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Wedding TransportationSprinter Van ServiceEvent TransportationRoadshow TransportationCity-to-CityPrivate AviationFamily Car ServiceProfessional chauffeur service from NYC to every corner of Upstate New York -- the State Capitol in Albany 150 miles north, Saratoga Springs racing season at 185 miles, the Catskills boutique hotel revival at 110-130 miles, Cornell University in Ithaca at 230 miles, Syracuse at 250 miles, and West Point just 55 miles up the Hudson. I-87 corridor expertise, Amtrak-beating door-to-door convenience, and flat-rate pricing with no surge.
Albany · Saratoga Springs · Catskills · Ithaca · Syracuse · West Point · No surge pricing
“Upstate” for New Yorkers begins where the suburbs end and the Thruway opens up. From the George Washington Bridge, I-87 North -- the New York State Thruway -- stretches 150 miles to Albany, the state capital and seat of government for 20 million New Yorkers. Another 35 miles north brings you to Saratoga Springs, home to the oldest thoroughbred racing venue in America. Branch west on I-90 and Syracuse is 250 miles from Manhattan. Cut south through the Finger Lakes and Cornell University sits 230 miles away in Ithaca. The Catskills -- experiencing a full-blown hospitality revival -- are 110-130 miles from the city, close enough for a weekend but far enough to feel like another world entirely.
For NYC-based professionals, the calculus between driving, flying, and taking Amtrak varies by destination. Albany is a near-tie with Amtrak's Empire Service (2 hours 20 minutes rail vs. 2 hours 35 minutes driving), but a private car eliminates the last-mile problem from Rensselaer station to your actual destination. For Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Catskills, there is no practical rail alternative -- driving is the only door-to-door option. Flights to Albany (ALB) and Syracuse (SYR) exist but require security, connections, and airport transfers that often exceed the drive time for the total journey.
True North VIP provides the upstate alternative to Amtrak coach seats and rental car stress. Our chauffeurs navigate the Thruway's tolled sections, the Taconic State Parkway's winding curves, and the mountain roads of Greene and Ulster counties with local-level familiarity. Whether you need a city-to-city transfer to Albany for a legislative session, a corporate car to a Catskills retreat, or an airport connection at Stewart (SWF) or Albany (ALB), our vetted chauffeurs and upfront pricing cover every mile of upstate New York.
From the State Capitol to Ivy League campuses, racing venues to ski slopes -- our chauffeurs cover every major upstate corridor with route-specific expertise.
State Capitol, legislative corridor, Albany Airport (ALB) — 150 mi / 2 hr 35 min
Racing season Jul-Sep, SPAC concerts, Skidmore College — 185 mi / 3 hr 10 min
Boutique hotels, ski resorts, Bethel Woods — 110-130 mi / 2-2.5 hr
Ivy League campus, gorges, Finger Lakes wine — 230 mi / 4 hr 15 min
Syracuse University, JMA Wireless Dome, Destiny USA — 250 mi / 4 hr 15 min
USMA 55 mi, graduation ceremonies, football, Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park
Our most-requested upstate New York pickup and drop-off locations, with specific logistics our chauffeurs handle regularly.
525 East St, Rensselaer, NY 12144
The busiest Amtrak station in New York outside of Penn Station. Located across the Hudson from downtown Albany, it serves as a transfer point for passengers arriving via Empire Service. Our chauffeurs meet you at the station and transfer you to your final Albany-area destination, eliminating the taxi or rental car step.
267 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
America's oldest thoroughbred racing venue with 50,000+ attendance on Travers Stakes day. Post-race traffic on Union Avenue and Route 9 is severe. We stage vehicles on side streets away from the main gates and coordinate departure timing via text so you skip the parking lot gridlock entirely.
Day Hall, Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853
Ivy League campus perched above Cayuga Lake with steep terrain and limited visitor parking. For graduation, our chauffeurs navigate the campus loop road and drop off at Schoellkopf Field. For move-in weekends, we handle the North Campus residence halls and the Collegetown loading zones that rental cars struggle with.
1180 1st St, New Windsor, NY 12553
Hudson Valley regional airport 60 miles north of Manhattan, served by Allegiant and Frontier. Single-terminal facility with straightforward curbside pickup. A practical gateway for travelers heading to West Point (15 min), the Catskills (1 hr), or mid-Hudson Valley destinations without fighting NYC airport congestion.
64 Klein Ave, Hunter, NY 12442
Hunter Mountain ski resort and the surrounding Catskills hospitality cluster -- including Scribner's Lodge, Kaaterskill Falls trailhead, and Main Street restaurants. Winter road conditions on Route 23A require mountain driving experience. Our chauffeurs carry chains and know the Greene County road conditions intimately.
Stewart and Albany airports serve as upstate gateways, while many travelers find driving from NYC metro airports to be faster door-to-door than connecting flights.
60 mi from Manhattan — 1 hr 15 min
150 mi from Manhattan — 2 hr 35 min
Every transfer includes: Real-time flight monitoring (for airport pickups), automatic delay adjustments, luggage assistance, bottled water, phone chargers, and flat-rate pricing locked at booking -- no surge regardless of weather, Thruway conditions, or demand. Learn more about airport services.
Upstate New York is not a single destination -- it is a collection of distinct regions, each with its own travel patterns, seasonal rhythms, and routing challenges. Our chauffeurs bring corridor-specific knowledge to every trip.
