Crossing the lake
Getting from Burlington into the High Peaks region of New York combines a ferry across Lake Champlain with a mountain drive through Adirondack Park. Three routes work.
Route A, the Grand Isle to Plattsburgh ferry, runs year-round: Route 127 north to the Grand Isle terminal, a twenty-minute crossing, then the drive south and west — about two hours fifteen each way. Route B, Charlotte to Essex, is seasonal and by far the most scenic: Route 7 south to the Charlotte terminal, a twenty-five-minute crossing, and you land directly in historic Essex, New York, about two hours total. Route C skips the boat entirely, running Route 7 south through Vergennes to the Crown Point Bridge and NY Route 73, roughly two hours twenty-five.
The Charlotte to Essex crossing takes 25 minutes over open water, runs every 30 to 60 minutes on a seasonal schedule, costs roughly 15 to 20 dollars for vehicle and driver, and cuts the most driving miles.
Morning: the ferry and the Keene Valley drive
Depart Burlington around 7:30am for the Charlotte terminal and board the 8:30 boat. As it crosses, you get 360-degree views of the Green Mountains receding east and the high wall of the Adirondack High Peaks rising west.
After disembarking, take NY-22 south to Westport, then NY-73 west into the heart of Adirondack Park. This stretch is recognized as one of the most scenic drives in the Northeast. At Cascade Pass the highway narrows between giant rock walls, with Cascade Lake and Pitchoff Mountain looming directly over the road. You also pass trailheads for iconic 4,000-foot peaks including Mount Jo, Giant Mountain and Mount Marcy — New York’s highest point at 5,344 feet.
Midday: Lake Placid village & Mirror Lake
Arrive in the village of Lake Placid, host of both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games. The geography confuses first-timers: Lake Placid, the actual lake, sits to the north, while Mirror Lake sits directly in the centre of town, with Main Street’s shops and restaurants running along its western shore.
Walk the Mirror Lake Loop Trail, a paved 2.7-mile pedestrian path circling the water with mountain peaks reflecting off the surface. Browse Main Street’s outdoor outfitters, artisan craft stores and Adirondack rustic furniture shops. For lunch, take lakefront dining at The Lake House, or local craft beer and pub fare at Big Slide Brewery & Public House.
Afternoon: the 1980 Olympic sites
Spend the afternoon in Lake Placid’s historic sports venues.
At around 1:30, visit the Olympic Center and Herb Brooks Arena downtown, where the Miracle on Ice took place in 1980 when the US men’s hockey team beat the Soviet Union. At 3:00, the Olympic Jumping Complex offers the Skyride gondola and a glass elevator to the top of the 120-metre ski jump tower, with panoramic High Peaks views. At 4:30, drive the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, a paved toll road up New York’s fifth-highest peak, then walk through a stone tunnel and take an elevator up through the mountain core to the summit building at 4,867 feet.
Evening: the return journey
On the drive back, consider stopping at Ausable Chasm — often called the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks — if you are taking the northern ferry route through Plattsburgh.
Board the return ferry as the sun sets over the Adirondack ridgeline, lighting up the water before you arrive back in Vermont.
Trip summary
Plan for an eleven to twelve-hour full-day excursion, with about four hours of total driving and ferry transit.
Ferry crossing — Charlotte to Essex is the scenic choice; check the seasonal schedule and arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Scenic drive — NY Route 73 through Cascade Pass, with multiple pull-offs for photographing the mountain lakes.
Top village activity — the Mirror Lake 2.7-mile loop trail: free, paved and dog-friendly.
Top cultural site — the 1980 Olympic Jumping Complex and Herb Brooks Arena; buy a combined Olympic Sites passport if visiting several venues.
Add-on — Ausable Chasm or the Whiteface toll road, depending on which ferry you take home.
Good to know
How do you get from Burlington to Lake Placid?+
Take a Lake Champlain ferry, then drive. The Charlotte to Essex crossing is seasonal, 25 minutes, and the most scenic at about two hours total each way; Grand Isle to Plattsburgh runs year-round at about two hours fifteen. The Crown Point Bridge avoids the ferry entirely.
How much does the Lake Champlain ferry cost?+
Roughly 15 to 20 dollars one way for a vehicle plus driver on the Charlotte to Essex route. Sailings run every 30 to 60 minutes on a seasonal schedule — check times and arrive about 15 minutes early.
What Olympic sites can you visit in Lake Placid?+
The Olympic Center and Herb Brooks Arena, site of the 1980 Miracle on Ice; the Olympic Jumping Complex, with a Skyride gondola and glass elevator to the top of the 120-metre tower; and the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway to a 4,867-foot summit.
Is NY Route 73 worth driving?+
Yes — it is one of the most scenic drives in the Northeast. It narrows between giant rock walls at Cascade Pass beneath Pitchoff Mountain and passes trailheads for Mount Jo, Giant Mountain and Mount Marcy, New York’s highest peak.
How long does the day trip take?+
Plan eleven to twelve hours door to door, including about four hours of combined driving and ferry time. Leaving Burlington around 7:30am gets you back for a late evening return crossing.