Overview
For the city in Florida, see Lake Placid (Florida). Lake Placid is a village of 2,400 people (2019) in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, near the center of the town of North Elba and named after an adjacent lake.
While the village is a year-round resort, it is most known as the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. In a 1980 USA-USSR hockey game, the "Miracle on Ice," a group of American college students and amateurs upset the heavily-favored Soviet national ice hockey team 4-3. Two days later, they won the gold medal.
Lake Placid hosts a Winter Olympics summer training facility where one can watch sports like ski jumping, aerial jumping and figure skating. The town is charming and fun for the outdoorsy and/or adventure-spirited.
3 sights · 10 things to do · 11 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lake Placid
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
The home and grave of abolitionist John Brown, hanged by the state of Virginia for a 1859 raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia), a key milestone on the path to a deadly Civil War which led ulti…
Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum
Lake Placid Center for the Arts
Gallery and live theater
Adirondack Sleigh Rides
Adirondack horse drawn sleigh ride from Hohmeyers Lake Clear Lodge. Hay rides available spring-fall at Plattsburgh, NY Country Dreams Farm.
Ausable Chasm
Classic and walking tours, rafting, tubing, mountain biking, rappelling, disc golf and gemstone mining. Motel, campground and souvenir shop on-site.
High Falls Gorge
Trails and picnic areas along Ausable River.
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.
- SLK Adirondack Regional Airport, Saranac Lake — 13 mi away. Directions
- PBG Plattsburgh International Airport, Plattsburgh — 36 mi away. Directions
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 107 mi away (major hub). Directions
Lake Placid is about 5 hours from New York City and 2 1/2 hours from Montreal. From Interstate 87 take Route 9N and follow the signs.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $58–$138 a night (typical $129), from 4 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $24 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$210, comfortable ~$320.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Adirondack Sleigh Rides, Rock and River Adirondack Guide Service
- Lunch Saranac Sourdough
- Afternoon Cascade Cross Country Ski, Placid Planet
- Dinner Soulshine Bagel
- Evening Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Day 2
- Morning John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Ausable Chasm
- Lunch Generations Tap & Grill
- Afternoon Northeast Ice, Uihlein Sugar Maple Field Station
- Dinner Black Bear Restaurant
- Evening Zigzags
Day 3
- Morning Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum, High Falls Gorge
- Lunch Bluesberry Bakery
- Afternoon Speed Skating Oval, High Peaks Cyclery
- Dinner Lisa G's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Most visitor-targeted restaurants can be found on Main St. along the lake front. More local options are on Highway 86 and 73 on either ends of town.
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.
Get in
By car
Lake Placid is about 5 hours from New York City and 2 1/2 hours from Montreal. From Interstate 87 take Route 9N and follow the signs.
By bus
By train
Place Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Scenic tourist railroad line from Utica's Union Station to Saranac Lake.
By plane
The Lake Placid Airport serves only charter and scenic planes. The closest domestic airport is Adirondack Airport (SLK) in Saranac Lake. Plattsburgh is international in name only (no scheduled international flights); the nearest international airports are Albany, Burlington, and Montreal.
Get around
While it is easy to get around downtown on foot (arguably preferable, in fact, given the frequent traffic snarls on Main Street), and there is a free trolley service along the lake, you'll need a car to see any of the nearby area.
To get out onto the lake, short-term (one hour) boat rental is available.
See
Lake Placid is in the Adirondack Park, the largest state park east of the Mississippi River. It is home to 46 High Peaks, all of which rise above 4000 feet, and many of which can be viewed simultaneously from the summit of many of the neighboring mountains. On a clear day it is possible to see Vermont, New York, and Canada from the summit of Whiteface Mountain, which is located adjacent to Lake Placid.
See John Brown Farm State Historic Site
The home and grave of abolitionist John Brown, hanged by the state of Virginia for a 1859 raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia), a key milestone on the path to a deadly Civil War which led ultimately to the liberation of enslaved African Americans. Historic house with picnic area, guided tours and re-enactments, hiking and cross-country ski area.
Do
Winter
;Ice climbing: Adirondack ice forms reliably from November to March. Keene Valley boasts some of the best ice climbing in the northeast.
;Speed Skating: The famed Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid, home to some of the greatest legends in Winter Olympic history, is open to the public for speed skating and public skating sessions during the winter.
;Cross Country Skiing: Miles of groomed Nordic ski trails on the famous Jackrabbit trail system, extending from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid, include amazing views of the High Peaks... or try your skills on Olympic trails.
;Maple Syrup: Each year, the sugary scent of maple sap being boiled down to syrup fills the mountain air in time for the spring thaw.
;World Cup Events: From snowboarding, bobsled, luge, skeleton to freestyle skiing, see some of the greatest talent each sport has to offer and enjoy the feats and skills of athletes who train year-round for the chance to compete against the best.
