Transportation Tips
Riding the Erie Canalway Trail is wonderful because you can ride 360 miles straight across the state. But most of the time, you need to figure out a way to get back! Here are some recommendations for transportation to help you figure out how to get you and your bike where you want to be.
Shuttle Services
There are a number of shuttle companies across the state that provide shuttle service for cyclists of the Erie Canalway Trail. Shuttles differ in how many bicycles they can transport. Please note that there are currently no luggage transport services being offered along the Erie Canalway Trail corridorAPoint Shuttle Service
APoint Shuttle Service picks up adventurers as well as their bike/boat/equipment at their B-Point and brings them to the start of the trip- the A-Point.
Contact: APointShuttleService@gmail.com; (518) 914-7433
Classic Adventures
Primarily a bicycle tour operator, Classic Adventures also offers shuttles for cyclists on the Empire State Trail
Contact: benton@classicadventures.com; (800) 777-8090
Erie Canal Bike Transport
Our luxury bicycle transport shuttle service is now available for your biking pleasure – You bike the Erie Canal – Canalway Trail, we return you to your cycling starting point.
Contact: evan@ecbt.us; (585) 732-6273
Traveling by Amtrak
Thanks to our years of dedicated advocacy, Amtrak is now equipped to accommodate bicycles on trains across New York. There are three lines that run between Albany and Buffalo and parallel the Erie Canalway Trail: the Maple Leaf, Empire Service, and the long-distance Lake Shore Limited. While the process is relatively simple, we recommend reviewing our guide “Bikes on Board: A Guide to Using Amtrak to Ride the Erie Canalway Trail” to understand the differences between the lines to understand which will work best for you.
Renting a car/U-haul
For many groups traveling the Erie Canalway Trail, renting a one-way car or U-haul may prove to be the most economical way of getting you and your bikes across the state before or after your cycling adventure.
For car rentals, there are both Enterprise and Hertz locations in Albany on Central Ave about 4 miles away from the end of the trail, but Central Ave is a busy road and is not appropriate for cycling. Alternate routes on the side streets should be taken. Beware that there is an Enterprise at the Albany/Rensselaer train station, but as of 2023, it is a satellite location and they only serve ticketed Amtrak customers. On the Buffalo end, there are a couple of Hertz locations less than two miles from the end of the trail.
If you are looking for more capacity, there is a U-haul location in Buffalo about 2 miles from the end of the trail and a U-haul in Albany about 1 mile from the end of the trail.
Long-term Parking
Long-term, overnight parking is a must if you are going to leave your car for a week while you ride the trail. In Albany, the best option for secure long-term parking is the Albany/Rennselaer Amtrak station, which has both a covered garage and surface lots. The covered garage is $14/day or $70 for 7 consecutive days and the surface lots are $10/day or $50 for seven consecutive days. The garage and lots are open 24/7.
In Buffalo, there is long-term overnight parking available at Buffalo Depew Station for free with a return ticket (although you should check with the station attendant). There is no great option for longterm overnight parking at Buffalo Exchange St station that we are aware of, although there are parking lots in the area. If you are staying in a hotel at either end, you may also have luck asking if you can leave your car in their lot during your trip.
