Visit Saratoga Springs in the fall I read! It’s the best time of year to visit I read! You’ll get to see the the changing of the leaves, there are less tourists… and the list continues!
Well, I visited Saratoga Springs in the fall – and I loved it! But, it definitely wasn’t perfect. With weather and opening hours changing, it became more of a challenge to find things to do in Saratoga Springs.
So there are a few things I would have liked to know before visiting Saratoga Springs in the fall. Here’s everything I wish I’d know so you can decide if Saratoga Springs is worth visiting in the fall!
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Is Saratoga Springs Worth Visiting In The Fall?
Don’t Visit Saratoga Springs In October If You’re Interested In Horse Racing
If you’re interested in seeing a horse race in Saratoga Springs, the fall is most likely not the time for you to visit.
Horse races typically run from mid July until the beginning of September. Considering the horse races are a main attraction of Saratoga Springs, you might want to reconsider. You can read my post here to decide if it’s worth not visiting on race day.
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Reality Of Saratoga Springs Fall Foliage…
The main benefit of fall travel is the colourful fall foliage. Let’s just say New York State does not disappoint in the fall, the leaves are beyond incredible.
Timing is key though – making fall travel very tricky!
If you visit too early, the leaves might not have changed colours yet. But if visit too late, all the leaves might have already fallen – leaving the trees bare (which never looks good in pictures!). Trust me, you’d definitely rather fully green trees than no leaves on the trees at all!
We visited in mid October and I think the leaves were at their peak! It was a bit surprising coming from Montreal where the leaves had already all fallen. This made it a great way to extend our fall for just a bit longer!
Saratoga Springs in October felt like it was prime fall foliage colours!
Watch Out Though! Saratoga Springs Fall Weather Is Unpredictable
Let’s just say that the weather in Saratoga Springs in the fall is far from predictable. It can range from a high of 25°C (77°F) in September to a low of -1 °C (30 °F) in November.
And even if it’s warm during the day, it will cool off a lot at night (so don’t forget to pack warmer clothes too)!
And let’s not forget about the fall rain…
| High | Low | # of Rainy Days | |
| September | 25°C / 77°F | 11°C / 52 °F | 5.0 |
| October | 17°C / 63 °F | 5°C / 41°F | 5.3 |
| November | 9°C / 48°F | -1°C / 30 °F | 4.1 |
The rainiest months are actually in the springs from March to May. But fall months in Saratoga Springs aren’t too far behind. They average about 5 days of rain throughout the month.
The good thing is that there are actually quite a few museums in Saratoga Springs to visit if it happens to be raining when you visit. The only problem is…
Museums Have Fewer Opening Hours In The Fall
You have to be very wary of the dates and even which days of the week you choose to visit Saratoga Springs in the fall.
It’s very nice that Saratoga Springs has a lot of museums but they have fewer opening hours in the fall. All museums now close on Mondays and some are even closed either Sunday or Tuesday.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (which is a must see in Saratoga Springs) is one of the museums that might be closed both Monday and Tuesday … which is exactly when we were visiting (check their opening hours here).
Other Saratoga Spring attractions also have fewer opening hours or are completely closed in the fall. For example, The Congress Park Carousel is only open on the weekends in the fall. And the Gardens at Yaddo are completely closed for the season starting in October.
So the lack of opening hours and closures definitely led to a lot of disappointment when we visited Saratoga Springs in the fall.
On top of that, it rained the entire Monday when we visited, so that didn’t leave us with a lot of things to do (since all the museums were closed…).
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Weather Dependant Activities In Saratoga Springs
The other problem with visiting Saratoga Springs in the fall is that there are a lot of outdoor activities. Of course you can do these if it’s a bit colder or in the rain – albeit it will probably be less enjoyable.
We walked along Broadway Street hiding in the stores and cafés until the rain would slow down… which it never did. So we trudged through Congress Park in the rain to see all the fountains.
I would actually say you can do most of the outdoor activities in the rain, you just might not want to hike. For example, I would recommend avoiding the Vale of Springs Trail in the rain.
Indoor Activities In The Fall
If you are traveling on a Monday and it’s raining, here are some other indoor Saratoga Springs activities you can do.
