How to Get to Whiteface Mountain

Are you planning a trip to visit Whiteface Mountain soon? Dive into this detailed breakdown of how to get to Whiteface Mountain.

Whiteface Mountain is approximately 5 hours from NYC and Northern New Jersey. For those without cars planning to spend multiple days in the area, renting a car is the most convenient option. I typically use either Discover Cars or Rental Cars to compare the best deals. I’ve found that Rental Cars offers more options, especially in rural parts of New York.

There are various transportation options to reach Whiteface—whether you prefer driving, flying to a nearby airport, taking a bus alongside fellow skiers and snowboarders, or opting for a train ride. Having your vehicle provides the utmost convenience. However, there are alternative transportation choices available to suit your preferences.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

• Fly to Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), which is a 40-minute drive to Whiteface
• Driving to Whiteface Mountain is about 5-6 hours from NYC and Northern New Jersey
• Going by bus to Whiteface Mountain from NYC is a 7-hour drive with Trailways
• Take a train with Amtrak and use the Essex County bus system from Plattsburgh to Lake Placid
• Accommodation – Book your hostel with Hostelworld. For the best guesthouse and hotel rates, use Booking.com.
• Rent A Car – Discover Cars and Rental Cars
• Fun Activities – Get Your Guide and Viator to book activities
• Protect Your Trip – Don’t forget travel insurance!

Directions to Whiteface Mountain by Car

As stated above, Whiteface Mountain is approximately 5 hours from NYC and Northern New Jersey. For those without cars planning to spend multiple days in the area, renting a car is the most convenient option to get there and around Whiteface. I will share other options, but having your vehicle is best. I typically use either Discover Cars or Rental Cars to compare the best deals. I’ve found that Rental Cars offers more options, especially in rural parts of New York.

Turo is another decent option that many New Yorkers love, it’s essentially an Airbnb for cars.

Whiteface Mountain Address

5021 State Route 86, Wilmington, NY  12997

Read Snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain, Adirondacks, New York – A Black Girl’s Guide

How to Get to Whiteface Mountain by Air

If you are flying in for your Whiteface Mountain trip, Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) is a 40-minute drive away. Cape Air is the only commercial airline that flies directly from JFK and Boston to the airport. There is limited Uber/Lyft service in the area, but you can arrange for a car rental service from the airport. Click on this link for more information.

There are other airports with more flight options, about 2 hours away from Whiteface Mountain:

Albany International Airport (ALB), NY – 131 miles / 210km / 2 hours 9 minutes
Burlington International Airport (BTV), VT – 61.9 miles / 100km / 1 hour 54 minutes
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Quebec – 106 miles / 171km / 2 hours (International – Canada)

Directions to Whiteface Mountain by Bus from NYC

You can get to Whiteface by bus from New York City by hopping on a Trailways bus from New York’s Port Authority Station, and it will take you to Lake Placid; travel time is about 7 hours. You can get to Whiteface Mountain from Lake Placid using the free shuttle service during the ski season – click here to view the bus schedule.

How to Get to Whiteface Mountain by Train from NYC

You can also get there using a combination of train and the local bus system or rent a car with the following options:

There used to be a combo package by Amtrak that allowed travelers from NYC to book a train service from Penn Station in NY through either Westport or Plattsburgh Station and then transfer to a bus shuttle service to Lake Placid. The service has been put on hold since 2019, but feel free to search for rides to Lake Placid on Amtrak.com and let us know if you have any luck with it!

Take the Amtrak train from NY Penn to Westport Station (use the link to get 15% off!) – 6 hours travel time. There are currently no local bus services from Westport to Lake Placid but do reach out to Enterprise and similar car rental services, they may offer pickup service from the station. A more convenient option is to go to Plattsburgh Station and below for my instructions.

Take the Amtrak train from NY Penn to Plattsburgh Station (use the link to get 15% off!) – 7 hours travel time. To use the Essex County bus system from Plattsburgh to Lake Placid, follow these steps:

PLATTSBURGH TO LAKE PLACID BY BUS Directions

1. Arrive at the Clinton County Government Center stop (137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh) before 3:53 pm.
2. Board the Keeseville/Ausable bus to Ausable Forks Tops Market and pay the $3 fare.
3. Advise the driver you are getting off at the Ausble Forks Tops Market to transfer to the MVS bus. You will arrive in Ausable Forks at approximately 4:53 pm.
4. Board the MVS bus to Lake Placid and pay the $2 fare. TELL THE DRIVER YOU ARE GOING TO WILMINGTON OR LAKE PLACID. Service at this time of day into Wilmington and Lake Placid is only available upon request (otherwise the bus will go directly back to the bus garage in Lewis). The MVS bus departs at 4:53 pm.
   WEBSITE: www.essexcountyny.gov/transportation/
   ESSEX COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (800) 914-9266

Essex County

To rent a car from Plattsburgh Station to Lake Placid, there’s an ongoing New York by Rail partnership with Enterprise where you will get picked up for free from the train station, so when you book using the link, it will ensure you book from the right Enterprise location – 724 Ny-3 Plattsburgh, NY 12901

The Enterprise office is about 3.8 miles away from the train station, make sure to call them at +1 518-566-0190 at least 30 minutes ahead of train arrival time to schedule a free pick-up service from the train station.

Tip – other rental car companies in the area may also offer free pick-up service, so if you find better deals with them, call to find out if they will pick you up from the station.

How to Get Around Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid without a Car

There are limited Uber and Lyft options in the area, but beyond that, you still have options. The Essex County buses offer complimentary shuttle services from most hotels to Whiteface Mountain during the ski season from around 7 am to 5 pm. Click here for their bus schedule and their pickup points.

To get around Lake Placid, there are also the Placid XPRSS free shuttles that are available to keep you in apres-ski party mode while staying safe! The bus schedule is not on Google Maps, so make sure to download the map on your phone and choose your accommodation wisely!

Pro Tip: Before hitting the road, ensure you download an offline map of the region on your preferred GPS app.