Things to Do Under an Hour from Albany with Kids
16 kid-friendly adventures under an hour from Albany, nearest first.
- Under 1 hour (16)
- 1-2 hours (43)
- 2-3 hours (48)
- 3-4 hours (18)
About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from downtown Albany, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “under an hour” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in Albany you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.
about 10 min drive
Albany Institute of History & Art
Albany, NY
MuseumSmall Albany museum with two ancient Egyptian mummies, Hudson River School landscapes and drop-in …
about 10 min drive
New York State Museum
Albany, NY
MuseumFree Albany museum with a full-size mastodon, New York habitat dioramas and a working 1890s carousel …
about 10 min drive
Thacher State Park
Voorheesville, NY
HikingCliff-top escarpment park with a walk-behind waterfall and 40-mile views. Paid entry. Best from …
about 20 min drive
miSci Museum of Innovation and Science
Schenectady, NY
ScienceSchenectady science museum with hands-on electricity exhibits, General Electric history and a …
about 25 min drive
Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton, NY
SwimmingLifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy …
about 25 min drive
Cherry Plain State Park
Cherry Plain, NY
SwimmingQuiet swimming beach and intimate campground on Black River Pond. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
about 40 min drive
Children's Museum at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY
Indoor-PlaySmall Saratoga Springs children's museum with a pretend-play diner, a fire truck and a toddler area …
about 40 min drive
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Springs, NY
HikingNatural mineral springs, historic pools, and forest trails in Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works …
about 40 min drive
Vroman's Nose
Middleburgh, NY
HikingShort hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. …
about 40 min drive
Howe Caverns
Howes Cave, NY
NatureGuided cave tours 156 feet underground with an underground boat ride. Paid entry. Best from about …
about 45 min drive
Kaaterskill Falls Trail
Haines Falls, NY
HikingThe tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
about 45 min drive
Moreau Lake State Park
Gansevoort, NY
SwimmingSandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
about 45 min drive
North-South Lake Campground
Haines Falls, NY
CampingPremier Catskills campground with twin lakes and a swimming beach - campsites from about $22/night …
about 50 min drive
Taconic State Park
Copake Falls, NY
CampingTwo camping areas with swimming ponds, waterfalls, and ridge trails on the Taconic Range. Paid …
about 1 hr drive
Overlook Mountain Trail
Woodstock, NY
HikingFire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. …
about 1 hr drive
Hadley Mountain Fire Tower
Hadley, NY
HikingFire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from …