fun way to adirondack, ny ?

vrus

vrus

Well-known member
Adironrack / Lake Placid planning

I am thinking of going this long weekend, leaving early am Saturday.

Google tells me the fastest is slabbing through 401 and reaching thousand islands. There is a risk I might shoot myself halfway through the slab if I run out of songs to helmet karaoke.

Wondering if there is a better way through buffalo?
tips on :
traffic
lodging
fun roads
 
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i didnt quite make it to adirondack mountains but made it to Lake Placid and back within a day. Went through Kingston. NOT a fun way. maybe a bit scenic.. but not fun.
 
401 to Kingston, ferry to Wolf Island, then a smaller ferry to Cape Vincent, N.Y. Takes longer, but quite relaxing and very pleasant.
 
The 401 sucks. I've gone that way before and I alternated between hwy 2, 401 then getting close to Trenton I went through Prince Edward County and I took the Glenora ferry then hugged lake ontario along 33

it's a bit of a detour and it adds a lot of time but its another option
 
I have always crossed at Buffalo, and avoid interstates to get there. Takes longer, but its much much nicer on country roads. I have come back once, crossing through Cornwall and took the 401 to Kitchener... soul crushing. I would go under Lake Ontario, much nicer ride.
 
Some times I take 7 east and exit south on 38 at Sharbot Lake. This road leads you back to the 401 in Kingston, minimizing your 401 time. It will add 90 minutes to your trip however.
 
Jayell said:
401 to Kingston, ferry to Wolf Island, then a smaller ferry to Cape Vincent, N.Y. Takes longer, but quite relaxing and very pleasant.
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We used this route the last time we went to Lake George and I found it was a better way to cross into the US. The smaller ferry, which takes about 5 minutes to cross the channel from Wolfe Island, lands you at a very small border entry point. The only people entering the states at this location are those on the ferry and when we crossed we had one car and six bikes leaving the boat. It is certainly a more relaxed way to get there, but it does take a little longer.
 
I am thinking the ferry route. I hear it's very short across the border .. and a short time to get to the mountains. Maybe I'll load an audio book or two...

this is another route i am thinking

http://goo.gl/maps/indC7

i am also looking for suggestions of lodging to stay. 1st priority is safe, 2nd is cheap :D . When I did my PA trip two weeks ago, i kinda lucked out on some nice motels. skimming on advrider points me to shamrock motel.

also: speed. i generally do limit in towns, +10 on 45 and 55 rurals, +15 on 65 and interstates. cool?
 
being the long weekend, traffic is going to be awful, especially going through buffalo.

i'd suggest biting the bullet and take 401 to the wolfe island crossing.

also, the thousand island bridge was a 2 hr parking lot when I hit it last year (August long weekend), which is why we turned around and went through wolfe's island
 
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lol more questions. I never really ride anywhere on long weekend holidays, I am wondering how bad the traffic will up there. I am still deciding if I'm gonna do one overnight or two.
 
vrus said:
lol more questions. I never really ride anywhere on long weekend holidays, I am wondering how bad the traffic will up there. I am still deciding if I'm gonna do one overnight or two.
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Traffic on the 401 will be hell, but leaving at 4:30/5:00 a.m. will help. September 1st weekend is generally gridlock everywhere, but once you hit the mountains, my experience in the past has been the traffic is more concentrated in the "hot spot" tourist areas - i.e. Lake Placid, Lake George, Saratoga Springs. But on the roads themselves, you'll probably find more bike traffic than car traffic, so its really only getting through the towns that's a pain.

Coming back on Sunday will definitely be eaiser than coming back on Monday, but if I am going to bite the bullet and cross back over on a holiday Monday, I try to find a spot Sunday night no more than a 2 hour drive from my preferred border crossing - and again pull the 4:00/5:00 a.m. exit strategy. Sounds like a royal pain and it is - as soon as I get off here I'm printing off my Nexxus application form!
 
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Malks said:
The smaller ferry, which takes about 5 minutes to cross the channel from Wolfe Island, lands you at a very small border entry point.
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He's not kidding. Here it is:

oteyci.jpg


No lineups, ever! Don't bother looking for a duty free shop, though, there isn't one.
 
