Lake George Travel on a Budget: Plan Your Affordable Vacation
You want to come to Lake George and bring the family, but without going into debt over your vacation. No worries! Keep reading for suggestions on Lake George travel on a budget, with inexpensive places to stay, eat, and things to do.
Budget Motels In & Near Lake George
Unsung Hero Award: Nordick's Inn
Located at the northern end of the Village, Nordick's Inn has it all: ideal location, great service, and awesome amenities. Travelers who want a fun, no-frills vacation will adore Nordick's. Actually, travelers who want a fun, all-the-frills vacation would adore Nordick's.
With meticulously clean and refurbished rooms, beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and friendly service, we think this motel deserves five stars.
Between their heated outdoor pool and on-site breakfast restaurant, you might not even want to leave the property to check out the fun in the Village (but if you do, Nordick's has a convenient trolley stop!).
Off the Beaten Path but Close to the Action: Studio Motel
Situated on the east side of Million Dollar Beach, Studio Motel is a superb place to stay if you're looking for a more quiet environment away from other motels and noisy traffic. However, you'll still be close to the activities, attractions, and dining - they're just a mile from downtown and a half mile from the beach.
Enjoy their comfortable suites that can include connecting rooms for families, an outdoor pool, playground, picnic areas, and more. They're also on the trolley route. Cozy and affordable rooms, great amenities, and an ideal location makes Studio Motel a perfect budget-friendly lodging option.
Superior Location: The Admiral Motel
Located at the northern end of the Village right next to Lake George High School, you cannot ask for a better location at a better price than The Admiral Motel. Park your car and walk everywhere, even to the beach (literally, the beach is just minutes away)!
We love their free WiFi and heated pool, the on-premise trolley stop, and their refrigerators and coffee makers in every room so you can save on coffee and bring back leftovers after dinner.
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Best Places for Cheap Eats
Pizza Jerks
With great pizza (and even gluten free options), Pizza Jerks is a favorite among locals and visitors to the Lake George area. Their menu variety and kid-friendly food make Pizza Jerks one of the best family- and budget-friendly restaurants in Lake George.
Prospect Mountain Diner
Located on Canada Street, the Prospect Mountain Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has something to appeal to the whole family!
This place is the down-home, American diner you've always loved (or wanted to try), with foods that will bring back treasured childhood memories (or create new ones) and - everybody's favorite! - breakfast all day. Bonus: it's totally affordable and your kids will love it.
Martha's
Most people think of Martha's for ice cream (and you should definitely make sure you save room for dessert), but this famous spot has a great outdoor grill, too. Their menu isn't fancy, but it's good, American fare and you can't beat the prices!
Plus, a former local lady you may have heard of named Rachael Ray listed Martha's as one of her favorite spots in Lake George, so you know it's good.
Free or Ultra Cheap Fun in Lake George
We're gonna leave the lake out of this one, because it's pretty obvious. What's not so obvious are all the other free (or so close to free you can totally justify it) things to do in Lake George.
View from the Top: Drive (or Hike) Prospect Mountain
This one's pretty cool because you can choose your own adventure. Prospect Mountain has great views of the lake and is a fun place to picnic. Only about three miles round trip, this hike is totally doable for everyone in your family, although keep in mind it can be steep at times.
Not feeling the walk? That's ok, too - you can drive! (Please note: there is a small fee per car to drive to the top.)
Get Your Groove On
The bandstand in Shepard Park is a great place for find free live performances almost every night in the summer. Whether you just sit and enjoy the tunes or get up and shake ya groove thang, you'll enjoy the show!
Sink a Hole in One
Though not free, mini-golf is a great, low-budget activity for the whole family. With plenty of different courses to choose from, there's a mini-golf theme to appeal to everyone in your party.
Oooh & Ahhh - Fireworks!
On select nights in July and August, you can see a spectacular fireworks display in the village. Ooh and ahh over the fireworks, and then spend the rest of the evening star gazing with the kids!
Get in Loser, We're Going Shopping
Ok, ok, this one definitely isn't free. But if you're looking for great deals on back-to-school or end-of-season clothes, seriously - stop by the outlets and all the great shops in the Village. You're almost guaranteed to find a bargain or two - or an inexpensive souvenir you can bring home.
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