The Best Adirondack Fall Foliage Drives.
The Adirondack fall is short, sharp, and unevenly timed across the Park. The northern High Peaks peak first — often by the third week of September. The Champlain Valley and the southern Adirondacks run two weeks behind, with prime color into mid-October. Picking the right drive is partly route, partly timing, partly luck with the rain.
The five drives below are picked for view density, not just distance. Each routes through a corridor where the maples, beeches, and birches outnumber the spruce — meaning the color hits hardest. Three are state highways with safe pull-outs; one is the toll Whiteface summit road; one is the underrated Lake George shoreline.
Watch the I Love NY Foliage Report for real-time color maps. Plan around weekday traffic if possible — the popular routes (73, 28) can stop-and-go on peak Saturdays.
Ranked, and reasoned.
Route 73 — Lake Placid to Underwood.
~28 mi · High Peaks corridorThe single most-photographed Adirondack drive. From Lake Placid, Route 73 climbs through Cascade Pass (with the Cascade Lakes on the right), drops into Keene Valley below the Great Range, and continues south to Underwood. Multiple pull-outs at Roaring Brook Falls, Chapel Pond, and the AMR. Peak color: late September.
Open the Page→Route 28 — Old Forge to Blue Mountain Lake.
~30 mi · Fulton Chain corridorThe central Adirondack classic. Route 28 threads the Fulton Chain (Old Forge → Eagle Bay → Inlet → Raquette Lake) with frequent lake-vista openings on both sides. The Adirondack Experience museum in Blue Mountain Lake is a worthwhile midpoint stop. Peak color: late September through early October.
Open the Page→Route 30 — Speculator to Tupper Lake.
~90 mi · the full Park lengthThe Park's longest scenic drive, running south-to-north through the Indian Lake / Long Lake / Tupper Lake corridor. Fewer dramatic pull-outs than 73, but the sheer length means you cross the entire color gradient — northern peak color in the upper third, southern color holding on in the lower third. Two days if you stop properly.
Open the Page→Whiteface Memorial Highway.
8 mi up · 4,867 ft summit · seasonal toll roadDrive to a 4,000-footer's summit. The toll road climbs Whiteface from Wilmington to a parking lot just below the summit; from there, an elevator or short stair-trail completes the climb. The view spans every High Peak plus the Champlain Valley. Open mid-May through mid-October; foliage peaks late September.
Open the Page→Route 9N — Lake George to Ticonderoga.
~32 mi · Lake George shorelineThe underrated pick — Route 9N hugs the western shore of Lake George from the village north through Bolton Landing, Hague, and into Ticonderoga. Frequent shoreline views; the color reflects off the lake. Peak color is one of the latest in the Park (mid-October), which means it's still going when the High Peaks are bare.
Open the Page→Asked at the trailhead.
Peak varies by elevation and latitude. The High Peaks region (Lake Placid, Keene) peaks in the third or fourth week of September. The Central Adirondacks (Old Forge, Long Lake) peak late September through early October. The Lake George region and Champlain Valley peak mid-October.
Route 73 from Lake Placid to Underwood is the most photographed drive in the Park — it threads the High Peaks corridor with frequent pull-outs at Cascade Pass, Roaring Brook Falls, Chapel Pond, and the AMR. Visit on a weekday in late September for the best balance of color and traffic.
Yes, through mid-October. The toll road runs daily mid-May through mid-October, weather permitting. Late September foliage from the summit is exceptional — but the road can close for high wind, ice, or snow late in the season. Call ahead.
The full length from Speculator to Tupper Lake is ~90 miles and three-plus hours driving with no stops. With pull-outs, a meal in Long Lake, and a side stop at the Adirondack Experience museum, plan a full day or split across two.
Yes — Route 73 and Route 28 see significant peak-weekend traffic in late September. If you can flex, drive Tuesday through Thursday for a quieter experience. Route 30 (longer + less famous) and Route 9N (later peak) absorb crowds better.
Continue with The Scenic Drives field guide.
The full field guide goes deeper — route planning, seasonal timing, gear, and the long-form editorial behind these picks.