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Best Western Clifton Park
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Catch up with daily news on the flat screen TV while enjoying your complimentary breakfast in the cafe area. +1 photos

Best Western Clifton Park

617 Plank Road, Albany, United States
from $85

Best Western Clifton Park is an economical option in Downtown Albany, Albany, handy for travellers focused on USS Slater Destroyer Escort Historical Museum and the main sights.

Guests typically choose Downtown Albany for its balance of location and price; Best Western Clifton Park is a good fit if you want to be near the action in Albany.

Rates shift with the season and with demand, so the live price on the booking page is always the one to trust — tap through for tonight’s or your dates' real availability.

Key facts

Class
2-star
Area
Downtown Albany
Guest rating
4.1 (696)
from
$85
Address
617 Plank Road, Albany, United States

What’s included

Where to stay in Albany: the areas explained

Downtown Albany is the default for a first visit: it puts you within walking distance of the State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, the Times Union Center and the Amtrak shuttle to Rensselaer station. Rates here run mid-range on weekdays when the Legislature is in session and drop sharply at weekends. Center Square and the Mansion District, just uphill, are largely B&Bs in 19th-century townhouses on Lark Street and Madison Avenue — quieter, cheaper per night, and a 10-minute walk to Washington Park.

For lower rates, look at Colonie, Guilderland or Menands along Wolf Road and Route 5, where chain hotels near Albany International Airport (ALB) sit 15-20 minutes by car from downtown and typically undercut city-centre prices by $40-70 a night. Troy, Schenectady and Cohoes are viable bases if you have a car, each about 10-15 miles out; Saratoga Springs is 35 miles north and prices there behave like a separate market entirely, especially in racing season. Pine Hills, Upper Union Street, Delaware Avenue, Arbor Hill, West Hill, North Albany, Watervliet, Bethlehem, Delmar and the Pastures Historic District are mostly residential and have limited hotel stock — worth searching if you want a specific short-term rental rather than a hotel.

Best time to visit Albany month by month

January and February are the cheapest months in Albany proper, with downtown rooms often at $95-120, because temperatures sit around 20-30°F and there is no legislative crush on weekends. March through early June is Legislative Session peak: Monday to Wednesday rates in Downtown Albany and near the Empire State Plaza can jump 40-60% while lobbyists fill the Hilton and Renaissance, then collapse again Friday to Sunday. Tulip Festival in Washington Park (second weekend of May) is the one weekend downtown prices hold firm.

July and August are steady and warm, mid-80s°F, with the Saratoga thoroughbred meet running mid-July to Labor Day — this pulls prices in Saratoga Springs to $300-500 a night and pushes overflow demand into Albany, Colonie and Schenectady. September and October bring foliage traffic through the Helderbergs and Adirondacks, with a bump around the Capital Region’s college move-ins (UAlbany, RPI in Troy, Siena in Loudonville). November and December are quiet apart from graduation weekends and the Empire State Plaza tree lighting.

Getting around Albany without wasting time

For Downtown Albany, Center Square, the Mansion District and Washington Park you do not need a car — it is a 20-minute walk end to end, and CDTA buses run frequent routes along Madison, Central and Washington Avenues for $1.50 a ride. Amtrak’s Empire Service and Lake Shore Limited use Albany-Rensselaer station across the Hudson, about 2 miles from downtown; a taxi or rideshare across the Dunn Memorial Bridge is $12-15. Albany International (ALB) is 7 miles northwest in Colonie, roughly 15 minutes by car or the CDTA Route 737 bus.

A car becomes worthwhile the moment you want to see Troy (10 miles north on Route 787), Schenectady (17 miles northwest on I-890), Saratoga Springs (35 miles on I-87), or the smaller Capital Region places — Cohoes, Watervliet, Bethlehem, Delmar, Guilderland. Parking downtown runs $15-25 a day in hotel garages; on-street metering runs until 6pm on weekdays and is free at weekends. The I-90/I-87 interchange at exit 24 is the main pinch point and adds 15-20 minutes during the 4-6pm rush.

Questions, answered

Where is Best Western Clifton Park located?
Best Western Clifton Park is in Downtown Albany, Albany (617 Plank Road, Albany, United States), close to USS Slater Destroyer Escort Historical Museum.
How much does Best Western Clifton Park cost per night?
Recent rates started around $85 per night, but prices are set live — check the booking page for your exact dates.
How many stars is Best Western Clifton Park?
Best Western Clifton Park is a 2-star hotel in Albany.
Is Best Western Clifton Park a good hotel?
Guests rate it 4.1 across 696 reviews. It’s a value choice for Albany.
How many nights should I spend in Albany?
Two nights covers Albany itself — the Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, the New York State Museum, Washington Park and Lark Street. Add a third night if you want to include Troy or Schenectady, both about 10-17 miles away. Four nights lets you drive the 35 miles up I-87 to Saratoga Springs. Beyond four you’re using Albany as a Capital Region base rather than seeing the city.
How do I get from Albany airport to downtown?
Albany International (ALB) is 7 miles northwest of downtown in Colonie, and the drive is 15-20 minutes down I-87 and the Northway. A taxi or Uber runs about $25-35. The CDTA Route 737 bus goes airport to downtown for $1.50 and takes around 30 minutes, running roughly every half hour. Most downtown hotels do not run their own shuttles, so budget for the rideshare.
Do I need a car in Albany?
You don’t need a car if you’re staying in Downtown Albany, Center Square or the Mansion District and only visiting the city itself — everything is within a 20-minute walk and CDTA buses fill the gaps at $1.50 a ride. You do need a car if you want to see Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Cohoes, Delmar or Bethlehem, because rail and bus links between those places are slow. Parking downtown is $15-25 a day at hotel garages. Rideshare works reliably in the city core but thins out in the surrounding towns after 10pm.
Is Albany better for families or couples?
Albany suits couples slightly better than families, mainly because the draws are political and cultural — the Capitol, the Albany Institute of History and Art, restaurants on Lark Street and Delaware Avenue. Families do well with the New York State Museum (free entry) and the Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany Aqua Ducks tour in summer. For a family trip lasting more than two nights, Saratoga Springs 35 miles north has more kid-oriented options including Saratoga Spa State Park. Book a suite in Colonie for family value — chains along Wolf Road are cheaper and roomier than downtown.
What should I book early in Albany?
Book early for the Tulip Festival weekend (second weekend of May), UAlbany and RPI graduation weekends in mid-May, and any Tuesday-Wednesday in Downtown Albany during Legislative Session from February to June. Saratoga Springs during the race meet from mid-July to Labor Day sells out months ahead — if that’s your target, book by March. Race meet overflow into Albany and Schenectady tightens by June. Everything else can be booked 2-3 weeks out without penalty.
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