Directions to West Point


West Point is, as expected, on the west bank of the Hudson River, only 40 miles north of New York City. Travelling here from New York City takes about an hour and a half by car, train or bus.

 

Railroad

Metro-North has rail service from Grand Central Station in mid-town Manhattan, up the east bank of the Hudson. Trains to Garrison, NY, directly across the river from West Point, take approx 1 hour and 10 minutes and cost a little under $15. If you don’t have a car, get off at Peekskill, one stop south of Garrison, where cabs are often waiting. You may want to call to reserve a Highland Falls or Peekskill cab. Driving time from Garrison or Peekskill to West Point is approximately 20 minutes.

Bus

Short Line Bus offers daily bus service from the New York City Port Authority, near Times Square in midtown Manhattan, to the West Point Visitors Center; one-way trip takes 1 hour 40 minutes and costs approx $15. Short Line also has day trip packages with sightseeing and local discounts.

Driving

FROM NEW YORK CITY:

Head north to the George Washington Bridge/I-95 South. Cross the bridge via the upper deck (no toll in this direction), and stay in the right lane as immediately at the end of the bridge you will exit right on to the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

 

Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway north approximately 37 miles until it ends at the Bear Mountain Bridge traffic circle—unless you want the more leisurely and scenic route, do not get on 9W until you get to the Bear Mountain Bridge traffic circle. Proceed 3/4 of the way around the circle, following signs for West Point and Route 9W North. Stay on Route 9W for approximately 3 miles, then right exit onto Route 218 North toward the Village of Highland Falls. Go straight for 2 miles, through Highland Falls, past the West Point Visitors' Center (on the right) to the Thayer Gate of West Point.

 

  • Approximate driving time from midtown (light traffic):  1 hour, 20 minutes
  • From LaGuardia Airport (light traffic): 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • From John F. Kennedy International Airport (light traffic): 1 hour, 45 minutes
  • Cab fares to West Point from NYC are about $150 without tolls or gratuity

 

FROM SOUTH/NEW JERSEY: Approximately 5 hours from Washington, D.C.

Travel north on the NJ Turnpike/I-95, to exit 73 toward RT-67/Fort Lee--just before the George Washington Bridge. Stay left and take your first left at Lemoine Ave. Continue straight for ½ mile then bear right onto the Palisades Interstate Pkwy North. SEE DIRECTIONS FROM PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY ABOVE.

 

 

FROM THE WEST: 8 hours from Cleveland

Travel east on Interstate 80 through New Jersey and take exit 43 to merge onto Interstate 287 northbound toward Mahwah. After entering New York, take the exit onto the New York State Thruway South toward the Tappan Zee Bridge. Take exit 13N for the Palisades Parkway North toward Bear Mountain. SEE DIRECTIONS FROM PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY ABOVE.

 

FROM EAST/NEW ENGLAND VIA I-95: 3 hours, 30 minutes from Providence

Travel southwest on Interstate 95 into New York. Take exit 21 to merge onto Interstate 287 W toward White Plains and the Tappan Zee Bridge. Continue on I-287 W, then take exit 13N for Palisades Parkway North toward Bear Mountain. SEE DIRECTIONS FROM PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY ABOVE.

 

FROM NORTH/NEW ENGLAND VIA I-84: 4 hours from Boston

Travel west on Interstate 84 until you cross the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Follow signs for Route 9W South (exit 10S). Stay on Route 9W for approximately 12 miles until you cross over a large mountain. As you are in your final descent off the mountain, you will encounter three exits on your right for West Point.

 

The first exit (labeled "RT. 218/293," NOT West Point) loops back under Route 9W, past the West Point golf course, and onto Route 218 to the Washington Gate. This gate is ONLY for DoD ID card holders whose car has a current DoD decal and the gate has limited hours.

 

The second exit (labled "West Point/Highland Falls/Rte. 218") loops over Route 9W directly to the Stony Lonesome Gate which is open 24 hours, and offers the most direct access to the commissary, post exchange, post gas station, shoppette and the Michie/Holleder athletic complex. The road to this gate also will take you to the visitors center and the business district of the Village of Highland Falls--turn right at the sign immediately after you cross over 9W, and at the bottom of the long hill you will take a hard left at the T intersection.

 

The third exit loops over 9W and leads through the business district of Highland Falls, past the Visitors Center and West Point Museum, to the Thayer Gate which is open 24 hours a day. This gate provides the most direct access to the Hotel Thayer, the Bowling Center, Army Community Service, the West Point Post Office and eventually the Central Area.

 

FROM STEWART INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NEWBURGH, NY: Approximately: 30 minutes.

Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz all have rental counters at Stewart Airport.  There is also a Taxi/Limousine service at the ground transportation counter that charges approximately $40 for a car to West Point.    Upon exiting the airport, turn left onto Route 207 East (Little Britain Road). At the first light at the intersection with Union Avenue (Route 300) route 207 becomes Route 300/207 and is called “Temple Hill Road.” Go straight on Route 300 for approximately 3 miles until you come to the third traffic light. This intersection is known as “Five Corners.” This is the intersection of Routes 300, 94 and 32. You will go straight across the intersection toward McDonald’s and be on Route 32 South.

 

Travel on Route 32 for 1.7 miles. Immediately after passing over a trestle-type bridge, you will turn left off Route 32 onto Quaker Avenue toward Cornwall. You will see a green sign pointing to Bear Mountain and 9W South. Take this right-hand exit. At this point you will merge with 9W South. Travel on Route 9W for 5.7 miles over mountainous terrain. As you are in your final descent off the mountain, you will encounter three exits for West Point—see above.