Schenectady district, New York, United States

Places to visit near Schenectady

Schenectady is a town in Schenectady district, New York, United States, home to about 65,305 people. Within 50 km by road there are 73 places to visit — 4 hill stations & viewpoints, 15 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 15 parks and 14 churches. The must-see places are Museum of Innovation and Science (1 km), Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal (5 km) and Woodlawn Preserve (7 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Schenectady on the map

Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, Schenectady district, New York, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Schenectady at a glance

Location
Schenectady district, New York, United States
Population
about 65,305
Coordinates
42.8142° N, 73.9396° W
Places within 50 km
73 (73 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks and churches

Top places to visit near Schenectady

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Schenectady: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Schenectady

Things to see near Schenectady, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Schenectady

114 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Mohawk Valley (27 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Vermont →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Schenectady

61 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Featherstonhaugh Lake (18 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Vermont →

Parks near Schenectady

26 parks within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal (5 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Churches near Schenectady

25 churches within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Niskayuna Reformed Church (12 km). Best time: year-round.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Schenectady

20 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Woodlawn Preserve (7 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Vermont →

Museums near Schenectady

13 museums within 100 km of Schenectady. The closest is Museum of Innovation and Science (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Vermont →

A one-day trip from Schenectady

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 46 km on the road.

  1. Start in Schenectady
  2. 5 km Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal · park, Schenectady
  3. 5 km Plotter Kill Preserve · nature spot, Rutland
  4. 15 km Woodlawn Preserve · nature spot, Bennington
  5. 8 km Niskayuna Reformed Church · church, Schenectady
  6. 12 km Museum of Innovation and Science · museum, Bennington
  7. 1 km Back to Schenectady

Plan a longer trip from Schenectady — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Schenectady

No traveller has reported from around Schenectady yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Schenectady

    All places near Schenectady by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Schenectady by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints4114Mohawk Valley (27 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1561Featherstonhaugh Lake (18 km)
    Parks1526Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal (5 km)
    Churches1425Niskayuna Reformed Church (12 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens920Woodlawn Preserve (7 km)
    Museums613Museum of Innovation and Science (1 km)
    Forts & heritage57Fort Frederick (30 km)
    Other attractions26USS Slater (31 km)
    Waterfalls15Cohoes Falls (24 km)
    Caves23Clarksville Preserve (33 km)
    Treks01Taconic Crest Trail (68 km)
    Buddhist sites01New York Mahayana Temple (70 km)
    Beaches & coast01Hudson–Athens Lighthouse (79 km)

    Schenectady: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Schenectady?

    Museum of Innovation and Science (museum, about 1 km), Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal (park, about 5 km), Woodlawn Preserve (nature spot, about 7 km), Plotter Kill Preserve (nature spot, about 10 km), Niskayuna Reformed Church (church, about 12 km), Shenendehowa United Methodist Church (church, about 15 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Schenectady?

    73 places on Spotwander: 4 hill stations & viewpoints, 15 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 15 parks, 14 churches, 9 wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Schenectady?

    Mohawk Valley, about 27 km by road; Filkins Hill (33 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Schenectady?

    Featherstonhaugh Lake, about 18 km by road; Rensselaer Lake (20 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Schenectady?

    Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal, about 5 km by road; Thacher State Park (23 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Schenectady?

    Start in Schenectady, visit Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 23, Old Erie Canal, then Plotter Kill Preserve, then Woodlawn Preserve, then Niskayuna Reformed Church, then Museum of Innovation and Science, and drive back — about 46 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Schenectady?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks and churches.

    Towns near Schenectady

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Schenectady’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Schenectady on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.