Driving to Lake Placid from Toronto

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m heading out to Lake Placid late tonight from Toronto and I need help on how to get there. The ironmanusa website says to go up to Cornwall, but that seems way out of the way. Isn’t it better to cross at Prescott? I’ll be driving through the middle of the night and I don’t want to get lost. I can see a route on the map from Prescott. Can someone just confirm that I won’t be making a big mistake if I cross there?

Thanks.

2

I’ve done it both ways many times. Six of one, half dozen of the other. I would do Cornwall after dark though- its easier, fewer/almost no turns. Have fun!

3

Go through Cornwall - better road for a longer period of time.

4

Both ways work well, but at night I’d go through Cornwall - the drive through the US is on secondary roads, so dark; to Cornwall, you’ll be on the 401 the whole way…

5

Thanks very much for your replies. It just looked like Cornwall was way out of the way, but I guess it’s not. Cornwall it is!

I just checked the forecast and it’s supposed to rain Sat and Sun. :frowning: This is my last chance to ride the bike course before winter, so I’m heading down regardless of the weather. It just would have been nice if it didn’t rain!

Thanks again.

6

Dawn,

DO NOT GO THROUGH CORNWALL. No way you want to overshoot and go that far if you are coming from the west. Personally I take 416 to Prescott and take the bridge to USA to Ogdensburg. From there to Canton, to Tupper to LP. For you 401 to Prescott (take Bridge to USA exit). Just enter Prescott ON to Lake Placid NY directions on mapquest and you’ll get all the details of this route. It is WAY faster, the border has no traffic and the roads are much more picturesque.

Have a good trip. Hope you get this before leaving.

Dev

7

Thanks Dev, but I think I’m going to go through Cornwall. After looking at the directions for both routes, I’m worried about missing a turn going through Prescott (there are a lot of lefts and rights!). I’m going to be driving at night with 2 sleeping kids and a sleeping husband (he’ll be jet lagged) and the Cornwall route just seems a bit easier. We’ll go Prescott on the way home during the day so I can see the difference.

Dawn

8

Go through Cornwall! It is a straight drive basically. Not only is it easier, but by not stoping and starting by going the other way, you greatly reduce gas consumption. I’ve gone both ways, and have not found it to be that big of a drive time difference.

9

Prescott is a much nicer drive and a little faster from TO.

However, if it is dark and you aren’t sure of where you are going - go through Cornwall.

10

I’ve done both and found that the Cornwall route was faster since the time spent on the 401 you’re driving much faster than the time spent on the US country highway roads…well, at least for me that is. Yes, the Prescott route is nicer, but I really don’t think it’s quicker. Plus, if you like east coast beer, the Cornwall Duty Free on the way back has Alpine…only place outside of New Brunswick that you can buy it!

11

You guys driving through Cornwall, must be biking when you do the Prescott route to make the Cornwall route faster. Cornwall is ~30-40 min slower. If you want to burn gas go for it.

Dawn, the route through Prescott/Ogdensburg is dead easy. You just have to follow the mapquest directions. They are bang on. You can’t miss the turns. All roads are very well marked.

Dev

12

Dawn, the route through Prescott/Ogdensburg is dead easy. You just have to follow the mapquest directions. They are bang on. You can’t miss the turns. All roads are very well marked.

Dev
Don’t make the wrong turn into Ogdensburg. You know how dangerous some of those American towns can be. :slight_smile: