None of the buildings with restrooms have unisex or single use restrooms, and therefore no safe restroom is available for use during these events. There is one unisex handicapped restroom, but it is only available during the NYS Fair, and requires a key from the information booth to enter. This restroom is located just off to the left of the ATM by the main gate; this restroom is indicated on the fair map but is may not be marked on the door. Because of how inconvenient this restroom is, you may want to plan your schedule accordingly.

Clemens Center, Elmira NY
There is a unisex restroom available for out use. The management wrote the TG community a letter, and said it is ok for us to use this restroom, and prefers we use this restroom.

Travel

Hancock International Airport, Syracuse NY
There are single use "family restrooms" on the upper level of the main terminal, near Au Bon Pain.

Ithaca NY to Seneca Falls area via route 89, 96 and 414
Ithaca to Seneca Falls via route 89 - The only restrooms AT ALL between Ithaca and Seneca Falls via route 89 are at Taughannock Falls State Park falls overlook; they are seasonal and are NOT gender-safe, though the restroom at the falls overlook is seldom used weekdays.

Ithaca to Seneca Falls via 96 - There is a single-use female restroom at the Subway just outside Trumansburg. There is a non-gender safe restoom at the Fastrac at the corner of 414, 96 and 96A in Ovid; one TG was explicitly told by management not to use it, use with extreme caution. These are the ONLY restrooms available on this route.

There are NO restrooms at all from Ovid to Geneva via 96A.

Junction of Route 5 and 414, Seneca Falls NY
There is a single-use female restroom in the Burger King, just east of the junction of 414 and route 5. This area features a Wal-Mart and several fast food restaraunts, and the Thruway is just a few minutes north of there.

NY State Thruway
Between Buffalo and Albany: Ontario (westbound), Warners (westbound) and Schuyler (westbound) Port Byron (eastbound), DeWitt (eastbound), Mohawk (eastbound), and Guilderland (eastbound) service areas all have unisex restrooms. Between Albany and New York City: New Baltimore (west and eastbound), Malden (northbound), Plattekill (northbound), Modena (southbound) and Sloatsburg (northbound) service areas all have unisex restrooms. There are NO unisex restrooms between Buffalo and the PA state line.

Attractions With Gender-Friendly Restrooms Across PA

Malls and Shopping Centers

King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia PA
The mall has several "Family Restrooms" across the facility. These are single use restrooms and safe for our use.

Travel

Pennsylvania Turnpike, NE Extension (I-476)
There are no safe restrooms at either of the two service plazas along this highway. If you must use the restroom, use the ones inside the gas station, not the ones in the main building with the restaurants and gift shop, which are usually very busy. The women's room may be single use, I do not know; I do not believe the door can be locked, however, so bear that in mind.