My limited experience (3 trips) is that you wither ride boring, straight southern Ontario roads at 80kph or boring, straight southern Ontario highways at 100kph. I choose the later because it gets me to the good stuff sooner. Cross at 1000 Islands and take 81 south. Beware the State Troopers and the deer. Thereafter the choice is yours for a route into the Adirondacks themselves but the better roads are to the south imo.

Ride safe. I got a huge ticket last time I was there.
 
vrus said:
I am thinking the ferry route. I hear it's very short across the border .. and a short time to get to the mountains. Maybe I'll load an audio book or two...

this is another route i am thinking

http://goo.gl/maps/indC7

i am also looking for suggestions of lodging to stay. 1st priority is safe, 2nd is cheap :D . When I did my PA trip two weeks ago, i kinda lucked out on some nice motels. skimming on advrider points me to shamrock motel.

also: speed. i generally do limit in towns, +10 on 45 and 55 rurals, +15 on 65 and interstates. cool?
Click to expand...

That road from Buffalo along the south shore of Lake Ontario is a busy and slow road. You will waste a lot of time crossing at Buffalo and even more time on that road. As above, bite the bullet and 401 it as far as your nerves will stand it. If I were you I'd leave Friday night and get 3 or 4 hours along the 401 and try to overnight just across the border. Then Saturday morning will all be gravy. I've done Newmarket to Pulaski on a Friday night in about 4 hours, and on a holiday weekend.
 
Fiery254 said:
My limited experience (3 trips) is that you wither ride boring, straight southern Ontario roads at 80kph or boring, straight southern Ontario highways at 100kph. I choose the later because it gets me to the good stuff sooner. Cross at 1000 Islands and take 81 south. Beware the State Troopers and the deer. Thereafter the choice is yours for a route into the Adirondacks themselves but the better roads are to the south imo.

Ride safe. I got a huge ticket last time I was there.
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cheers, thank you. I've decided to do the dreaded slab all the way down. I might detour and take wolfe ferry just for the scenery if I have an hr to spare.

If you don't mind, where did you get clipped in NY? I've been reading online that the troopers don't mess around and have been known to tag for people going just +10 mph.

Lodging doesn't seem to be cheap anywhere! If I can do $150 for two days.. that would be nice.
 
Just outside the town of Taberg. It was a Saturday morning and there was a local fair/farmers market on. Traffic was horrible and I was in a hurry. I overtook some old biddy in her 30 year old Cadillac and never deaccelerated. 91mph in a 55mph zone. And it was a local Sherrifs deputy, not a State Trooper. But State Troopers on H 81 love nicking Canadian plated vehicles for some reason. Maybe because we almost always pay up and don't fight.
 
vrus said:
I am thinking the ferry route. I hear it's very short across the border .. and a short time to get to the mountains. Maybe I'll load an audio book or two...

this is another route i am thinking

http://goo.gl/maps/indC7

i am also looking for suggestions of lodging to stay. 1st priority is safe, 2nd is cheap :D . When I did my PA trip two weeks ago, i kinda lucked out on some nice motels. skimming on advrider points me to shamrock motel.

also: speed. i generally do limit in towns, +10 on 45 and 55 rurals, +15 on 65 and interstates. cool?
Click to expand...

With that route, I do pretty similar coming from Kitchener, I would stop in Old Forge, NY. Its just inside the Adirondacks. By the time you get to Old Forge, its a nice days ride. Cheap camping, and different hotel options, plus lots to do, eat, and see in Old Forge. Its a 4 hour ride or so to the other side of the Adirondacks, to a place called Essex, NY. Its right on the water, and by the Ferry crossing to Vermont. You can sit on the patio, overlooks the water, even has a personal boat dock for people to tie up and eat in the restaurant. Over the water you see the mountains in Vermont as well. From there you can head back, or move north or south and head to the Catskills which is just as good, if not better in some ways then the Adirondacks and move back home.
 
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