Directions

Venues are noted on the map below- scroll/pan thorough the map to see all points.

View Festival of Writers Venues – Rensselaerville, NY in a larger map

Addresses for Local Venues

Conkling Hall is located at 8 Methodist Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY 12147. Arts Garage is located at 5000 Delaware Turnpike (Route 85) in Rensselaerville, next to the Firehouse. Rensselaerville Library is located at 1459 County Route 351, Rensselaerville. Carey Conference Center is located at 63 Huyck Road/100 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville.  The Eldridge Research Center of the Huyck Preserve is located at 284 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville.  Palmer House Cafe is located at 1462 County Route 351, Rensselaerville.

GPS Users- ONLY Verizon cell phones work in Rensselaerville and the surrounding area.  Please plan accordingly, as this may affect you if you plan to use a GPS unit on your cell phone.

Directions to Rensselaerville from Buffalo, Syracuse, Canajoharie, and points West:    

1. Turn left at the stop sign after going through the toll booth onto NY Route 5S (E Main Street).  Get gas here if necessary- gas stations are very limited going forward.  Go approximately 2.5 miles
2. Bear right onto NY 162 South and follow for approx. 13 miles, road will merge with Route 30A South
3. Continue onto New York Route 30A South (straight through the traffic light) for 3.8 miles
4. Turn left at the stop sign onto New York Route 30A SOUTH and NY Route 7 EAST and go for 1 mile
5. Turn right onto NY 30A and go approximately 2.6 miles (Note – Route 30A will merge with and become Route 30)
6. Turn left onto NY Route 443 EAST and follow for approximately 9 miles
7. Turn Right onto NY County Route 1 (Switzkill Rd) (cemetery on corner) and follow 2 miles
8. Turn Right onto County Route 6/Ravine Road (on sharp corner) and follow County Route 6 for approx. 5.8 miles
9. Turn Right at stop sign onto State Route 85 and go about ½ miles until the intersection of Route 85 and Route 353.  Option 1- Turn right from Route 85 onto Route 353 for Pond Hill Road on right (proceed to Carey Conference Center and Huyck Preserve) or to reach the Hilltown Café up the hill on Route 353.  Option 2- Turn left from Route 85 onto Route 351 to access Methodist Hill Road (proceed to Conkling Hall), or to reach the Library or the Palmer House Cafe (both are one block down on County Route 351).

Directions to Rensselaerville from Buffalo, Syracuse, Canajoharie, and points West:    

1. When leaving the train station parking lot, turn left onto East Street.
2. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Partition Street.
3. At the next traffic light, turn left onto Broadway Avenue.
4. Go straight on Broadway Avenue and follow the signs to I-787 South.
5. Travel to the end of I-787. Then turn right onto Route 9W.
6. Proceed on 9W. It will merge with Route 32. Bear to the right at the fork of 9W and Route 32 and proceed on Route 32 for approximately 3 miles.
7. At third stoplight, Route 32 turns left. DO NOT TURN. CONTINUE STRAIGHT THROUGH. You will pass a “Park and Ride” lot on your left and may think you have gone wrong the wrong way, but you are right. Stay on this road until it ends. At the end of the road turn right onto Van Dyke Road and follow it past the school bus garage and the athletic field & track on your right.
8. Van Dyke Road ends and there is a traffic light. Turn left onto Delaware Avenue also shown as Route 443. You will stay on this road for nearly 10 miles. It merges with Route 85.
9. Proceed on Route 85 (get gas at the Racetrack, on right, if necessary- there are no gas stations in Rensselaerville).  After 15 miles, come to the intersection of Route 85 and Route 353.  Option 1- Turn right from Route 85 onto Route 353 for Pond Hill Road on right (proceed to Carey Conference Center and Huyck Preserve) or to reach the Hilltown Café up the hill on Route 353.  Option 2- Turn left from Route 85 onto Route 351 to access Methodist Hill Road (proceed to Conkling Hall), or to reach the Library or the Palmer House Cafe (both are one block down on County Route 351).

