Albany–Rensselaer is the Amtrak station serving the capital region, one of the busiest in the Northeast corridor. Direct trains connect Albany to New York Penn Station (about 2.5 hours), Boston South Station (5 hours), and Montreal (4 hours). The station is in Rensselaer across the Hudson River from downtown Albany; a free shuttle bus connects the two.
Albany International Airport (ALB) is small but well-connected, with flights to major hubs including New York (JFK, LGA), Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington. Car rental is available at the airport.
By car, Albany is 150 miles north of New York City on the New York State Thruway (I-87), 160 miles from Boston on I-90, and 65 miles east of the Adirondacks. The city is easy to reach but parking downtown can be limited.