Stargatesg30

Hi, we have a 3 day road trip planned from Boston to Niagara Falls. We leave Boston on a Tuesday morning and plan to drive via Woodstock to Lake George for our 1st nights stay. From Lake George we then drive to Geneva NY for a further night's stay. On the 3rd day we intend to have a picnic lunch at Letchworth State Park and then drive to our hotel in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.
I appreciate the schedule is tight and we have already booked our hotels, however I would appreciate some advice on the following br /> 1. What is the best scenic route via Woodstock to Lake George.
2. Any recommendations for a couple of hours in Woodstock for lunch and a walk?
3. Best scenic route from Lake George to Geneva to arrive in Geneva by 4pm approx?
4. How long should we allow for driving from Letchworth State Park to Niagara?
5. Best route across the Border into Canada?

Many thanks in advance for any help on the above.

J62

From LG to Geneva, I would (and do) take this route. (on a Wednesday). I'm assuming this is in summer.

From LG, I87S to Exit 15/Saratoga. You'll pass through downtown Saratoga - stop for a browse, or coffee/breakfast if you wish, or walk by the track to see the horses training, but avoid the area near the track from about 11am onwards. Or if you leave LG by 8 or so you'd have time to take a free tour of the track back stretch/barn area. Very interesting if you have any interest in horses. Last tour leaves at 9.
https://www.saratogaracetrack.com/tours/


From Saratoga, take Rt 29 West towards Johnstown & pick up the Thruway (I90) either at Amsterdam or Little Falls. The former if you're in more of a hurry.
You can take the Thruway all the way to close to Geneva, or cut south by Syracuse to stop by several of the other finger lakes.

What are your plans at LG? There is a lot to do there, ranging from honkey tonk boardwalk type arcades & gift shops & mini-golf & fried/fast food (basically everything in LG village), to more peaceful places the further north you go on the lake. I love the lake, I don't like LG village.

Stargatesg30

Thanks for advise, we have only 1 night at Lake George so will probably just relax near the lake, walk around the village and shops and have a meal at night. Any suggestions for good medium priced restaurants?

garyt22

Keep in mind that Woodstock is a community that is not the famous concert site...Bethel, NY is the location of the Woodstock Concert Museum and location. .the best, most scenic route from Lake George is to pick up NY RT20 W near Albany.. this route travels through beautiful towns and places across the top of the Finger Lakes and has been designated "Scenic Highways of America ".
The route takes you right to Geneva and continues on to the entrance of Letchworth State park..
You can also use Rt20 to continue west to East Aurora and use Rt 400 north to Niagara.

Letchworth to Niagara is 3 to 4 hours and use the Rainbow Bridge to Canada...

Stargatesg30

Thanks, yes was aware its a different Woodstock. What route would u suggest from Boston to Woodstock and then Woodstock to Lake George?
TIA

J62

Picking up Rt20 at Albany is a waste of time and miles for a whole lotta nothing. If you want to take the Rt20 you can pick it up south of Syracuse (my original suggestion), or somewhere further east - Exit the Thruway and drop south from exits at Utica, Herkimer, or Canajoharie.

garyt22

That first day is a lot of driving from Boston to Woodstock to Lake George... you won't have any time to see anything... consider Woodstock on the way home...

Stargatesg30

Is there a anther way we can get to Lake George quicker missing Woodstock but still seeing a little bit of scenery?

J62

Going from Boston to LG by interstate highway the whole way via Albany will save you all of about 30min (3.5 hrs vs 4hrs per google maps) - hardly a significant savings. I say if you want to go through Woodstock than do so. To get to Woodstock I'd just follow what google tells you - through Concord. Gary is right - that's a lot of driving no matter how you look at it, and that time does not include any stops you make on the way. (food/bio/sightseeing/gas). If you want an afternoon in Woodstock on day 1 then that means getting on the road very early out of Boston. From Woodstock to LG again, just follow google maps. For the final 5mi or so take this route I mapped out, and you'll pass by a scenic part of the lake instead of going past outlet stores in Queensbury (unless you want to go outlet shopping that is).

If I recall, this trip is planned for the last week in September, so you'll be looking for some fall foliage colors. Passing through Woodstock is a good route then.
At Lake George, if you want to do some hiking let me know and I can give you some routes. A good alternative is to drive to the top of Prospect Mtn right from LG village. I believe it's a $2.00 toll and you get a nice view of the lake and surrounding area from a vantage point. In September the horse racing season in Saratoga will have ended but many horses are still there for training and the town is much quieter if you're passing through.

J62

For "medium priced" restaurants in LG, that's a tough one.... I don't like any of the places IN the village. Too summer tourist centric. Three places we've enjoyed (each of them a bit on the pricier side) are The Boathouse - right on the lake about a mile north of the village - beautiful views are what make this a nice place to me. The Algonquin, about 10mi north towards Bolton Landing. - also for the views, and Top of the World. None of them have wowed us with the food, but all are good and a step or 2 above the tourist oriented fare you'll find in the village.

sf7307

Stargatesg30

Thank you everyone for your replies and help. Need to start route planning now. Do appreciate there is quite a bit of driving but not really got much choice. There are 2 of us to share the driving so hopefully not too bad. Looking to take in some early fall scenery so will probably stick with the original plan through Woodstock.
Any suggestions for the route from Lake George to Geneva? And also from Geneva to Niagara Falls. On, via Letchworth State Park.
Tia