Where to Stay in the Adirondacks: Budget-Friendly Resorts & Lodges

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Planning an Adirondack getaway and wondering where to stay? The Adirondacks adorn the northern part of New York state with lakes, ponds, green hills, and striking mountain peaks.

The Adirondacks offer adventurers the perfect playground, with activities like kayaking, hiking, fishing, ice skating, boating, and swimming on offer.

The many tucked-away cabins and resorts also make the Adirondacks an ideal spot for those seeking a place to disconnect from the bustling day-to-day life.

The region has long been the holiday location of choice for the wealthy but has now become a popular holiday destination for all.

Have a look at this guide to getting the best and cheapest room before making your booking at one of these spectacular spots.

Whether you’re seeking a holiday spot the whole family can enjoy or looking for a romantic getaway, the list below has you covered.

Best Places to Stay in the Adirondacks

The Adirondacks span roughly 6 million acres of land and are filled with everything from humble camping spots to grandiose Great Camps unique to the region.

This offers visitors a wide range of accommodation options. The most popular regions in the Adirondacks are Lake Placid, the beautiful Lake George, Speculator, and Saranac Lake.

Below are some of the best Adirondack resorts and lodges for every budget.

Adirondack Camping Village

This campsite is perfect for families or a quiet getaway near Lake George.

Each site at this camping village feels like it is tucked away in its own corner of the Adirondack woods, yet the camping site is only a few minutes’ walk away from the town and lake.

The camping site offers spacious RV and tent camping sites, with the option to have water and electrical facilities or not. There are also cozy cabins to rent that are perfect for couples or small families.

The camping village offers the full camping experience while providing access to a heated pool, games room, basketball, volleyball, movie nights, and more.

Furthermore, you’ll get to take a hike or go down to Lake George to swim or explore the lake by kayak.

If you’re lucky, you may see a few chipmunks and salamanders among the trees. It’s recommended that you bring some bug repellent spray along, as the forest insects can become a bit annoying.

1,000 Acres Ranch Resort

This ranch is one of the more unique places to stay in the Adirondacks and is a family favorite — with good reason.

This pet-friendly ranch offers comfortable cabins and three hearty meals a day, along with a variety of activities on its large plot.

You’ll get to enjoy daily horseback riding trips, kayaking and tubing down the Hudson River, and nightly gatherings around the bonfire.

Above that, there are two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, and activities such as scavenger hunts, raft building, land navigation hikes, and more.

Overall, the ranch provides an all-inclusive immersive experience of the beautiful Adirondacks at affordable rates.

You also won’t feel completely disconnected from the world, as the ranch has free Wi-Fi and cable TV.

Placid Bay Hotel

The Placid Bay Hotel offers serene views of the lake and Whiteface Mountain, eclectic cabins with a luxury feel, and impeccable service — all at an affordable rate.

You’ll love sipping your morning coffee on the porch while taking in the spectacular view of the lake. And a morning kayaking trip along Lake Placid is the perfect way to get the day going.

This self-service hotel is minutes away from the village Main street, where you’ll find plenty of incredible restaurants and stores to stock up on groceries.

It’s also only a few miles away from landmarks such as the Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum and the John Brown Farm State Historic Site.

Many consider this hotel to be one of Lake Placid’s best-kept secrets, and you’ll likely agree once you’ve spent some time here.

A stay at this hotel is perfect for an affordable romantic getaway or a calm weekend away from the busy world.

Timberlock Resort

This family-run resort is full of charm and warmth and is an excellent place for families to disconnect and unwind in nature.

The accommodation options range from family-sized cabins to “tentlets,” with no electricity or cellphone signal.

Home-cooked meals are served three times a day on the beautiful lakeside porch.

You’re sure to feel right at home thanks to the wonderful hosts, and you’ll have plenty to do during your stay. Activities include horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, tennis, and even woodworking.

If your aim is simply to escape to a quiet corner of the Adirondacks, Timberlock is the ideal spot.

You can enjoy some calming walks through the greenery, take plenty of naps in the comfy beds, get in some reading on the porch, and marvel at the fantastic view of Indian Lake.

The Sagamore Resort

If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay in the Adirondacks, the Sagamore Resort is a fantastic spot.

This all-inclusive Adirondack resort on Lake George is a picturesque getaway destination with a spa and golf course.

Amenities include swimming pools overlooking the lake, an indoor pool and hot tub, and an indoor sports center. Above all that, you can enjoy kayaking or take a boat trip along the sparkling lake.

In winter, the lake freezes over, and everything is covered in a white blanket of snow. This transforms the Sagamore into an especially postcard-worthy sight.

The Sagamore Resort is most popular during the summer, but you’ll love a winter stay just as much.

The hotel receives much fewer visitors during the off-season, so you’ll get to enjoy a more peaceful stay snuggled up next to the fireplace or defrosting in the hot tub.

Camp Orenda

This all-inclusive camp is perfect for those who love being in nature but prefer camping with a touch of luxury.

Multiple canvas cabins are snuggled into private areas of the property, with ample space in and around the canvases.

All meals are made from local ingredients and cooked on a fire that runs throughout the day. The wholesome and delicious food will keep you fuelled for adventures on and around the campsite.

You can take a hike on the many trails near the campsite, take a stroll along the stream, go mountain biking with the on-site bikes, or go canoeing on the lake.

Camp Orenda is also pet-friendly, so your furry companions will get to join in on the adventure.

Camp Orenda is dedicated to providing a memorable glamping experience in the Adirondacks.

Few sites come close to delivering as authentic and comfortable an experience as this camp, which is why it has been featured in major media outlets like The New York Times and Architectural Digest.

Due to its popularity, it’s recommended that you book well ahead of time to secure a spot.

Hotel Saranac

As a historic icon of Saranac Lake, this hotel is definitely worth visiting. The charm of this hotel lies in its extensive history, starting in the roaring twenties.

It was the first ‘fireproof’ Adirondack hotel, as it was built with bricks rather than the traditional wood structures of the region.

A striking element of the hotel is the second-floor lobby modeled after the Italian Davanzati Palace in Florence.

The Hotel Saranac sign on top of the hotel was installed in the 1940s. During major renovations, a replica of the original sign was installed in 2016.

The Saranac Hotel is now part of the Historic Hotels of America and forms part of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ Curio Collection. This provides the hotel the credibility and recognition it very much deserves.

Recent renovations transformed the hotel into a spectacularly modern site while maintaining the original character of the building.

You won’t regret a stay at this beautiful hotel and landmark — especially when the hotel has so much more to offer than its history and beauty.

This hotel has a gym, a spa, business center, Wi-Fi, a shuttle bus service, and spectacular lake views.

If you’re keen on adventure, the nearby lake offers all the exciting recreational activities one can expect from an Adirondack lake village.

Final Thoughts On Places to Stay in the Adirondacks

There are plenty of Adirondack mountain resorts, hotels, and lodges to choose from, and it may be hard to decide where to stay in this vast region.

While Adirondack State Park has plenty of luxury spots, you don’t need to go broke to enjoy the spectacular lakes, nature, and views on offer.

There are countless affordable campsites and resorts that draw people back to this park each year.

No matter the lake or village you choose to stay at, you’ll have plenty of recreational activities to try out on the lake and mountains.

If you’re looking for more affordable vacation options in the US, have a look at this handy guide to some of the best cheap vacation spots.

You can also check out this list of essential things to know before visiting the US if you’re visiting the Adirondacks from outside the United States.