In town · Since the 1850s
The Adirondack Hotel
Twenty rooms and lake verandas across from the town beach and seaplane docks.
Official details for The Adirondack HotelNew York · Couples · Two nights
Long Lake & the Central Adirondacks
Splash down in the middle of the Adirondacks.
Long Lake is a small town strung along a long, narrow lake in the heart of the Adirondack Park, and floatplanes have worked off its docks for decades. Land on the lake or at Adirondack Regional near Saranac Lake, stay at the 1850s Adirondack Hotel across from the town beach, spend a day at the Adirondack Experience museum on Blue Mountain Lake, and watch the light change on the Seward Range.
Seaplane townAdirondack ParkGreat Camp luxury
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to SLK
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~679 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~4 hr 47 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car, or dock in town
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land on the lake or at Saranac Lake.
SLK, Adirondack Regional, is a non-towered field near Saranac Lake with a 6,573-foot runway, about 40 minutes’ drive from Long Lake. Floatplanes and amphibians can land on Long Lake itself at NY9 (Helms) or K03 (Sagamore).
The FBO
Adirondack Regional Airport (Town of Harrietstown)
518-891-4600Adirondack Regional Airport, Saranac Lake, NY
Mountain airport: check density altitude and terrain. Confirm fuel, fees and a rental car before you go. No live fuel price is shown.
Adirondack weather: valley fog on summer mornings, fast-building afternoon storms over the High Peaks, mountain turbulence on windy days, and ice on the lakes from about December to April. About 680 nm from Myrtle Beach: plan a fuel stop and three nights.
Seaplane access
Long Lake / Helms (NY9), public-use seaplane base
518-624-3931Long Lake, NY · manager 518-624-3931
Water lanes: NE/SW, 15,000 × 1,500 ft. Long Lake Sagamore (K03), 1/4 mile south of the bridge on the east shore, also lists a 15,000-foot NE/SW lane; manager 518-624-5520.
The Route 30 bridge crosses the lake about 500 feet west of the Helms base. Do not taxi under it at high water; at low water, stay to the west (high) side. Water levels vary by up to 10 feet. Power lines at the base and along the road and bridge. (FAA chart supplement remarks.)
Helms lists 100LL. One lane lies north of the bridge and one south.
Water landing rules, conditions and docking change; call the base and check the chart supplement before you go.
02 / Where to stay
An old hotel or a Great Camp.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Summer weekends and foliage fill early.
Blue Mountain Lake · Lakefront
The Hedges
A historic lakeside resort of lodges and cabins, open June to mid-October.
Official details for The HedgesSaranac Lake · Luxury
The Point
A Relais & Châteaux Great Camp on Upper Saranac Lake.
Official details for The PointSaranac Lake · Historic hotel
Hotel Saranac
A restored 1927 hotel downtown, near SLK.
Official details for Hotel Saranac03 / Where to eat
Hotel dining on the lake.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Victorian Room
The Adirondack Hotel
The hotel’s dining room, plus the Lake Street Café and taproom overlooking the lake.
Official details for The Adirondack Hotel04 / Things to do
Museums, falls and High Peaks.
Plan around the weather.
Adirondack Experience
A large museum of Adirondack life on Blue Mountain Lake, about 20 minutes away.
Adirondack Experience05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
July 4
Long Lake Independence Day
A town celebration at the beach.
Town of Long Lake for Long Lake Independence DayLate September
Fall color
Peak foliage in the central Adirondacks.
Town of Long Lake for Fall colorLate June–Labor Day
Seaplane season
Busiest months for floatplanes on the lake.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample long weekend on the lake. Plan three nights for the flight. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at SLK or NY9 mid-morning.
- Midday
Lunch on the Adirondack Hotel veranda.
- Afternoon
The town beach or a seaplane ride, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at SLK or NY9, subject to weather, your fuel stop and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Walk from the dock to the beach and the hotel veranda.
- Evening
Dinner in the Victorian Room.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
The Adirondack Experience.
- Afternoon
Paddle Long Lake.
- Evening
The taproom at the Adirondack Hotel.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Buttermilk Falls.
- Before leaving
Allow time at the base or airport.
- Fly home
Mountain storms build by afternoon; leave early.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The Adirondack Experience.
- Afternoon
Paddle Long Lake.
- Evening
Dinner in the Victorian Room.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
The hotel first, then a car from SLK if you land there.
Long flight
About 680 nm. Plan a fuel stop and three nights.
Water
Mind the Route 30 bridge and the changing water level.
Best seasons
Late June to early October.
Reviewed · Destination 175
Reviewed November 5, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.