Summer
;Mountain and road biking Lake Placid is home to some of the best mountain biking in the northeast. The trails are technical and range widely in levels of difficulty. Two local bike shops offer group rides during the summer. Mt. Van Hovenburg and Whiteface Mountain are popular for cross country and downhill riding. For road biking, some of the best views can be seen between Lake Placid and Keene, as well as around Essex County.
;Whiteface Mountain: The 8-passenger Cloudsplitter Gondola takes visitors from the base of Whiteface to the summit of Little Whiteface in about fifteen minutes with views of the trails, the Ausable River, and the Intervale Ski Jumping Complex. The Veterans Memorial Highway from Wilmington rises to the summit of Whiteface Mountain with a parking area at the top.
;Biathlon: With the help of a range attendant, test your marksmanship with .22 caliber biathlete rifles at the Olympic shooting complex at Mt. Van Hovenburg. The shooting distance is 50 meters.
;Hiking: All 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks can be reached from the vicinity of Lake Placid by car. Some are more strenuous than others, and while many have well-beaten paths leading to their summits, many require significant bushwhacking to ascend. Local guides are available. Be sure to set out with a group of people with plenty of water, food, rain gear and safety equipment.
The Northville Placid Trail (NPT) is a 133-mile footpath that crosses the heart of the Adirondack Park in New York State from Northville, NY to Lake Placid, NY. It is considered a lowland trail in that it doesn’t cross mountain peaks or follow mountain ridges. The trail passes through what many consider the wildest and most remote parts of the Adirondack Park, notably the high plateau that encompasses the Spruce, West Canada, and Cedar lakes area, along with that of the Cold River. The highest point the N-P Trail reaches (3008 ft) is at the crest of the ridge to the E of Blue Mt. and Tirrell Pond.
Buy
Eat
Most visitor-targeted restaurants can be found on Main St. along the lake front. More local options are on Highway 86 and 73 on either ends of town.
Budget
Eat Saranac Sourdough
Selection of deli sandwiches and homemade breads baked daily, country breakfasts.
Eat Soulshine Bagel
Breakfast, lunch. Bakery with fresh bagels, made-to-order fruit smoothies and many sandwich options. Cash only.
Mid-range
Eat Bluesberry Bakery
Great for croissants and scones with coffee in the morning
Eat Lisa G's
Burgers, wings, bar, patio, relaxed atmosphere and lots of fun
Eat Tail O' the Pup
Outdoor BBQ and fish fries, live music, full bar. Cabin rentals.
Eat Generations Tap & Grill (Generations)
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The goal is to keep it as local and fresh as possible, showcasing many wonderful farms and products that are grown, raised and cultivated in New York’s Adirondack region. You can enjoy a meal looking out over Mirror Lake. Outdoor seating is available as well.
Splurge
Eat Interlaken Inn
Victorian B&B inn with restaurant, Tuscan wine cellar, awarded by national wine publications
Eat The Cottage
Upscale pub grub and excellent nachos
Eat Paradox Lodge and Restaurant
This restaurant recommends advance reservations, adds an 18% gratuity to the bill and does not serve kids under 13.
Eat Whiteface Lodge
At Whiteface Club & Resort.
Drink
There are several bars right along the main strip of the town.
Drink Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Restaurant with pub fare and desserts. Microbrewery has several in-house mixtures, an Espresso Beer which tastes mostly like coffee, an Oatmeal Beer and their award-winning Ubu Ale. Brewery tours Sa 4:30PM or by appointment.
Drink Zigzags
Billiards and live music, bobsled out front.
Sleep
There are numerous resort hotels located in town as well as bed and breakfasts in the surrounding area. If a longer stay is desired, various condominiums and timeshare plans are available as well.
Go next
- Keene Valley is less than twenty miles away and offers great hiking, camping, and climbing.
- Wilmington is less than twelve miles away and offers great hiking, downhill skiing, ice climbing, mountain biking, and fly fishing. It is the home of Whiteface Mountain which hosted the downhill skiing events for the 1980 Winter Olympics. It is also home to the West Branch of the Ausable River which is considered one of the best trout streams in the East. Near Wilmington is North Pole (New York), an early Christmas theme park.
- Montreal, Quebec is a 2½ hour drive.
Nearby
Saranac Lake
City / town · 46 listings · 8 mi away
Keene
City / town · 5 listings · 10 mi away
North Pole
City / town · 3 listings · 10 mi away
Wilmington
City / town · 26 listings · 11 mi away
Jay
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
Elizabethtown
City / town · 13 listings · 20 mi away
Tupper Lake
City / town · 11 listings · 24 mi away
Westport
City / town · 8 listings · 28 mi away
My experience
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