Catskills vs Adirondacks: How the Lodging Landscapes Differ

The Catskills cover about 700,000 acres of southeastern New York, west of the Hudson River, and their highest peak, Slide Mountain, reaches 4,180 feet. The range is compact: from a base in Woodstock or Hunter, most of its trails are within about 30 minutes by car. The Adirondack Park is close to nine times larger, about 6 million acres of northern New York, roughly the size of Vermont, and lodges can be 45 minutes to an hour apart. In the Catskills, a central base reaches most of the region; in the Adirondacks, the base largely decides what is within reach.

Woodstock, Phoenicia and Livingston Manor are about 2 to 2.5 hours from Midtown Manhattan, depending on traffic, and Hunter and Tannersville about 2.5 to 3 hours. The Adirondacks are much farther: Lake Placid, in the High Peaks, is about 5 hours, and the southern Adirondacks around Old Forge and Speculator about 4 to 4.5 hours. This is the biggest practical difference for New York City travelers. The Catskills work for a Friday-evening arrival, while the Adirondacks suit a longer trip, or travelers coming from Boston or Montreal.

Much of the Catskills' lodging is design-led boutique hotels, renovated motels and independent inns, many redone since 2010 with New York City visitors in mind, which has raised both standards and prices. The Adirondacks have a longer lodging history: lakeside camps, Great Camps such as Great Camp Sagamore, traditional lodges and family-run inns that have operated for decades are more common than boutique conversions. The Adirondacks have a few design-led properties, but most lodging follows the rustic Adirondack style of logs, stone and dark wood.

Both regions run from motels in the $ band to $$$$ resorts, but the middle differs. Many Catskills boutique inns are in the $$$ band, with weekend prices driven by New York City demand. The Adirondacks have more lakeside camps and family inns in the $ and $$ bands, while Lake Placid's resorts and Great Camps such as The Point are $$$$. Similar properties in similar settings usually cost a little less in the Adirondacks, though there are fewer high-end options.

The Catskills draw hikers working through the 35 peaks over 3,500 feet, anglers on the Beaverkill and the upper Delaware, and skiers at Hunter, Windham and Belleayre, and the Hudson Valley's towns are close by. The Adirondacks draw hikers to the 46 High Peaks, paddlers to their many connected lakes and rivers, winter visitors to Lake Placid, Whiteface and Gore, and backcountry campers. Both have good cross-country skiing, but the Adirondacks have far more backcountry.

Both regions are open year-round, but their busy seasons differ. The Catskills are busiest in July and August and during fall foliage, from mid-September to mid-October, with a smaller ski season from December through March; April and May are the shoulder season. The Adirondacks follow a similar calendar, with a longer winter season around Lake Placid's Olympic venues and the High Peaks. Both regions are quiet in late November and early April.