Dec 28

Dec 28 The Complete Guide to Lake Placid, New York

From the second I parked my car I knew I would never want to leave this place. The town itself isn’t very large, but the people are friendly and you get a small-town vibe from walking along the streets. Despite being a pretty touristy mountain town because of the Olympics and the surrounding Adirondack region, I didn’t feel overwhelmed as a solo female.

Lake Placid is home to so much history and serene beauty, and if it's not already on your bucket list then it needs to be. Surrounding the town is a few of the famed Adirondack High Peaks as well.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LAKE PLACID

It was home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and the “Miracle” game. It’s also only one of a few places that have ever held two Winter Olympics.
There are only about 2,300 people living here.
Halloween is a huge event in Lake Placid, and the residents take it very seriously.
The inventor of the Dewey Decimal System founded the Lake Placid Club and won the bid to hold the 1932 Winter Olympics. He also loved the town so much that he got the local commissioners of Florida’s Lake Stearns to change its name to Lake Placid as well.
Travel & Leisure named Lake Placid one of the top towns for fall colors back in 2014.
The Adirondack Mountains are the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 states, covering about 6.1 million acres (a fifth of the state of New York). They are known for the 46 High Peaks.
The Lake Placid Pub & Brewery was visited by Hillary Clinton’s interns in 2000, and they liked it so much they brought some beer back to Bill as a gift who also loved it.
The white sand beach along Mirror Lake is made of eco-friendly crushed limestone to help clean the lake.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Cell service is spotty in the Adirondack region, but when visiting downtown Lake Placid some, if not most, of the businesses and food places have wifi.

There are two lakes to visit, Mirror Lake and Lake Placid. Mirror Lake is located downtown and is the more photographed one, while Lake Placid the lake is just north of the city and is used more for water sports.

GETTING THERE & AROUND

Most roads leading here are cashless toll roads, so consider getting an EZ Pass (works in multiple states). The nearest airports are Burlington International, and Plattsburgh International, as well as some regional airports just outside the city.

Nearest major cities:

Distance from Burlington, Vermont: 2 hours / 61 miles
Distance from New York City: 5 hours / 294 miles
Distance from Buffalo, New York: 6 hours / 345 miles
Distance from Montreal, Canada: 2 hours / 109 miles
Distance from Washington DC: 8 hours / 500 miles

Driving around the Adirondacks, you have stunning views all around. Once you get to downtown Lake Placid, it’s just your typical small touristy town.

>> Related: Chasing Fall Colors in Lake Placid <<

Accommodations in & Around Lake Placid

Wilmington Notch Campground
North Pole Campground
Lake Placid/Whiteface Mtn. KOA Holiday
Backcountry Camping
Mirror Lake Inn
The Pines Inn
High Peaks Resort
Golden Arrow Resort
Airbnb’s/hotels in nearby Jay, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Wilmington

While there are plenty of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) campgrounds in the area, many of them close before the fall colors are at their peak, so just be sure to check out each campground’s webpage to see when it’s open.

>> Related: Tips For Your First Solo Female Camping Trip <<

WHERE TO EAT

Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Luna Restaurant
Generations Tap & Grill
Great Adirondack Brewing Company
The Pickled Pig
Dack Shack
Emmas’ Lake Placid Creamery
Cocoa & Dough Co.
The Coffee Bar
Soulshine Bagel
Smoke Signals

Activities in the area

Go for a Hike: Being surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains, there is no shortage of hiking trails.

Ride a Scenic Gondola: The Cloudsplitter Gondola takes you up to “Little Whiteface” which offers similarly stunning views of the surrounding region and a closeup view of the Whiteface Mountain peak.

Drive to the Top of a Mountain: Not a fan of big hikes? No worries, you can still get to the top of a mountain by driving a toll road. The Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway takes you just below the peak, where you can then hike a short distance or take an elevator to the top.

Lake Day: Spend the day exploring Mirror Lake by sitting on one of the Adirondack chairs, paddle boarding or kayaking, taking a walk around the lake, and more. Nearby there’s also Heart Lake, which offers great hiking and views all year long.

Explore Olympic Sites: Lake Placid is home to many 1932 and 1980 Olympic Legacy Sites, including the Olympic Center and the Museum, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and Mt. Van Hoevenberg.