Travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Map of major roadways in the area.

Text-only version of travel directions (for fast printing).

Travel By Air

Albany County Airport (ALB), located approximately 20 minutes from RPI, offers service from a number of airlines. There is scheduled commuter service from all three New York airports (Kennedy, La Guardia, and Newark) and Boston. Flying time from Boston or New York is approximately 45 minutes.

If you are traveling on an international flight, be aware that as a non-international airport, Albany County Airport's facilities for currency exchange are limited. You will want to exchange money at your departing or international arrival airport.

Taxi service from the airport to RPI costs about $15-20.

Travel By Rail

The Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak rail station is located approximately 20 minutes from RPI in the town of Rensselaer, NY. The principal service is from New York City's Pennsylvania Station. There are 16 trains per day with departures from 7:15am to 10:00pm. Travel time from Penn. Station to Albany is scheduled for 2 1/2 hours; delays may increase this by up to one hour. The trip is very scenic during daylight hours, especially in June, following the eastern bank of the Hudson River just above water level and passing beneath all of the Hudson River bridges.

The full round-trip fare from New York City is about $80. Excursion fares from about $50 are available with travel restrictions during the rush portion of weekdays.

There is also once-per-day service from Toronto and Montreal, and three-times-per-day service from Buffalo. One train per day serves Albany from Chicago (an overnight run). The Toronto departure is at 9:30am, arriving in Albany at 6:20pm. The Montreal departure is at 10:10am, arriving in Albany at 5:22pm.

Naturally these schedules may change and you should check with Amtrak for current train scheduling information. Amtrak may be reached at


       800-USA-RAIL (+1 800-872-7245) in the U.S.

       800-4AM-TRAK (+1 800-426-8725) in Canada

Taxi service from the Albany-Rensselaer Station to RPI costs about $20-25.

Travel By Road

Greyhound Bus Schedules

Troy and RPI are located at the terminus of Interstate highway 787.

From the New York State Thruway (Interstates 90 and 87), east from Buffalo or north from New York City, leave the Thruway at Exit 24 (Interstate 90). Take I-90 East for 6 miles to the exit for I-787 North. Take I-787 North to the exit for "Rt. 7 East, Troy-Bennington". (Although not marked as such, this exit is in fact the end of I-787.)

Follow signs for Rt. 7, Hoosick Street. At the 4th traffic light (about 1/2 mile), turn right (south) onto 15th Street.

Continue through the 3rd traffic light on 15th Street. The entrance to the Visitors Information Center is on the left immediately past the pedestrian bridge passing over 15th Street. Visitors' parking is adjacent to the VIC.

For further information:

If you would like further assistance in arranging travel to RPI, you may contact


       Visitors Information Center

       Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

       Troy, New York  12180-3590  USA

       Telephone:  +1 518-276-4636