Top Day Trips in Plattsburgh, NY

Whether you’re planning a quick trip out of town, a scenic drive through the Adirondack High Peaks, or a culture trip beyond borders, Plattsburgh is perfectly placed to explore the top attractions in Upstate New York, and beyond! Our top day trips in Plattsburgh, NY take you to charming Adirondack villages, across state lines to Vermont, and beyond borders to a taste of Europe in Montreal.

Visit Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid is one of the most charming small towns in the Adirondacks with fabulous family fun in all four seasons. The one-hour drive from Plattsburgh to Lake Placid travels alongside the Ausable River on the Olympic Trail Scenic Byway (SRs 9N and 86) with vast views of the High Peaks and many top Adirondack attractions on route. Top attractions include Ausable Chasm “The Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks”, Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway, Wilmington Flume Falls, Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort, and High Falls Gorge – all worth a visit before even reaching the village of Lake Placid, NY.

Spending a whole day in Lake Placid, NY is easy! Main Street runs along the shores of Mirror Lake with outstanding coffee shops and cafes, lakefront restaurants and breweries, luxurious day spas, quaint stores, and Olympic Legacy Sites with adventures and experiences for all ages! Visiting Lake Placid is one of the best day trips you can take in Upstate New York!

Visit Burlington, Vermont

Hop on a ferry and cross state lines to Burlington, Vermont on the eastern shores of Lake Champlain. Burlington is the biggest city in Vermont known for its vibrant downtown atmosphere, arts and culture, endless outdoor activities, and bucket-list hiking trails in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace is the heart and soul of the city with pedestrian-only walkways lined with local stores, sidewalk cafes and restaurants, and Ben & Jerry’s for some “peace, love & icecream”. Burlington’s artsy South End is known for its unique artisan galleries, outstanding eateries, bustling craft breweries, and vintage shops – a must-do for art lovers, creatives, and of course…beer drinkers!

One of the best ways to explore Burlington is by bike! The streets are bike-friendly and the Burlington Bike Path (known locally as the Greenway) winds for 8 miles along the shores of Lake Champlain from Oakledge Park in the South End to the Colchester Causeway, passing Waterfront Park and North Beach Park for swimming, watersports or a family picnic on the lake.

Visit Montreal, Canada

Cross the border to explore Canada’s most cultural and cosmopolitan city, Montreal Quebec, situated only an hour north of Plattsburgh, NY. Montreal is one of the oldest cities in Canada with a fantastic fusion of past and present, a vibrant European atmosphere, and easily walkable streets to capture the best of Montreal’s old town charm in a day.

You could spend an entire day exploring the waterfront promenade and historic cobblestone streets of Old Montreal and the Old Port, lined with historic landmarks, public art, and Parisian-style cafes and patisseries (Quebecois poutine is a must!). Take a boat tour from the docks, browse the Bonsecours Market, marvel in the beauty of Notre Dame Basilica, soar above the St. Lawrence River on Old Port’s MTL Zipline or Montreal Ferris Wheel, or explore the underground city of Montreal at the Museum of Archaeology and History – fascinating! Make time to wander the streets to the bustling downtown area of Montreal home to Mount Royal, a Montreal landmark rising 230 meters above the city with panoramic views extending to the Adirondack Mountains and endless activities for the whole family.