Getting from Albany International Airport to Downtown Albany

A practical guide to the bus, taxi and ride-share options between ALB and the city centre, with the fares, timings and neighbourhood details that actually matter when you land.

The Airport and the Distance Involved

Albany International Airport sits in Colonie, roughly 8 miles north of downtown Albany. The drive down Interstate 87 to the Empire State Plaza area takes about 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour, and closer to 30 minutes on a weekday morning when commuter traffic builds around the I-90 interchange. The terminal is small and easy to navigate, so you will usually be kerbside within 15 minutes of landing if you travel with hand luggage only. Note that the airport is not served by a rail link; every option below is road-based.

Worth knowing before you choose: the airport has a single main terminal with arrivals on the lower level, and the taxi rank sits directly outside the baggage claim doors. Pick-up zones for ride-share apps are signposted a short walk away in the short-term car park, which adds a few minutes to any app booking. If you are arriving late at night, check your accommodation's reception hours in advance, because downtown Albany empties out after about 11pm and a delayed arrival can leave you with fewer options.

Capital District Transportation Authority Bus

The CDTA Route 737 connects the airport terminal to downtown Albany, running roughly every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the day, with a journey time of around 40 to 50 minutes. It drops passengers near the Empire State Plaza and continues towards the Rensselaer Rail Station, which is useful if you are connecting onwards. The fare is modest — a few dollars in cash, and CDTA also sells day and multi-day passes through its mobile app that pay off if you plan to use buses around the city during your stay.

The trade-off is luggage and timing. The bus is a standard city service with limited space for large suitcases, and the walk from the nearest stops to hotels on Chapel Street, Broadway or around the Palace Theatre district can be several blocks over uneven pavements. For a solo traveller with a backpack arriving in daylight, I would take the bus without hesitation. For a family with two suitcases each, or anyone landing after dark, the saving is not worth the hassle.

Taxis and Ride-Share Compared

Taxis from the rank outside arrivals charge a metered fare to downtown, typically landing in the region of 25 to 35 US dollars depending on traffic and the exact destination, with a small airport surcharge on top. Licensed cabs are plentiful during the day and early evening. Ride-share apps such as Uber and Lyft generally quote similar or slightly lower prices for the same trip, though surge pricing can push a fare noticeably higher during the morning commute or after a major event at the Times Union Center.

My recommendation: book a ride-share on arrival if you are travelling alone or as a couple and the quoted price is reasonable, since the app gives you a fixed cost before you commit. Use the taxi rank instead if your flight lands after 10pm, if you have no US mobile data, or if you are carrying ski or golf equipment that needs a larger vehicle. Neither option requires booking ahead at ALB, but for a very early departure back to the airport, arranging a cab the evening before is the safer choice.

Where to Stay and What It Costs

Downtown Albany hotels cluster around the Empire State Plaza, Broadway and State Street, with a handful of options near Lark Street in the Centre Square and Hudson/Park neighbourhoods. Expect mid-range chain properties in the region of 130 to 200 dollars a night midweek, with rates easing at weekends when business travel drops off. Staying downtown puts you within walking distance of the New York State Museum, the Capitol and the Palace Theatre, and makes the airport transfer a single short trip.

If you are driving in or planning day trips to Saratoga Springs or the Hudson Valley, the suburban hotels along Wolf Road in Colonie are cheaper and offer free parking, but you lose the walkable downtown experience and will still need a car for everything. For a first visit focused on the city itself, I would book downtown between April and October, when the weather suits exploring on foot and the bus and ride-share fares go furthest. Skip the airport-area hotels unless you have a dawn flight.

Questions, answered

How much is a taxi from Albany airport to downtown?

Expect roughly 25 to 35 US dollars on the meter, plus a small airport surcharge. Traffic on I-87 can push this higher at rush hour. Ride-share quotes are usually similar, though surge pricing applies at busy times.

Is there a public bus from ALB to the city centre?

Yes. CDTA Route 737 runs from the terminal towards downtown and Rensselaer Rail Station, roughly every 30 to 60 minutes, taking around 40 to 50 minutes. The fare is a few dollars and day passes are available in the CDTA app.

How long does the transfer take?

The drive is about 15 to 20 minutes outside peak hours and up to 30 minutes in weekday morning traffic. The bus takes 40 to 50 minutes depending on stops and time of day.

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