Take Highway 2 or 401 to Kingston, hop the free MTO ferry to get to Wolfe Island, and then the private $7 ferry to get to Cape Vincent NY. Follow the south shore of the St Lawrence east until just past Alexandria Bay, then swing south to pick up a very scenic and curvy NY 3. That will take you straight into Saranac Lake and from there you hop onto 86 to get to Lake Placid and Wilmington. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=to...iJxPA&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=10&via=1,2,3&t=h&z=10
Alternate route from Cape Vincent to NY 3 takes you away from the St Lawrence but gets you to NY 3 quicker. Your choice, water view or scenic valleys and twisties. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=to...KzNfnKTDE2oA95riJxPA&mra=mrv&via=1,2&t=h&z=10
The two ferry rides give a nice break to stretch the legs, take in the water sights, and cool off a bit in the river breeze. If you go this route, be sure to check that your trip times mesh with the ferry schedules, otherwise you may be spending the night in Kingston, Cape Vincent, or Wolfe Island.
http://www.wolfeisland.com/ferry.php
http://hornesferry.com/location/schedule/
Cheaper places to stay are in Saranac Lake, but even cheaper places can be found in the fishing lodges and cabins just past Lake Placid in Wilmington NY.
Wolf Island ferry from Kingston always runs to schedule, but the Cape Vincent US ferry will often run on demand. Just get there before closing time. I've taken the Cape Vincent ferry twice now and I'll never go via the thousand Islands bridge again if I can help it. The Cape Vincent Ferry is so relaxing and so much less hassle. Puts you in some nice countryside on the US side too.