Hotels in Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs: Thoroughbreds, Mineral Waters, and the Arts

Saratoga Springs, in upstate New York 35 miles north of Albany, built its identity on three pillars: mineral spring spas, thoroughbred horse racing, and summer performing arts. The Saratoga Race Course, opened in 1863, is the oldest major thoroughbred track in the United States and draws tens of thousands of visitors every August. Congress Park anchors downtown, surrounding a restored 19th-century casino that now houses the Saratoga Springs History Museum. The Broadway corridor runs through the center of the city, lined with Victorian-era storefronts, restaurants, and bars.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster along Broadway, near Union Avenue heading toward the racetrack, and in the quieter residential streets off Caroline Street. Racing season (late July through Labor Day) drives peak rates; shoulder-season visitors in May–June and September find softer pricing. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Spac) in the southern end of Saratoga Spa State Park hosts the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra each summer, adding a second demand driver beyond racing.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Amtrak's Empire Service stops at Saratoga Springs station on Broadway — roughly 2.5 hours from New York Penn Station.
• Racing dates: The meet runs late July to Labor Day; book hotels eight to twelve weeks ahead for weekends.
• Mineral baths: The Roosevelt Baths & Spa inside Saratoga Spa State Park offers carbonated mineral baths in a 1935 bathhouse.
• Parking: Street parking on Broadway fills quickly during race days — the State Park lot off Route 9 offers easier access.