Your Guide to Traveling to the Lake George Area
Getting to the Lake George Area is easier than it might seem, whether you're arriving by car, plane, train, or bus. As the official visitor guide for the Lake George Area, published by the Warren County Tourism Department, this guide covers every route and travel option — driving directions, nearby airports, Amtrak service, bus lines, and more — so you can spend less time planning and more time looking forward to your trip. Once you've made it here, there's no shortage of things to do, from lake days to mountain hikes to a full calendar of events happening throughout the year.
Jump to: Car · Air · Train · Bus · Traveling from Canada · Getting Around · Distances · FAQs
Getting Here by Car
Getting to the Lake George Area by car is easy, and with mountain and lake views along nearly every route, the drive becomes part of the vacation. Most visitors arrive via the Adirondack Northway, which runs directly through the region between Exits 18 and 26. For Lake George Village itself, use Exit 21 or Exit 22.
- From the north, take I-87 South (Adirondack Northway) directly to Exits 26–18.
- If you’re coming from the south, take I-87 North (New York State Thruway) to Exit 24 in Albany, follow I-90 East a short distance to Exit 1N, then take I-87 North (Adirondack Northway) to Exits 18–26.
- And from the east, take I-90 West to Exit 1N in Albany, then take I-87 North (Adirondack Northway) to Exits 18–26.
- If you’re driving from the west, take I-90 East (New York State Thruway) to Exit 24 in Albany, continue on I-90 East a short distance to Exit 1N, then take I-87 North (Adirondack Northway) to Exits 18–26.
Getting Here by Air
There's no commercial airport directly in the Lake George Area, so most visitors flying in connect through Albany International Airport (ALB) (518-242-2200), about 50 miles south of the region and served by most major airlines. Car rentals and bus service are available right from the airport, and some area lodging properties offer shuttle service from Albany as well.
If you're already planning to fly into the New York City area, the Lake George Area is also reachable from JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark — expect a drive of roughly 4 hours by rental car, or you can connect north by Amtrak from Penn Station, covered in Getting Here by Train.
For private planes and charters, Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury serves the area, with Rich Air (518-798-3091) operating as its full-service FBO. Prearranged car rentals are available through A-1 Express (518-793-0888), Enterprise (518-745-5020), or Hertz (518-792-8525), and some area hotels offer shuttle service.
Getting Here by Train
Two AMTRAK® (800-872-7245) routes stop at the Fort Edward station, about 20 minutes from the Lake George Area: the Adirondack, which runs once daily in each direction between New York City and Montreal, and the Ethan Allen Express, which runs once daily in each direction between New York City and Burlington, Vermont. From the station, local taxis are available, and CDTA Route 404 runs Monday through Saturday between the station and downtown Glens Falls, where you can connect to other CDTA routes serving the area. See the Route 404 schedule for times.
If you’d like more train times to choose from or a rental car waiting when you arrive, Albany-Rensselaer is a popular alternative. It’s one of Amtrak’s busiest stations, with multiple daily trains from New York City and an Enterprise rental counter inside the station, and the Lake George Area is about an hour’s drive north from there. Both the Adirondack and the Ethan Allen Express also stop at Saratoga Springs, about 30 minutes from the Lake George Area, which makes it an easy choice if you’re planning to spend time in Saratoga, too.
And if you’re riding the Adirondack between Saratoga Springs and Westport on a Saturday from June through November, keep an eye out for the Trails & Rails program, a partnership between Amtrak and the National Park Service. Volunteer guides ride along and share the history and sights of the route at no extra cost, depending on volunteer availability. Learn more about Trails & Rails from the National Park Service.
Getting Here by Bus
Adirondack Trailways (800-858-8555 / 833-851-7608) and Greyhound (800-231-2222) both serve Lake George Village and other towns in the region, including Glens Falls, from destinations across the U.S. CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority) also runs local bus routes connecting Glens Falls, Lake George, Hudson Falls, and Fort Edward. See CDTA’s Warren County routes and schedules for details.
Traveling from Canada
For visitors coming from the north, two resources can help make the border crossing simple: a guide for Canadian residents entering the United States, and a guide for residents returning to Canada.
Getting Around Once You Arrive
Once you’re in the Lake George Area, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft and local taxi companies can get you to your hotel, a restaurant, or an attraction without your own car, though availability and wait times vary by town, season, and time of day. That said, since the region spans lakefront villages, mountain trailheads, and everything in between, having a car — your own or a rental — gives you the most flexibility for exploring the outdoors across the full area.
