Reaching Upper Union Street, Albany: Road, Bus and Air Options

By road: the simplest approach from Albany and beyond

From downtown Albany, take Interstate 90 west to Interstate 890, then exit at State Street and continue west until it becomes Union Street; the Upper Union shopping stretch begins near the Nott Street intersection. The drive is roughly 16 to 20 miles depending on your start point and takes 25 to 35 minutes outside rush hour. Parking along Upper Union Street itself is mostly metered two-hour spaces, with free lots behind several of the commercial blocks and on side streets such as Eastern Parkway.

If you are coming from further afield, the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) runs just south of the neighbourhood, with Exit 25 at Schenectady a short five-minute hop up Brandywine Avenue. From the south, Interstate 88 meets the Thruway near Rotterdam Junction. Rental cars at Albany International Airport start in the economy range, and fuel around the Upper Union corridor is easy to find on State Street. I would drive if you are staying outside the city centre or plan to combine the street with the Mohawk Valley.

By bus: CDTA service into the Upper Union corridor

The Capital District Transportation Authority runs several routes that reach Upper Union Street. Route 353 travels along Union Street from downtown Schenectady toward Albany, and Route 55 connects the corridor with the Nott Street and Union College area. From Albany's Greyhound and Megabus terminal at 34 Hamilton Street, you can reach the corridor by taking a local CDTA bus to Schenectady and transferring, which typically takes just over an hour door to door. Fares are modest and exact change or the Navigator card is required.

Bus travel works best if you are basing yourself in downtown Albany or Schenectady and treating Upper Union Street as a half-day outing. Service thins after 8pm and on Sundays, so plan a daytime visit. The sidewalks along Upper Union are wide and flat, making the street pleasant on foot once you arrive. For a hotel, I would book in downtown Schenectady near State and Erie Boulevard, where the walk to Upper Union is about 25 minutes and the bus is a five-minute ride.

By air: Albany International is the practical gateway

Albany International Airport (ALB) in Colonie is the closest commercial airport, about 12 miles and 20 to 25 minutes by car from Upper Union Street via Interstate 87 south to Interstate 90 west. Taxis and rideshares meet arriving passengers outside the terminal, and major rental brands have desks in the parking garage. There is no direct public transit link to the corridor from the airport; the CDTA Route 737 connects to downtown Albany, from which you would continue by bus or car.

Schenectady County Airport, a small general aviation field off Route 7, handles private aircraft only. Some travellers compare Bradley International near Hartford or New York City's airports, but the drive from either adds two hours or more, so I would not recommend it unless it saves a substantial amount on your fare. Best months to visit are May, June and September, when the street's cafés and shops are busy but parking is still manageable. Book a hotel near the airport if your trip is short and car-based.

Where to stay and what to skip

Hotels cluster along State Street and Erie Boulevard in Schenectady, a short drive or a 20- to 30-minute walk from Upper Union Street, with additional options near Wolf Road in Colonie if you want to be closer to the airport. Rates in this corridor generally sit in the mid-range, though I would check current availability rather than rely on any quoted figure. For a first visit focused on Upper Union Street, I would choose a Schenectady property within walking distance of the Stockade district, which puts both the street and downtown dining within easy reach.

Skip the temptation to base yourself in downtown Albany if Upper Union Street is your main draw; the daily commute adds up. Also skip arriving by bus after dark on a Sunday, when service is sparse. If you are driving, avoid the Union Street corridor during weekday school-run hours around 8am, when traffic near Union College slows considerably. Otherwise the street is straightforward to reach by any of the three modes, and a car gives you the most flexibility for exploring the wider Capital Region.