North Albany
Formerly industrial neighborhood turned motel-and-warehouse district — cheap chain hotels, easy highway access, no charm to speak of.
Old brick warehouses and modern chain hotels along the northern edge of Albany
Why people stay in North Albany
North Albany is the wedge of the city between Livingston Avenue and the Menands town line, sandwiched between the Hudson River and I-90. Historically it was Irish, then industrial — lumber yards, stockyards, warehouses. Some of that infrastructure is still here, converted or ruined. What's here for a traveler is a strip of chain hotels along Watervliet Avenue and Broadway that trade convenience and price for atmosphere.
Nobody stays in North Albany because they want to be in North Albany. They stay because it's $89 a night, they have a rental car, and they need to be near I-90 for whatever they’re actually doing in the region. That's a legitimate reason. Suits business travelers on tight per-diems, families driving through, and anyone who values cheap parking. Skip it if you don’t have a car — you’ll be Ubering everywhere and the savings evaporate.
Chain hotels along Watervliet Avenue and along Broadway near the Menands line — Comfort Inn, Best Western, La Quinta, Days Inn — all $89-135 depending on season. Free parking is universal here, which matters. Rooms are what you’d expect from a highway chain. Avoid the older independent motels on Broadway that look tired — they usually are. Better to spend $30 more for a chain with newer bathrooms.
What to see
Hotels in North Albany
Getting around North Albany
The point of North Albany is highway access — I-90 is a five-minute drive, I-87 (Northway) is 10 minutes. From the airport, cab is $18, or drive 12 minutes. From Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak, Uber is $14 or drive 10 minutes across the Dunn Bridge. CDTA bus 22 runs down Broadway to downtown in 15 minutes for $1.50. Inside the neighborhood, drive. Walking is possible along Broadway but not enjoyable.
Questions about North Albany
North Albany and the eastern edge of Colonie are where the $89-120 chain hotels cluster. You trade neighborhood atmosphere for price and easy parking. Fine for one-night business stays or families passing through, less fine for a weekend trip.
Honestly, not much — the Corning Preserve bike path, Miss Albany Diner, and the Nipper statue. It's a base for driving to other parts of the region, not a destination. Plan to spend evenings in Center Square or Downtown Albany.
