Named after the nearby lake, the town of Lake Placid is located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, three hundred miles north of the trendy Catskill Mountain range and its not-so distant neighbor, a little island called Manhattan. As a long popular four-season adventure hub, the region has a well-established infrastructure for visitors wishing to take part. This collection of the Lake Placid hotels should help you find the best accommodations for your own trip.
First, some background, and some history. Lake Placid is surrounded by glacial lakes like Saranac Lake and Mirror Lake, plus rivers, streams, and a vast backcountry of nearly unspoiled wilderness that includes the ADK’s well-known 46 High Peaks. (Fun fact: the six-million-acre Adirondack State Park was established in 1892, which made it one of the earliest acts of large-scale public land protection in the nation, after the creation of Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park).
Lake Placid has earned itself a long list of accolades, especially for its winter sports. The town has hosted the Winter Olympics not once, but twice, alongside two other world-class venues, St. Moritz and Innsbruck; its capstone event being the epic showdown between the USSR and USA hockey teams in 1980.
As a year-round destination, Lake Placid has nearly every outdoor recreational activity on offer. Depending on what you’re into, the best times of year to visit are during the winter, from December through March, where visitors can go downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain, cross-country skiing on the outskirts of town, or ice skating on scenic Mirror Lake. Another amazing time to visit Lake Placid is during the summer from June through September. Summertime provides endless opportunities to hike and camp in the wilds of the Adirondacks, go boating, kayaking, and fishing, or simply enjoy a quiet respite in one of the most beautiful places in New York State.
With all of the outdoor pursuits to take advantage of, you’ll inevitably need a place to rest your head. Here, we’ve rounded up the best hotels in Lake Placid that give you everything from mountain views to easy access to main street, and yes, even free wi-fi, along with the genre-defining rustic architectural style that the area is well-known for.
12 Best Lake Placid Hotels in New York's Adirondack Region
Eastwind Lake Placid
Vibe: Hyggelig Hospitality
An historic motor lodge turned boutique hotel, Eastwind Lake Placid is a place where visitors can choose between cozy guest rooms with an upscale rustic design or standalone luxury cabins made by Slovenian manufacturer Lushna that include a private outdoor deck and large picture windows for unobstructed views of the Chubb River. It’s walking distance to town, but there’s also a bar and lounge for nights in, a communal fire pit, and of course, an on-site sauna for the full R+R experience. Eastwind also has two additional locations in the Catskills at Windham and the Oliverea Valley.
Rate: $259 - $419/night
Bluebird Lake Placid
Vibe: Mountainside Japandi Escape
Not far from Mirror Lake, on Saranac Ave, each one of these nature-inspired guest rooms have a tranquil Japandi design aesthetic that will instantly put you at ease. Far from rustic, there are plenty of modern conveniences, but with an overarching theme of simplicity to give you everything you need and nothing that you don’t, so the focus stays on the area’s natural beauty. Book a private room or bunk up with friends in Bluebird’s intentionally spacious Party Friends Suites. Luckily, it’s pet friendly, and with a small fee, that can include your furry friends, too.
Rate: $169-$429/night
Lake Placid Lodge
Vibe: The Great Camp
Located directly on Lake Placid, this ornate, craftsman lodge was designed to evoke the niche architectural style of Great Camps (over-the-top family compounds that were built in the 19th century in the Adirondacks, formerly known as “Adirondack Rustic”) with modern amenities that bring it into the 21st century. Rooms feature large stone fireplaces, hand-carved wooden furniture, and elegant accessories that channel the look and feel of the Gilded Age. Check-in to this upscale retreat for the architectural history, plus the hotel’s quiver of mountain bikes, kayaks, canoes, and other gear rentals before ending the day in a classic Adirondack chair with unbeatable lake views and a cocktail in hand.
Rate: $459+/night
Lake House at High Peaks Resort
Vibe: Mid-Century Mountain House
The Lake House has a casual, homey feel—that is, if your home was a cool, vintage-inspired alpine lake house with postcard-worthy mountain and lake views from the balcony. From the modern-rustic great room filled with comfy couches, games, and a large fireplace to the warm wood finishings, the through line is cozy, casual, and fun. When the weather isn’t cooperating, enjoy a yoga class, or the indoor or outdoor pool, but when it is, make sure to take advantage of their complimentary winter gear and water crafts.
