Day trip to Lake George from Albany
Fifty-five minutes up the Northway to a swimmable Adirondack lake with a boardwalk, a steamboat, and family-friendly beaches.
Lake George shoreline with Adirondack mountains in the distance
Getting there
I-87 north to Exit 21, about 55 minutes from downtown Albany. Parking in Lake George Village is $10 to $15 for the day in season (Memorial Day to Columbus Day); free on side streets like Amherst if you walk five minutes. No train. Traffic on summer Saturdays after 10am can add 30 minutes; leave Albany by 8am.
What to do at the lake
Million Dollar Beach on Beach Road: $10 parking, free entry, sandy beach, lifeguards, changing rooms. Best family swim spot on the lake. Lake George Steamboat Company on Beach Road runs one-hour cruises from $22 adults, $12 kids. The Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway drives you to a 2,000-foot summit view for $10 per car, open May to October.
Eat
The Lagoon on Canada Street for $14 burgers with lake views. Duffy's Tavern on Canada for wings and $6 drafts, family-friendly until 9pm. Coffee and pastries at Caffe Vero on Canada, $5. Ice cream at Martha's on Route 9, south end of the village, worth the 10-minute drive, $6 cones bigger than your fist.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
Cold but yes, high 60s Fahrenheit. Mid-July through August it is 72 to 76 and comfortable. September the crowds thin but the water stays warm.
Million Dollar Beach in the village: lifeguards, sand, shallow entry, and paid parking. Shepard Park is free and closer to restaurants but rockier.
About $130 for two adults and two kids: $10 parking, $68 steamboat, $50 lunch. Add $20 for ice cream.
The last 15 minutes yes, once you pass Glens Falls. The first 40 minutes are ordinary highway.
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