Upper Union Street
A charming Schenectady commercial strip masquerading as a neighborhood — good local base with easy Albany access.
Upper Union Street shops with awnings and residential brick homes
Why people stay in Upper Union Street
Upper Union Street sits in Schenectady, about 25 minutes northwest of downtown Albany, running through the residential GE Realty Plot and the streetcar-suburb blocks between Union College and downtown Schenectady. The commercial strip along Union between Van Vranken and Nott Terrace has independent bookstores, cafes, gift shops, and a farmers market feel. On a Saturday morning it's the most pleasant few blocks in the whole Capital Region.
This works as a base if you’re doing both Albany museums and Schenectady's own attractions (Proctors Theatre, miSci, the GE campus history walks). You’ll drive to Albany about half the time you’re there — plan on a 25-minute commute each way. Skip if your whole trip is Albany-focused; the drive back and forth adds up over three or four days.
The Parker Inn near Proctors and the Hampton Inn on Nott Street are the reliable choices at $105-160 a night. A handful of B&Bs in the GE Realty Plot (Rugby Road, Nott Terrace) run $130-180 and are genuinely charming. Avoid anything advertised as "Schenectady" that's actually on lower State Street south of the Amtrak station — that's a different, less appealing part of town.
What to see
Hotels in Upper Union Street
Getting around Upper Union Street
From Albany International Airport, drive 20 minutes via I-87 and Route 5. From Amtrak, Schenectady has its own station (Erie Boulevard) — the train from Albany-Rensselaer takes 25 minutes and runs several times daily. To get to downtown Albany from Upper Union, drive I-90 (25 min) or take CDTA Route 905 bus (45 min). Free parking everywhere.
Questions about Upper Union Street
About 25 minutes by car via I-90, or 25 minutes by Amtrak between the two stations. Plan accordingly if your trip is mostly Albany-focused.
The commercial stretch is a pleasant 15-block walk with cafes and shops. The surrounding residential neighborhoods are also walkable and safe. It's the most walkable pocket of Schenectady.
