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Guilderland

Western suburb built around Crossgates Mall and SUNY Albany's uptown campus — hotel inventory, chain dining, and easy Thruway access.

From
$105
Hotels
0
Known for
WEST SUBURB
Part of
Midtown & Pine Hills
Nearby
3
Suburban commercial strip along Western Avenue in Guilderland Suburban commercial strip along Western Avenue in Guilderland

Why people stay in Guilderland

Guilderland runs west from Colonie along Route 20 (Western Avenue), a suburban town of about 36,000 with Crossgates Mall as its center of gravity. The other pillar is SUNY Albany's uptown campus, right on the border with Albany city. For a traveler, Guilderland is a mall-adjacent version of Colonie: chain hotels, chain restaurants, big-box stores, plenty of parking, easy access to the Thruway (I-90) and Northway (I-87).

It suits families visiting SUNY students, business travelers headed to the Schenectady/GE side of the region, and anyone who wants Colonie prices but slightly less traffic. The residential parts (McKownville, Guilderland Center, Altamont) are pleasant but genuinely not tourist zones. Skip Guilderland if you want any semblance of urban stay — everything is a driving errand.

Cluster of chain hotels around Crossgates Mall and along Western Avenue near the SUNY campus — Homewood Suites, Fairfield Inn, Hyatt Place, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express — $105-175. All have free parking. Rooms facing away from Western Ave are quieter. For a longer stay with kids, the extended-stay hotels near Crossgates (Homewood, Extended Stay America) are honestly practical. Avoid rooms in older wings — some of these properties are 20+ years old.

At a glance Cheapest room$105 Hotels tracked0 Guides3 Free cancellationMost rooms are free to cancel Hotels in Guilderland

What to see

Places to visit Crossgates Mall shopping and cinema
Places to visit Indian Ladder Farms
Places to visit Thacher State Park views
Places to visit SUNY Albany campus walk
Walks & outdoors Thacher Escarpment Trail (3 km)
Eat & go out Crossgates Mall shopping and cinema
Eat & go out Indian Ladder Farms
Where to stay

Hotels in Guilderland

Live prices · free cancellation

Getting around Guilderland

Part of

CDTA bus 12 runs Western Avenue from downtown Albany to Crossgates in about 30 minutes for $1.50. From the airport, drive 15 minutes or bus 737 to downtown plus route 12. From Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak, Uber is $30. Inside Guilderland you need a car — the town is spread across seven miles and the sidewalk network is minimal. Free parking everywhere.

Questions about Guilderland

Where should I stay when visiting SUNY Albany?

The Guilderland cluster near Crossgates is closest — Homewood Suites, Fairfield Inn and Hyatt Place are all under 10 minutes to the uptown campus. Prices $115-170. If you want a livelier area for dinner, stay downtown and drive out to campus.

How far is Crossgates Mall from Albany airport?

About 12 minutes by car. Both the mall and the airport are in the same suburban corridor. Some Guilderland hotels offer free airport shuttles — confirm at booking.