Enjoy A Day At The Spa
Saratoga Springs are known for their mineral baths, so there are a few spas in the city.
The only problem is that you tend to have to book in advance – so just keep an eye on the weather before you leave in case if you want to book a treatment during your stay.
Book the Roosevelt Spa & Baths here.
Try Local Microbrews
You can also hang out trying local beers at one of the breweries in the city, like Whitman or Druthers Breweries!
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Other Indoor Activities To Enjoy
You can also buy a new book at Northshire Bookstore and to one of the many cafes along Broadway street.
Or head to Tea & Honey to sample different tea at their tea bar (this would be my indoor activity of choice!).
If you’re interested you can also check out the Saratoga Casino.
Or, if you want to escape the rain entirely, you can always drive just outside Saratoga Springs to Albany to shop at Colonie Center, an indoor mall.
But Remember There Are Also Less Tourists In The Fall!
Just to end on a positive note, when visiting Saratoga Springs in the fall, there will be WAY LESS tourists.
Summer brings flocks of people to the races and the natural springs.
Fall is a lot less crowded. We were always able to eat at any restaurant we wanted and had no wait times.
Plus it’s still populated enough to feel busy. It never felt empty or like a ghost town.
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A Must Do Fall Attraction In Saratoga Springs: The Adirondack Train
If you do decide to visit Saratoga Springs in the fall, you have to at least ride the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the city but the train takes you through the fall coloured Adirondack mountains.
If you want to appreciate the Saratoga Springs fall foliage, this is the activity to do!
Just be weary of opening hours. Once again, they have less hours during the fall (sometimes only running on the weekend).
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Saratoga Springs Festivals In The Fall
Another benefit, if you time it well, is that you can visit during some fall Saratoga Springs Festivals.
September hosts a few fall festivals near Saratoga Springs. Check out the Adirondacks Ballon Festival in Queensbury here, and Farm Fest in Clifton Park here.
But if you want to stay in Saratoga Springs, you can enjoy Giant PumpkinFest to witness the largest pumpkins ever (find more information here)!
Their largest fall festival is the Saratoga Fall Fest in October. It’s a one day event with trick or treating, a pumpkin rolling challenge, and they even show a free movie in the evening. You’re also encouraged to dress up in costume! Find more information here.
If you’re there for a few days, you can also take part in the Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt. This is a two week scavenger hunt at the end of October that the whole family can enjoy! Find the clues here.
Find out more information here! Or click here for a full list of Fall Saratoga Springs Festivals.
So, Should You Visit Saratoga Springs In The Fall?
Honestly, I probably had the worst luck with my timing and the weather when I visited Springs in the fall.
We were only there on Monday and Tuesday and of course rained all day Monday. But yet I still loved the city.
I loved the vibe, the trees were gorgeous, and I was still able to learn about some of the city’s unique history and enjoy most of the activities.
So, should you visit Saratoga Springs in the fall? Yes and no. It really depends on you, and what you’re expecting from your trip to Saratoga Springs.
You might also be interested in reading…
If you were interested in seeing a horse race, the fall in Saratoga Springs is NOT the time for you to visit. But, if you want to enjoy the Saratoga Springs fall foliage, and enjoy the city at your own pace, then you might love this time of year.
If I were you, I would at least try to avoid visiting Saratoga Springs a Monday in the fall. And, if your main priority are the leaves, aim to visit Saratoga Springs in October.
Otherwise, you might want to look into Saratoga Springs in September. You’ll most likely have better (warmer) weather and better opening hours.
Need A Place To Stay In Saratoga Springs
We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Saratoga Springs. Honestly you can’t ask for a better location for the price. The hotel has an amazing lobby to hang out in, is pet friendly, and offers a free breakfast. The only downside is that it would really benefit from an update right now! See availability and room rates here.
For a luxury hotel stay, The Adelphi is the only hotel to stay at in the heart of Saratoga Springs. You will feel like royalty when you stay here. See availability and room rates here.
I’d also recommend The Springwater Bed and Breakfast, especially if you’re planning on going to a race. They offer a lot of room options (even some entire apartments!) at different price points. See availability and room rates here.
For more accommodation options in Saratoga Springs, click here, or read more of my recommendations for hotels in Saratoga Springs here.
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