48 Hours in Lake Placid

Lake Placid is a year-round destination in New York’s Adirondacks, offering visitors mountain scenery, outdoor adventures, lakeside activities and a rich Olympic history. The village has hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice and remains home to several original Olympic venues.

The destination can be explored through a two-day itinerary combining accommodations, shopping, dining, outdoor recreation and visits to Olympic landmarks.

Friday: Main Street and Local Dining

Visitors can begin their trip by checking into a lakeside hotel before exploring Main Street, where shops, restaurants and seasonal entertainment provide an introduction to the village.

The itinerary recommends a stop at Big Slide Brewery for craft beer, views of the Olympic Ski Jumps and a farm-to-table menu featuring wood-fired pizzas and other dishes.

Dinner can follow at Smoke Signals on Main Street, which offers Southern-style barbecue with outdoor seating overlooking Mirror Lake and Whiteface Mountain.

Saturday: Outdoor Adventures and Olympic History

Saturday begins with breakfast on Main Street before visitors head outdoors.

During warmer months, activities include mountain biking on Craig Wood Trails and guided fly fishing on the West Branch of the Ausable River. In winter, visitors can explore cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails at the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt Van Hoevenberg.

The afternoon itinerary focuses on Lake Placid’s Olympic heritage. Visitors can explore the Olympic Center, learn about the 1980 Winter Olympics and the “Miracle on Ice,” and visit the Olympic Jumping Complex.

Additional activities include bobsled and skeleton experiences, ice skating and other attractions at the Olympic Legacy Sites.

Visitors can also explore Mirror Lake by canoe, kayak, paddleboard, paddleboat, rowboat or sailboat during warmer months. In winter, the frozen lake becomes a setting for ice skating, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, pond hockey and dog sledding.

Sunday: Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondacks

The final day begins with a walk around Mirror Lake followed by breakfast before heading toward Whiteface Mountain.

During summer and fall, visitors can travel to the summit of Little Whiteface for views of the surrounding landscape. During winter and early spring, Whiteface offers skiing and snowboarding, while visitors can also explore nearby attractions such as the North Pole and Santa’s Workshop.

The itinerary concludes with lunch at Peak 47 at Whiteface Lodge, offering casual dining in an Adirondack setting.

Getting to Lake Placid

Lake Placid can be reached by air through Adirondacks Regional Airport in Saranac Lake, approximately 40 minutes from the village. Travelers can also take Amtrak to Westport Station, followed by a shuttle, taxi or rental car.

Bus service is available through Trailways and Greyhound. By car, Lake Placid is approximately five hours from New York City, 2.5 hours from Albany and Montreal, and five hours from Boston.