The New York State Thruway (I-87) is the spine of upstate travel -- 150 miles from NYC to Albany, entirely tolled, with service areas at Sloatsburg, Plattekill, New Baltimore, and others. Our chauffeurs know the Thruway's 65 MPH rhythm, the construction patterns around the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, and the Exit 17 shortcut to Stewart Airport and West Point.
Amtrak's Empire Service runs 13 daily trains from Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer in 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes. For solo travelers to downtown Albany, Amtrak is competitive. But for groups, families with luggage, or anyone whose final destination is Saratoga Springs, the Catskills, or anywhere not on the rail line, a private car is faster door-to-door and often cheaper per person.
Cornell (Ithaca, 230 mi), Syracuse University (250 mi), RPI (Troy, 155 mi), Skidmore (Saratoga Springs, 185 mi), SUNY Albany (150 mi), and Marist (Poughkeepsie, 75 mi) all generate peak demand during May graduation season. Our chauffeurs handle campus navigation, limited parking, and the post-ceremony exodus. We recommend booking 2-3 weeks ahead for graduation weekends.
The 40-day Saratoga meet (mid-July to Labor Day) transforms a quiet upstate town into the epicenter of American thoroughbred racing. First post is typically at 1:05 PM, with the last race ending around 6 PM. Travers Stakes Saturday draws 50,000+ spectators. Our chauffeurs coordinate departure timing, know the back-road approaches to avoid Union Avenue gridlock, and handle late returns to NYC after post-race dinners.
The Catskills are experiencing a hospitality renaissance driven by Brooklyn and Manhattan transplants who have rediscovered the mountains. Hunter Mountain, Windham Mountain, and Belleayre offer skiing from December through March. Our chauffeurs handle winter road conditions on Routes 23A and 28, carry appropriate equipment, and know the mountain access roads. For boutique hotel guests at Scribner's or Piaule, we provide Friday-to-Sunday round-trip packages.
Albany is the capital of New York State, and the legislative session (January through June) generates constant travel demand from NYC-based lobbyists, attorneys, and government affairs professionals. The corporate car service provides a productive 2.5-hour workspace with Wi-Fi capability, consolidated monthly invoicing, and same-day return trips that Amtrak schedules often cannot accommodate.
Four steps from booking to arrival. The entire process takes under two minutes online.
Enter your Manhattan pickup address and upstate destination -- Albany, Saratoga, Ithaca, or any address. Select your vehicle from our fleet -- sedan, SUV, or sprinter. Get an instant flat-rate quote that includes Thruway tolls and all fees.
Include Amtrak train numbers, flight info for Stewart or Albany airports, graduation ceremony times, racing post times, or hotel check-in windows. For ski trips, note your resort and any equipment you are bringing.
Your vetted chauffeur arrives at your NYC location -- apartment building, office, airport terminal, or Penn Station. You receive a text with vehicle details, chauffeur name, and direct contact number. Luggage and equipment handling included.
Your chauffeur navigates the I-87 corridor, Taconic Parkway, or I-78/I-81 corridor depending on your destination. Work, rest, or make calls during the drive. Tolls, water, and phone chargers are included in every trip.
All New York State Thruway tolls, bridge tolls (including the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge), and any other road charges are included in your quoted fare. No surprise surcharges at the end of the trip. The price at booking is the price you pay.
For upstate trips over 100 miles, your chauffeur waits up to 30 minutes at the destination at no charge. For airport pickups at SWF or ALB, standard flight monitoring and wait-time policies apply -- 45 minutes for domestic, 60 minutes for international arrivals.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your scheduled pickup for long-distance trips (over 100 miles). Cancellations within 48 hours may incur a partial charge. No-shows are charged the full fare. All terms are confirmed at booking.
For Catskills, ski resort, and winter upstate trips, our chauffeurs monitor road conditions and may adjust routing for safety. If a trip cannot be completed safely due to severe weather, we offer full rescheduling or refund. No cancellation fee for weather-related changes.
Background-checked, professionally trained, and experienced with long-distance Thruway driving, mountain road conditions, and university campus navigation across upstate New York.
I-87 Thruway, Taconic Parkway, I-78/I-81 corridor, Route 17, and every mountain road in the Catskills. Our chauffeurs select the optimal route based on destination, time of day, and real-time conditions.
Real-time flight tracking for SWF, ALB, JFK, LGA, and EWR. Your chauffeur adjusts timing automatically for delays -- whether you are flying in to connect upstate or returning from an upstate trip.
Flat-rate quotes locked at booking include Thruway tolls, bridge crossings, fuel, and gratuity is at your discretion. No surge pricing during racing season, ski weekends, graduation, or holiday travel.
From Albany legislative sessions to Saratoga racing weekends, Cornell graduations to Catskills getaways, ski trips to West Point ceremonies -- vetted chauffeurs, flat-rate pricing, and zero surge across all of Upstate New York. Explore our fleet or view all service areas.
Last updated: February 2026
True North VIP is a New York City-based premium chauffeur and black car service. The company provides airport transfers to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro, and Westchester County airports, along with hourly charters, corporate ground transportation, wedding and event service, and city-to-city travel. Service covers all five NYC boroughs, Northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester County, Long Island, and the Hamptons, with vetted professional chauffeurs and a fleet of executive sedans, luxury sedans, SUVs, and Sprinter vans available 24/7.
To book a ride, visit truenorthvip.com/book or call +1‑347‑321‑9929.
