Jay, New York travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Jay is a town of 2,500 people in the Adirondacks of New York.

1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Jay

Great Escape

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 7°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Montpelier)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
PBG Plattsburgh International Airport, Plattsburgh — 23 mi away. Directions
SLK Adirondack Regional Airport, Saranac Lake — 24 mi away. Directions
ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 112 mi away (major hub). Directions

From Wilmington (New York), take NY 86 five miles (8km) east.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Understand

Jay (formerly "Mallory's Bush" or "Lower Jay") is a hamlet on NYS Route 9N along the East Branch of the Ausable River.

The adjacent "Upper Jay" was the site of the "Land of Makebelieve" amusement park (1954-1979), which closed after repeated flooding; some of the fairy tale houses from the park were moved to Storytown (now Great Escape) in Queensbury (south of Lake George).

Get in

From Wilmington (New York), take NY 86 five miles (8km) east.

See

Jay is the "Home of the Covered Bridge". An 1857 covered bridge, rebuilt and reopened as a footbridge in 2007, is below the village green near the rapids.