Where to stay in Menands
Broadway corridor in Menands north of Albany
The 2-mile village north of Albany has 3 chain hotels at $95-$135 — cheaper than Downtown and 8 minutes from the Capitol.
Who it suits
Menands is a strip of Broadway (Route 32) between Albany and Watervliet, home to the Menands Market, Simmons Machine Tool, and the state's Harriman Campus at its southern edge. The Hampton Inn Albany-Wolf Road and a couple of extended-stay hotels sit just off I-787, with free parking, free breakfast, and a straight 8-minute drive down Broadway to Downtown Albany. It suits business travelers with meetings at Harriman or the DOH labs, road-trippers passing through on I-87, and families who want a pool at a fair price.
Who it doesn’t suit
Menands has almost nothing to walk to. Broadway is a car-oriented arterial with a Stewart's, a couple of diners, and not much else. You cannot walk to Downtown Albany dinner — it is 2 miles along a road with limited sidewalks. Skip Menands if you want a walkable urban stay, if you are here for a Center Square wedding, or if you don’t have a car. It is a functional overnight, not an experience.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Downtown Albany, answered with this month’s numbers.
Both work. Menands is closer to Downtown (8 minutes vs. 15). Colonie has more restaurant chains within walking distance of the hotels.
The CDTA #100 runs Broadway to Downtown every 30 minutes on weekdays. It is a 15-minute ride.
