USMA local lodging options

2026JK

2026JK

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I'm mom of a candidate for Class of 2026. I've read through some threads regarding USMA local lodging options, but several of the threads are a few years old. Would love updated recommendations ... hotels, airBnB, etc. Specifically for R-day and A-Day. Thank you.
 
Thayer hotel is at the best location, also the best price. Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Montgomery is a more reasonable place.

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aa-ttention said:
Thayer hotel is at the best location, also the best price. Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Montgomery is a more reasonable place.

​

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I'm guessing you meant to say the Thayer is not the best price. It is in fact very pricey.

When it comes to R day and A day it's all about convenience and proximity versus hotel amenities in my opinion. There are not a lot of local options. There are more options in neighboring cities but driving back and forth 45 mins or an hour from lodging gets old especially when doing it late at night and early in morning.

Holiday Inn in Montgomery, Bear Mountain Inn, some local Air bnbs will keep you close. There's the West Point motel as well. Check them out online you get a feel for what they are like.

It's a balancing act between budget, proximity and the level of accommodations. We've stayed just about in every locale and style near WP and ultimately decided the ease of being close was our main priority so you may need to sacrifice either budget or the lodging amenities to stay close.

You can't beat the Thayer for convenience but it is certainly not a budget play.
 
Thayer Hotel looks beautiful, but it always seems completely booked up by the time I am looking for a room.

This year with the Covid situation, sometimes the plebes have been limited to traveling with it a five-mile radius from WP. In that case, booking a hotel within that radius can be a strategic decision so that your plebe has a place to relax (besides in the car). But those places usually get booked up soon, too.

I suggest that you book a hotel room early as possible.
 
2026JK said:
I'm mom of a candidate for Class of 2026. I've read through some threads regarding USMA local lodging options, but several of the threads are a few years old. Would love updated recommendations ... hotels, airBnB, etc. Specifically for R-day and A-Day. Thank you.
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Sent PM
 
If you have Military ID, the IHG Hotel on Post is reasonable and nice, but you need to get reservations early as there are a lot of military and former military who stay there when at WP. We also loved Bear Mountain Inn, really nice, spacious, and lovely to walk around but you need to drive to get meals. The Thayer offers a "Package" for R-Day and Graduation that is expensive but nice because you are there already and also usually Cadets can come and visit with having to leave Post, but for A-Day, get away from WP, your Cadet will likely want to sleep and rest and just unwind and being away from the Post helps. Just check any COVID restrictions.
 
Also look at Airbnb. But as with others you need to look early. Also, expect to pay more for R-Day, A-Day, graduation week, and football weekends.
 
Impulsive said:
If you have Military ID, the IHG Hotel on Post is reasonable and nice, but you need to get reservations early as there are a lot of military and former military who stay there when at WP. We also loved Bear Mountain Inn, really nice, spacious, and lovely to walk around but you need to drive to get meals. The Thayer offers a "Package" for R-Day and Graduation that is expensive but nice because you are there already and also usually Cadets can come and visit with having to leave Post, but for A-Day, get away from WP, your Cadet will likely want to sleep and rest and just unwind and being away from the Post helps. Just check any COVID restrictions.
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How far "away" for A-day?
 
jebdad said:
I'm guessing you meant to say the Thayer is not the best price. It is in fact very pricey.

When it comes to R day and A day it's all about convenience and proximity versus hotel amenities in my opinion. There are not a lot of local options. There are more options in neighboring cities but driving back and forth 45 mins or an hour from lodging gets old especially when doing it late at night and early in morning.

Holiday Inn in Montgomery, Bear Mountain Inn, some local Air bnbs will keep you close. There's the West Point motel as well. Check them out online you get a feel for what they are like.

It's a balancing act between budget, proximity and the level of accommodations. We've stayed just about in every locale and style near WP and ultimately decided the ease of being close was our main priority so you may need to sacrifice either budget or the lodging amenities to stay close.

