Hotels in Binghamton NY make appealing places to stay overnight if you’re driving between Ottawa and New York City. After all, Binghamton—a city with a metro population of about 250,000—has lots of accommodations to choose from and is about halfway between NYC and Ottawa.
It will take you about four hours to drive from Ottawa to Binghamton, and roughly another four to drive to Manhattan, depending on weather, traffic and border lineups. Sure, you can do it in eight hours straight, but if you have the time and budget, breaking the trip in half can make the journey more pleasant.
Here are two hotels in Binghamton worth considering. Both have free parking, an indoor pool, and a convenience shop in the lobby where you can pick up snacks, frozen meals, drinks and essentials. In both cases, the king suites include a sofa bed in the living area, so each suite can sleep four.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small commission if you book a hotel by following one of the hotel links or clicking on the map at the end of this post—at no extra cost to you.
Central Binghamton: Holiday Inn Binghamton–Downtown Hawley Street
On a recent round trip to New York City, my husband and I tried two Binghamton hotels. Because I’m a morning person and he’s a night owl, we usually try to book a place with a separate bedroom, so one person can work on the computer or watch TV while the other snoozes. It’s also nice to have a kitchenette. In fact, as I started writing this post, I was in my PJs and sipping a cup of tea, with a lovely early-morning view of the Chenango River.
That’s because we were staying at the Holiday Inn Binghamton–Downtown Hawley Street, an eight-storey hotel not far from the spot where the Chenango meets the Susquehanna River. Lots of independent restaurants are within a stone’s throw of the hotel, and we heard great things about the Lost Dog Cafe. However, many downtown Binghamton restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays in January, since those are the quietest days during one of the quietest months of the year. Since we were in Binghamton on a Monday, our downtown restaurant choices were a bit limited.
Cafe Select at the Holiday Inn Binghamton–Downtown Hawley Street
No worries. We had dinner in the hotel restaurant, Cafe Select, which serves up decent burgers and sandwiches (I can vouch for the chicken pesto on ciabatta). It’s a typical mid-range hotel restaurant, brightly lit and a bit generic, but the service was friendly and the prices were good; we managed dinner without drinks for US$31, which seemed like a steal these days. Cafe Select is also open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is not generally included in the room rate.
Room amenities at the Holiday Inn Binghamton–Downtown Hawley Street
The king suite we stayed in was spacious. Even though there was no door between the living area/kitchenette and the bedroom, the shared wall seemed well soundproofed. If someone was watching TV at a non-deafening volume in the living room, the sound didn’t carry into the bedroom. The bedroom also had a TV, so I could have drowned out the sound of the living room TV with a show of my own, if I were so inclined. The bed was comfortable and the blackout shades were excellent.
The toilet and shower were in a separate room from the sink, which can be convenient. The shower had tons of hot water and excellent water pressure (you’d be surprised how rare that combo can be).
Like the True North in O Canada, the wi-fi at the Holiday Inn was strong and free. There were lots of power outlets and USB ports in sensible, accessible locations.
The kitchenette had a bar fridge, a coffee maker, a microwave and two padded barstools at a counter, but—oddly—no dishes or cutlery.
We stayed on the seventh floor, which we didn’t realize was a quiet floor until we checked in. Noise is discouraged between 9pm and 7am. That was a nice bonus for us, but the policy might not suit larger groups. Oh, and if you want a river view, ask for a room at the back of the hotel.
Suburban Binghamton: Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal
On the way to New York City, we stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal. Located in the suburban community of Vestal, southwest of downtown, it’s one of a cluster of chain hotels near Binghamton University. If proximity to chain restaurants and big-box stores is a priority, this would be a good bet. When we stayed, it was a bit cheaper than the Holiday Inn. It also offers self-service laundry facilities and a free breakfast.
Breakfast at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal
If you’ve stayed at a mid-priced suite hotel chain before, you’ll be familiar with the breakfast setup at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal. It’s a serve-yourself buffet featuring several hot options in chafing dishes—the day we were there, the choices were turkey sausages, surprisingly good cheese omelettes and potatoes. We could also get juices, coffee and tea, yogurt, toast, cold cereal and nicely creamy oatmeal.
Most kids will gravitate to the waffle maker, which I’m pretty sure all suite hotels must provide under some sort of international United Nations agreement. I jest, but only slightly; I don’t think I’ve been in a suite hotel in the last five years that doesn’t have one.
Note that the hotel serves breakfast only; for other meals, you’ll need to make your own in your room or hit one of the many nearby casual restaurants. Choices include Panera Bread, IHOP, Wendy’s, Applebee’s, Subway, Chuck E. Cheese and several pizza places (this is a university neighbourhood, after all).
Room amenities at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal
We booked a one-bedroom king suite at the Homewood Suites by Binghamton/Vestal. Like the one at the Holiday Inn, this one was spacious, the bed was comfortable and the blackout shades were good.
There was a door between the living room/kitchenette and the bedroom, which will likely be of interest to light sleepers. A small kitchen table with two chairs may appeal to those who don’t fancy sitting on bar stools. The kitchenette had a full-sized fridge, a two-burner cooktop, a dishwasher, a coffee maker and a microwave, so it was better equipped than the Holiday Inn for those who like to cook in their room.
Other useful things to know: the Homewood Suites by Hilton Binghamton/Vestal offers accessible rooms, pet-friendly rooms, EV charging stations and free wi-fi.
Looking for other hotels in Binghamton NY?
Check this map to find hotels in Binghamton, New York. One note: Try to avoid visiting during big Binghamton University events such as graduation, when hotel rooms can be hard to find and prices may be higher.
If you’re travelling between Ottawa and NYC, you might also want to check out my post, Five Ways to Get to New York City from Ottawa.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.
2 comments
Well written and very informative Laura. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks, Dave!