Lakes to Locks Passage
New York's only All-American Road, following the Hudson, the Champlain Canal, Lake George and Lake Champlain from Waterford to Rouses Point.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length234 miles[1]NYSDOT lists 190 miles; lengths differ by source.
- Drive timeTwo to five days to enjoy the byway in New York[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endWaterford to Rouses Point near the Canadian border[2]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]Forts and historic sites charge admission.
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
Lakes to Locks Passage follows a chain of waterways from Waterford north to Rouses Point near Canada: the upper Hudson River, the Champlain Canal, Lake George and Lake Champlain. NYSDOT calls it New York's only All-American Road.
This corridor was a military route for centuries. Saratoga National Historical Park marks the 1777 battles, and Fort Ticonderoga and the Crown Point forts guard Lake Champlain. Lighthouses, ferries and canal locks fill in between.
FHWA suggests two to five days to enjoy the New York section.
Stops along the way
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Waterford
South end, where the Champlain Canal begins.
Official information · 42.79259, -73.68123 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
-
Saratoga National Historical Park
Battlefield of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga.
Official information · 42.99433, -73.63289 · about 0.9 mi from the route line
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Fort Ticonderoga
Restored 1750s fort between Lake Champlain and Lake George.
Official information · 43.84844, -73.3971 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
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Crown Point State Historic Site
Ruins of French and British forts on Lake Champlain.
Official information · 44.02318, -73.43117 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
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Rouses Point
North end near the Canadian border.
Official information · 44.99394, -73.36486 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Plattsburgh Farmers' and Craft Sat MarketPlattsburgh, NY · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Waterford Harbor Farmers MarketWaterford, NY · about 0.2 mi from the route
- Ticonderoga Area Farmers' MarketTiconderoga, NY · about 0.5 mi from the route
- Glens Falls Winter Farmers' MarketGlens Falls, NY · about 3.2 mi from the route
- Village Of Champlain Farmers MarketChamplain, NY · about 3.3 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Lakes to Locks Passage (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Lakes to Locks Passage (New York State Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Saratoga National Historical Park (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Crown Point State Historic Site (New York State Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).