RE: ? about Route 3 through Adirondacks

[campalot]

 
While the snow-maker threatens us with up to 18 inches to be shoveled, I fantazie that it is summer in the Adirondack Mountains.  
 
 Question:  What is the condition of New York Route 3 from Watertown to Saranac Lake, and Route 73 from Saranac Lake to I 87?  How many mountains would challenge me?  Is the road surface in good condition?
 
 I have camped on the eastern and southern sides of the Adirondacks, but not through this region.  Am thinking of trying the lake area in the center, but am concerned about the road conditions.  Anyone able to help?
 
 

[andym86]

 campalot
Hi campalot
 Although I never traveled Rt. 3 in the winter,I have been on it from Watertown to Cranberry Lake and Tupper Lake every year for the last 10 years.The very first trip I went on with my friend was a Memorial weekend ,it was about 93 degree on saturday and sunday it got down to 32 degrees and started snowing.
 The road surface of Rt. 3 is excellent and I m sure it gets plowed pretty regularly,since its more like a lifeline up there. I m sure you ll be alright.
 Hope this helps.
 Andy

[don]

 campalot
I wish I traveled it enough to tell you for sure but most of my time on rt 3 was many trips outside Oswego to Watertown. I got a ticket for 20 miles over the speed limit on the section you are talking about in my younger days![:@] It is hard to recall hills when your not towing a PU! I remember a section on the Watertown side being nice and a little more modern (got my ticket there). I really don t recall any big grades but that may just be because I wasn t towing.
 Very pretty area, have you ever camped on the beach at Southwick SP? It is on RT 3 West of Oswego outside Henderson Harbour?
 
 

[mike4947]

 campalot
If you go on a Friday you won t have to worry about road conditions or hills, You ll be worrying more about traffic. Summer weekends can be brutal.  Going up there we tried to always make it Saturday to Saturday to miss the Friday/Sunday traffic.

[rajones315]

 campalot
My cousin owns Baker s Acres Campground in Cadyville on Rt. 3.  We go up every year pulling our popup and my parents pulling their 5ver.  The road surface is fine and the traffic isn t all that bad.
 
 The best advice I can give you is to bring your camera.  It s some pretty country up there and you ll see some serious mountain country.
 
 The inclines aren t bad.  We used to pull a utility trailer behind our Ford Escort and there was no problem - up or down.
 
 Regards,
 

[whitestar505]

 campalot
Campalot,
 
    Route three is a good road but if you are going now the snow will be over the roofs of homes. After breaking down up there two years ago, I can tell you that there is not much car/truck support if needed. So be parpared for anything. I would agree with mike4947 about the traffic during the weekends but now living in the Washington/Baltimore area the traffic is not much. Sorry mike4947 but after being up there every summer, I think the traffic is great. Hope you know what I mean. One other thing I forgot to mention was that all the areas I have been to there were primative camping.
 
  My question to you is why not take route 28 out of Utica?
 
 Good camping, and let us know how you make out ?[&:]