Rate: $269-$401/night
Mirror Lake Inn
Vibe: Stately and Sophisticated
Don your best polo and shine up your loafers to match the old-world charm and elegance of this scenic lakefront resort in Lake Placid. More elevated than a typical bed and breakfast but with the same inviting atmosphere, the Mirror Lake Inn’s spacious rooms look out on Mirror Lake and the Adirondacks’ High Peaks with easy access to both. Plus, it’s not far from downtown or the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. The Mirror Lake Inn Resort also has an award-winning, full-service spa and fitness center that is a must-do on your down days.
Rate: $349+/night
Grand Adirondack Hotel
Vibe: Main Street Revival
In the heart of downtown Lake Placid, the Grand Adirondack Hotel is a modern revival of what was formerly Hotel Marcy in the early 1920s. The historic bones of this main street locale has seen more than a few iterations, however, the current version finds a lovely way to bridge past and present through locally sourced Adirondack Rustic-inspired furnishings, an open-air rooftop bar, and restaurant aptly named, Marcy.
Rate: $293-$319/night
Town House Lodge
Vibe: Motel Meets Chalet
The Town House Lodge has a laid back, old-school vibe with a community kitchen similar to a hostel for those who prefer to be self-sufficient travelers. Technically a motel, this delightfully retro alpine-style lodge is tucked away in a quiet part of town that’s still only a 1.5-mile walk to the downtown for easy access to main street shops and restaurants. Use it as a jumping off point for outdoor adventures, or rent one of their cruiser bikes and pedal over to the nearby Olympic Center.
Rate: $111+/night
The Haus Lake Placid
Vibe: Downtown Digs
Although these bright and airy Scandi-inspired rooms feel a little more stark and not as cozy as we’d like, the Haus on Mirror Lake has an unbeatable location at the center of town with stunning lake views and the surrounding High Peaks. Keep in mind that this hotel takes a more hands-off approach, and there is no 24-hour front desk service, on-site free parking, or elevator, but on the flip side, all shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
Rates: $229-$449/night
The Adirondack Loj
Vibe: Backcountry Bunkhouse
Not a hotel per se, the iconic Adirondack Loj sits on the picturesque shores of Heart Lake 15 minutes south of town in the secluded woods of the Wilderness Campground. The historic building is the main access point to the High Peaks Region and is just a short walk away from the trailhead that leads hikers up to the region’s two tallest peaks: Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak. Owned and operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, this rugged timber frame building can sleep 38 guests in private rooms, hostel-style bunkrooms, or co-ed lofts. A home cooked meal is served family style in the dining room each night, and there’s a large stone fireplace in the rustic great room where you can spend the night swapping stories from the trail.
Rates: $71-$160/night
More Great Hotels Near Lake Placid, New York
The Deer’s Head Inn — Elizabethtown, NY
Vibe: Past Meets Present
In Elizabethtown, only a half-hour east of Lake Placid, is the Deer’s Head Inn, a restaurant and hotel, with a storied past that’s 200 years-old and counting. Locavores will appreciate the tavern’s curated menu while out-of-towners can spend the night in one of their six renovated rooms, each furnished with simple and modest decor that gives a nod to its early American history.
Rates: $145/night
Saranac Waterfront Lodge — Saranac Lake, NY
Vibe: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The epitome of lakeside rustic luxury, the Saranac Waterfront Lodge is a 3.5-star hotel that’s a quick 15-minute drive from Lake Placid’s main street and Olympic Center. However, the lodge puts itself in another category than its flashy neighbor, and instead, draws from Saranac Lake’s history as a literary haven and artist’s escape rather than focus solely on the area’s abundance of outdoor and adventurous pursuits. Mark Twain famously spent the summer of 1901 writing in a lakefront cabin in Saranac Lake.
Rates: $274-$449/night
Published 07-12-2023