You can't beat the Thayer for convenience but it is certainly not a budget play.
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Good insight ... thank you. That balancing act is exactly what I was trying to figure out. Knowing the highest priority would be proximity is really helpful.
 
Will my plebe be with me until the actual R-day "event"? I believe it's June 27, 2022 ... so he'll need a bed wherever we stay until that morning, right?
 
Yes, we got a hotel the night before R-Day. But this year R-Day was spread over three days, and we didn’t know which day our son would report on until shortly before. So you may not have a lot of advance notice.

This year, due to changing scenarios with Covid, WP has made the decisions about how far the cadets can travel away about the week before. So you may have to guess about which hotel room is better since you will likely not know what their privileges will be.
 
Thayer...all the way but you are locked into two night each time. Very high price.
However, I always stay at the Thayer because I want to be INSIDE the long line of traffic waiting to get on post.
When you book R Day, you can book A Day, Ring Weekend, and Graduation. Don't gasp at the sticker price.
If you wish to look further afield, I recommend the Hampton Inn in Woodbury Common.

v/r
Tracey
 
My choices in order of preference:
  1. Thayer Hotel
  2. Holiday Inn Express West Point-Ft. Montgomery
  3. Nanuet - DoubleTree, Hilton Garden Inn, or Hampton Inn
 
DrMom said:
Thayer...all the way but you are locked into two night each time. Very high price.
However, I always stay at the Thayer because I want to be INSIDE the long line of traffic waiting to get on post.
When you book R Day, you can book A Day, Ring Weekend, and Graduation. Don't gasp at the sticker price.
If you wish to look further afield, I recommend the Hampton Inn in Woodbury Common.

v/r
Tracey
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So if I were to choose this route, I wait to book R day until WP offers a "package" that includes all those events?
 
2026JK said:
So if I were to choose this route, I wait to book R day until WP offers a "package" that includes all those events?
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Dates for R Day, A day, graduation, etc. are normally blocked out and reservations can only be made by choosing the package for that event. I would not wait for it to show up on the website and sometimes the website can be difficult to navigate - call as soon as you are ready to commit to a reservation. They will also be able to give advice on types and location of rooms, as well as put you on a waiting list if the specific type of room is sold out. FYI - do not choose the river view rooms unless you like hearing train whistles. 🚂🔊🔊🔊

Also, book Thayer graduation reservations on R Day (yes, 4 years in advance). They will have a table setup at some convenient location, probably Ike Hall. You pay upfront, but it is fully refundable if your cadet leaves before graduating.

Thayer is expensive for any special event, but is MUCH more convenient than any other hotel.
 
Looks like Thayer is already booked for R day. I'll check into the waiting list option if we decide to go that route.
 
Note: A Day is the only time I would choose a hotel other than Thayer. Prefer to get plebes away from post at a hotel with laundry facilities and near restaurants.
 
2026JK said:
So if I were to choose this route, I wait to book R day until WP offers a "package" that includes all those events?
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They already have those dates blocked. If your kid gets the BFE and accepts, you can book for R-Day. If R-Day shifts (or Graduation or A-Day or Ring Weekend, etc.) the Thayer will move the block.
 
Also, not too late to get a room for Ring Weekend and two rooms for graduation if you think you will need two rooms for graduation. You want to be inside of USMA...your kid can walk over to meet you during breaks or have drinks & snacks at the Zulu Bar overlooking the Hudson (one of my favorite spots in the world.)
 
I just reviewed the thread...someone said to wait for the block/date/event to appear on line...no way! If you want to be at the Thayer you need to call. They will say that you cannot get out of it. If something happens to your cadet, you can get out of it and get your money back. If you don't need the rooms you reserved, you can always sell them or exchange them to someone who rolls in late and wants to be at the Thayer. We've done two grad weeks at the Thayer and A Day, etc. and it is always location, location, location.
 
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