Albany graduation weekends: the worst hotel bottleneck
SUNY Albany campus during commencement
Three universities graduate within eight days in May and every room within 20 miles hits $250+.
The compressed calendar
UAlbany, Siena College and Sage all graduate in a tight window from about May 15 through May 23, 2026. Add RPI in Troy on the same stretch and Union in Schenectady the following weekend. That's 15,000+ graduates times four visiting family members each. The Capital Region has roughly 8,000 hotel rooms across all price points. The math doesn’t work.
Rate impact is severe. A Hampton Inn Wolf Road room that costs $140 in April hits $280-320 for UAlbany graduation weekend. Marriott Albany and Desmond can push $340. Even Colonie and Latham budget properties (Red Roof, Super 8) charge $180. Airbnb goes just as feral — three-night minimums, $400/night for a spare bedroom.
How to survive it
Book by January. Seriously. By March the good properties are gone and you’re looking at Schenectady, Troy or a 45-minute drive from Kingston or Glens Falls. If you’re attending a graduation, most schools open booking in November — take that email seriously.
If you’re visiting Albany for non-graduation reasons in mid-to-late May, just don’t. Tulip Fest is the weekend before, then graduation weekends run back-to-back-to-back. Rates don’t normalize until Memorial Day. Come the first week of June instead: same weather, restaurants have room, and rates drop 50%.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Colonie, answered with this month’s numbers.
Usually the UAlbany weekend — biggest school, biggest crowd. Check specific dates because they shift year to year. In 2026 it's May 17.
Sometimes, but they mostly track hotel pricing and add three-night minimums. Check both. Extended-stay properties like Homewood Suites Wolf Road book up first because families want kitchens.
