Driving directions

From New York City and New Jersey:

Take the NY State Thruway (I-87) north to the Adirondack Northway (Exit 24 in Albany). Follow I-87 to Exit 30. Turn left (west) onto Route 9 north and follow it for two miles to the intersection with Route 73. Continue straight on 73 for 28 miles to the Lake Placid area. Drive time from NYC: 5 hours, Albany: 2.5 hours.

From Montreal:

Take Route 15 south to the Champlain crossing, connecting with I-87 south. Take Exit 34 west, following Route 9N, then follow Route 86 to the Whiteface Mountain/Lake Placid area. Drive time: 2 hours.

From Ottawa:

Take routes south to the Cornwall Bridge. Once over the bridge, take Route 37 east to Malone. Follow Route 30 south to Paul Smiths. In Paul Smiths, turn left onto Route 86. Follow Route 86 and continue to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Drive time: 3 hours.

From Toronto:

Take 401 east to the Cornwall Bridge. Once over the bridge, take Route 37 east to Malone. Follow Route 30 south to Paul Smiths. In Paul Smiths, turn left onto Route 86. Follow Route 86 and continue to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Drive time: 5.5 hours.

From Boston, Springfield, and Hartford:

Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) toward Albany. Take exit 6A to merge on to I-787 north to Cohoes. Take exit 9W to connect with Route 7 west to I-87 north. Follow I-87 (Adirondack Northway) to Exit 30. Turn left (west) onto Route 9 north and follow it for two miles to the intersection with Route 73. Continue straight on 73 for 28 miles to the Lake Placid area.Drive time from Boston: 5 hours.

From Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and points West:

Take I-90 (NY State Thruway) east to Exit 36 (Syracuse). Pick up I-81 north and follow to Watertown. Take Route 3 and follow it east to Saranac Lake, then follow Route 86 east to Lake Placid. Drive times: From Buffalo: 5.5 hours; Rochester: 4.5 hours; Syracuse: 3.5 hours. 

Don't feel like driving? Learn how to travel to Lake Placid by bus, train or air service