From Connecticut and points East:

1. From Connecticut, travel west on the appropriate roads so that you cross the Hudson River and eventually travel north on New York State I-87.
2. Leave New York State I-87 at Exit 22, Selkirk.  Get gas here if necessary- gas stations are very limited going forward.
3. Turn right after the tollbooth onto State Route 144 South.
4. Go approximately 1/8 mile and turn Right onto State Route 396 West and continue for 12 miles.
5. The route number will change from State Route 396 to Albany County 301. Continue straight on Albany County Road 301.
6. Follow Route 301 for a few miles to a stop sign at a four-corner intersection of Route 301 and State Route 32.
7. Turn left on Route 32 and continue for approximately 5 miles. At top of a hill, turn right onto Route 143 toward the village of Westerlo.
8. Stay on Route 143 and go through the village of Westerlo. The route number will change to Albany County Route 1. Go straight on Route 1.
9. On Route 1, you will come to a stop sign and blinking red light at the intersection of Albany County Route 1 and State Route 85. Turn left on Route 85 West toward Rensselaerville.
10.  Proceed on Route 85 for 6 miles until the intersection of Route 85 and Route 353.  Option 1- Turn right from Route 85 onto Route 353 for Pond Hill Road on right (proceed to Carey Conference Center and Huyck Preserve) or to reach the Hilltown Café up the hill on Route 353.  Option 2- Turn left from Route 85 onto Route 351 to access Methodist Hill Road (proceed to Conkling Hall), or to reach the Library or the Palmer House Cafe (both are one block down on County Route 351).

From Massachusetts and points East:

1. From Massachusetts, follow I-90 West. Once you get into New York State, do not take any exits until you reach I-87. DO NOT take Exit B1 to continue on I-90 West. Past Exit B1, you will be on the Berkshire Spur, which will take you over the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge to I-87.
2. After crossing the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge, follow the sign saying, “Exit 22-61, I-87, I-90 North to Albany.” You want to go north on I-87 toward Albany.
3. Leave I-87 at Exit 22, Selkirk. Get gas here if necessary- gas stations are very limited going forward.
4. Turn right after the tollbooth onto State Route 144 South.
5. Go approximately 1/8 mile and turn Right onto State Route 396 West and continue for 12 miles.
6. The route number will change from State Route 396 to Albany County 301. Continue straight on Albany County Route 301.
7. Follow Route 301 for a few miles to a stop sign at the four-corner intersection of Route 301 and State Route 32.
8. Turn left on Route 32 and continue for approximately 5 miles. At top of a hill, turn right onto Route 143 toward the village of Westerlo.
9. Stay on Route 143 and go through the village of Westerlo. The route number will change to Albany County Route 1. Go straight on Route 1.
10. On Route 1, you will come to a stop sign and blinking red light at the intersection of Albany County Route 1 and State Route 85. Turn left on Route 85 West toward Rensselaerville.
11. Proceed on Route 85 until the intersection of Route 85 and Route 353.  Option 1- Turn right from Route 85 onto Route 353 for Pond Hill Road on right (proceed to Carey Conference Center and Huyck Preserve) or to reach the Hilltown Café up the hill on Route 353.  Option 2- Turn left from Route 85 onto Route 351 to access Methodist Hill Road (proceed to Conkling Hall), or to reach the Library or the Palmer House Cafe (both are one block down on County Route 351).

From Binghamton, Sidney, Oneonta, & Points West Via I-88:

1.Get off I-88 EAST via exit 23 – toward RT-7/SCHOHARIE/RT-30/CENTRAL BRIDGE.
2. Turn RIGHT onto NY-30A. Dunkin’ Donuts will be on the right hand side of the road. NY-30A becomes NY-30.  Get gas here if necessary- gas stations are very limited going forward.
3. Go about 2.2 miles. Turn SHARP LEFT onto NY-443, go 9.1 Miles. Turn RIGHT onto CR-1/SWITZ KILL RD, go 6.0 Miles.
4. At the stop sign take a RIGHT; CR-1 proceeds right. At stop sign & blinking red light turn RIGHT onto Route 85.
5. Continue on Route 85 for 6 miles to Rensselaerville.  At the intersection of Route 85 and Route 353.  Option 1- Turn right from Route 85 onto Route 353 for Pond Hill Road on right (proceed to Carey Conference Center and Huyck Preserve) or to reach the Hilltown Café up the hill on Route 353.  Option 2- Turn left from Route 85 onto Route 351 to access Methodist Hill Road (proceed to Conkling Hall), or to reach the Library or the Palmer House Cafe (both are one block down on County Route 351).