This is how you drive up Whiteface Mountain (New York State)

Did you know it’s really easy to drive up Whiteface Mountain in New York State? In this article, I’ll tell you how to do it.

Where is Whiteface Mountain located?

Whiteface Mountain is one of the highest peaks in the Adirondacks Mountains in New York State and is located between Lake Placid and Wilmington. It is approximately a two-hour drive from Montreal, Canada, and a five-hour drive from New York City. It’s a great stop if you’re on a road trip in the Northeast of America or Eastern Canada.

Can you drive up Whiteface Mountain? Yes, you can! You can almost get all the way to the top when you drive up Whiteface Mountain. For the beautiful view from the top, you hardly have to make any effort! Besides driving up Whiteface Mountain, you can also hike to the top of Whiteface Mountain. The top of Whiteface Mountain is only accessible in the summer months, check this website for exact opening times. In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how to get to the top of Whiteface Mountain.

How to drive up Whiteface Mountain

How do you drive to the top of Whiteface Mountain? Let’s get this Whiteface Mountain drive started!

Start in Wilmington

From the village of Wilmington, take the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway (designated the 431). Along the way, you will pass a special place: Santa’s Workshop. This is a kind of small amusement park, completely in the Christmas spirit.

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit (that is also possible in the summer!), then you should definitely visit this. Check the Santa’s Workshop website in advance to see if it is open.

Toll booth

At the next intersection, take the exit to the left and stay on 431. This is the Whiteface Memorial Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in New York State. Soon you will come across a toll booth where you have to pay a toll (starting from $ 15, check the official website for the current prices). It’s not cheap, but well worth it in my opinion. As you drive further, the views become more beautiful.

Whiteface Memorial Highway

The Whiteface Memorial Highway is only five miles (eight kilometers) long and you ascend 2,300 feet (700 meters). While you’re driving up Whiteface Mountain, you come across several viewpoints. Take your time and stop regularly, the view is really beautiful! You can look really far over the Adirondack Mountains and see many mountain lakes, such as the lakes at Lake Placid.

To the top of Whiteface Mountain

After checking out the viewpoints, it’s time to finally drive to the top of Whiteface Mountain. There is a large parking lot at the end of the road, where you can park your car. You can get to the top from here in two different ways:

• with the elevator (unfortunately, this does not always work)
• by a short hike over the rocks

The walk starts at a cafe (which looks a bit like a castle, so it’s called Castle Café for a reason) at an elevation of 4610 feet (1405 meters) and you have to hike up a bit to get to the top. The path up is beautiful and you really climb over the rocks. It seems scarier than it is, fences are everywhere. Stop every now and then to take pictures, it is very beautiful!

At the top of Whiteface Mountain

You’ve made it to the top! At 4,876 feet (almost 1,500 meters), it is one of the highest mountains in New York State (the 5th highest peak). There are no fences here, so don’t get too close to the edge (the wind is also very strong). You can walk around on the top and you have a view of almost 360 degrees.

With clear weather, you can even see Canada and the US state of Vermont! Unfortunately, we were not that lucky, but it was still beautiful to view the area in this way.

Whiteface Mountain weather station

There is also a weather station at the top of Whiteface Mountain (this is where you arrive when you take the elevator up). In this weather station, there are some information signs and so you can learn more about Whiteface Mountain and the surrounding area.

Whiteface Mountain hike

If you like a workout, you can also choose to park your car a little after Santa’s Workshop and hike up Whiteface Mountain. It is 9.3 miles (about 15 kilometers) back and forth and you ascend more than 3,600 feet (1,000 meters). A tough climb, but it looks like an amazing trail to me! You can read more about the trail to the Whiteface Mountain summit on this website.

Where to stay?

If you want to visit Whiteface Mountain and other beautiful places in the area, I would recommend staying overnight in Lake Placid. This is a very pleasant village with many restaurants and a good base to discover the Adirondacks. There is also much to see and do in Lake Placid itself, such as the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex. There you can go to the top of the highest ski jump, also from there you have a great view!

Nice places to stay in Lake Placid are:

• Lake Placid Inn: Main Street – a cozy and small-scale inn right in the center of Lake Placid.
• Town House Lodge – nicely decorated lodge with a pool close to Main Street.
• Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort – a beautiful luxury resort with large rooms overlooking the lake.

For more options, prices, and availability of accommodations in Lake Placid, visit Booking.com.

There are also many apartments, log cabins, and other great accommodations (for example sleeping in a treehouse!). You can find more special accommodations on VRBO. There are many great places to be found in Wilmington, from where you access the Whiteface Memorial Highway

• The ’46er’ chalet – a charming chalet with a hot tub and a fireplace.
• The Tamarack two bedroom chalet – a cozy cabin in the woods with a fireplace.
• Graystone Cottage – charming home in Wilmington with everything you need, including a hot tub.

Whiteface Mountain health updates

Unfortunately, the top of Whiteface Mountain was less accessible during Covid-19. Only a limited number of cars are allowed on the Whiteface Memorial Highway and a face mask is recommended. The most recent information and restrictions can be found on this website.

New York State travel tips

These were my tips for visiting Whiteface Mountain. Would you like to read more about a trip to New York State? These are some great guidebooks:

Lonely Planet New York & the Mid-Atlantic’s Best Trips

Moon New York State: Getaway Ideas, Road Trips, Local Spots

Or read one of these articles:

• New York State Road Trip: 6 beautiful sights
• Road trip itinerary: From Toronto to New York. An amazing road trip with a lot of variety between beautiful nature (mountains, lakes, and waterfalls) and major world cities (Toronto and New York City).

This article was published in May 2018. Last update: October 2021.

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