How far is Essex, NY from Lake Placid, NY?

The driving distance from Essex, NY to Lake Placid, NY is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.2 miles (50.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
43.15 mi
00h 59m
Flight
31.19 mi
50.2 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Essex.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.19 mi
Kilometers
50.2 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.15 mi
Kilometers
69.45 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Placid
Wed, Apr 15, 10:01 PM EDT
Return by in Essex
Wed, Apr 15, 11:00 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Essex
2026-04-15T21:01
Arrive Lake Placid
Wed, Apr 15, 10:01 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Essex
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Elizabethtown
NY

Human settlement in Essex County, New York, United States of America

From Essex
21.4 mi
00h 29m
To Lake Placid
21.7 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph SW
Destination
64°F
This Afternoon

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Essex and Lake Placid.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Essex and Lake Placid.

  1. 1

    Start on Station Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Station Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Station Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Station Road

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto State Highway 9N

    1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 9N

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Station Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Station Road

  5. 5

    Continue on State Highway 22

    4.7 mi · 7 min · State Highway 22

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto Elizabethtown-Wadhams Road

    570 ft · 17 sec · Elizabethtown-Wadhams Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Youngs Road

    2.6 mi · 10 min · Youngs Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 9N

    4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 9N

  9. 9

    Turn right onto River Street

    2220 ft · 39 sec · River Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Water Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Water Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Route 9N

    1152 ft · 18 sec · Route 9N

  12. 12

    Continue on State Highway 9N

    9 mi · 12 min · State Highway 9N

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 9N

    1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 9N

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on State Highway 73

    7.2 mi · 10 min · State Highway 73

  15. 15

    Continue on Cascade Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Cascade Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Sentinel Road

    2479 ft · 1 min · Sentinel Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Mill Pond Drive

    100 m · 9 sec · Mill Pond Drive

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Colden Avenue

    92 m · 15 sec · Colden Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Spring Street

    112 m · 16 sec · Spring Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Spring Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Essex and Lake Placid.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
46.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 9N
16.2 mi · 38%
State Highway 73
7.25 mi · 17%
Cascade Road
6.38 mi · 15%
State Highway 22
4.65 mi · 11%
Youngs Road
2.59 mi · 6%
Station Road
1.9 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 9N

Continue on State Highway 9N

9.04 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12 mi
31.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabethtown
00h 29m from Essex
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Essex and Rain Showers Likely near Lake Placid.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Essex to Lake Placid?

The road trip is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km) and usually takes 00h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Elizabethtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.4 miles from Essex and 21.7 miles from Lake Placid.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 31.2 miles (50.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 12 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.09 one way or $12.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Essex and Rain Showers Likely near Lake Placid.

Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elizabethtown, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elizabethtown.

RAIL

Westport station

11 mi away
Hwy 9N and Ledge Hill Rd
RAIL

Port Henry station

23 mi away
20 Park Place
BUS

Lake Placid, New York

32 mi away
1 Mirror Lake Drive
RAIL

Port Kent station

42 mi away
Hwy 373 & Back Rd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Essex and Lake Placid. Straight-line distance: 31.19 mi (50.2 km).

Essex

#1 Essex

Town in Essex County, New York

Population630
Coordinates44.3100500, -73.3526300
Altitude38
CountryUnited States
Lake Placid

#2 Lake Placid

Town in Essex County, New York, United States

Population2,356
Coordinates44.2796200, -73.9819800
Altitude549
CountryUnited States
Start: Station Street (-73.352574, 44.309749)
End: Middle Street (-73.982519, 44.279589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 69 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.52 gal
5.76 L · about $6.09
Round trip
$12.19
3.04 gal · 11.52 L
Estimated CO2
13.5 kg one way
Round trip: 27 kg / 60 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $6.09 $12.19
Mid-grade $4.48 $6.81 $13.62
Premium $4.86 $7.39 $14.78
Diesel $4.69 $7.13 $14.27

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New York · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Essex and Lake Placid. The current time is 21:01:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.