How Far Is the Lake George Area From…?
If you're planning your trip, here are relative distances from several popular starting points:
Saratoga Springs, NY
Lake George is about 25 to 30 miles from Saratoga, which would take a drive of about 30 minutes depending on route.
Albany, NY
Lake George is about 55 to 60 miles from Albany, which would take a drive of about 1 hour depending on route.
Lake Placid, NY
Lake George is about 80 to 90 miles from Lake Placid, which would take a drive of about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on route.
Montreal, Canada
Lake George is about 160 to 170 miles / 260 to 270 kilometers from Montreal, which would take a drive of about 2.5 to 3 hours depending on route.
New York City
Lake George is about 210 to 220 miles from New York City, which would take a drive of about 3.5 to 4 hours depending on route.
Boston, MA
Lake George is about 225 to 230 miles from Boston, which would take a drive of about 3.5 to 4 hours depending on route.
Buffalo, NY
Lake George is about 310 to 320 miles from Buffalo, which would take a drive of about 5 hours depending on route.
Please note: These distance and drive-time estimates are based on traveling by car. For other options, see Getting Here by Train, Getting Here by Bus, and Getting Here by Air.
However you get here, we're glad you're coming. Once your travel plans are set, check out our full calendar of events happening during your visit, or start browsing places to stay to lock in your home base for the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there direct flights to Lake George, NY?
No. There is no commercial airport located directly in the Lake George Area, so there are no direct flights to Lake George itself. The closest commercial airport is Albany International Airport (ALB), about 50 miles south of the region, roughly a 1 hour drive. Travelers coming from further away can also fly into a New York City area airport, such as JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark, and continue north by rental car, Amtrak, or bus.
What's the closest airport with commercial flights to the Lake George Area?
Albany International Airport (ALB) is the closest airport with commercial service, located about 50 miles south of the Lake George Area. It's served by most major airlines and has car rental counters, bus service, and shuttle service from some area lodging properties. Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury is closer to Lake George itself, but it serves private planes and charters rather than scheduled commercial flights.
What are my car rental options in the Lake George Area?
You can rent a car right at Albany International Airport, where most major national companies have counters. National rental companies including Enterprise and Hertz also operate locations in nearby Queensbury, so a rental car is easy to arrange even if you're not flying into Albany. Prearranged rentals are also available through A-1 Express, Enterprise, and Hertz at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport for travelers arriving by private plane.
Is Uber or Lyft available in the Lake George Area?
Yes. Uber and Lyft both operate in the Lake George Area, and local taxi companies serve the region as well, so getting from the airport, the train station, or your hotel to your next destination doesn't require a rental car. Availability and wait times can vary by town, season, and time of day, with the busiest summer weekends seeing higher demand, so it's smart to keep a local taxi number handy as a backup.
What's the fastest way to get from New York City to the Lake George Area?
Driving is generally the fastest option, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic and route. Amtrak also runs directly from New York City to the Fort Edward station, about 20 minutes from the Lake George Area, on both the Adirondack and the Ethan Allen Express, with local taxis and CDTA bus service available from the station. Adirondack Trailways and Greyhound also offer bus service from New York City to Lake George Village.
Is there a train station directly in the Lake George Area?
Not directly in Lake George Village. The closest Amtrak station is in Fort Edward, about 20 minutes away, served once daily in each direction by both the Adirondack (New York City to Montreal) and the Ethan Allen Express (New York City to Burlington, Vermont). From the station, local taxis are available, and CDTA Route 404 runs Monday through Saturday to downtown Glens Falls, with connections to other CDTA routes serving the area. Saratoga Springs, about 30 minutes away, is served by the same two trains, and Albany-Rensselaer, about an hour away, offers more frequent daily service from New York City.
Is parking available for visitors arriving by car?
Yes. Lake George Village has metered on-street parking as well as several public parking lots, with payment available by meter or the ParkMobile app. A limited number of free, non-metered spaces are also located on the west side of the village, though these typically require a short walk to the downtown area. Designated accessible parking spaces are available at several locations throughout the village as well.
Are travel options to the Lake George Area accessible for travelers with disabilities?
Yes, in general. The Fort Edward Amtrak station has an accessible platform, and CDTA buses serving the region, including the route connecting to the Fort Edward station, are wheelchair accessible. The Fort Edward station does not keep a wheelchair on-site, so travelers who need one should contact Amtrak in advance to arrange passenger assistance. Albany International Airport also offers standard accessibility services for travelers with disabilities.