The Nature Institute
20 May Hill Road
Ghent, New York, 12075

Visit

The Nature Institute in Ghent, NY
 

If you would like to visit the institute, please contact us beforehand as our hours sometimes vary.

The Nature Institute is located in rural eastern New York, at the foot of the Taconic Hills. Surrounded by forests, meadows, wetlands, creeks, ponds and many transitional habitats, the Institute is also the steward of a nearby 29-acre nature preserve. The Institute neighbors Hawthorne Valley, with its biodynamic farm, farmscape ecology program, natural food store, and K-12 Waldorf school.

View directions or see below for travel options and accommodations for your visit.


Travel Options

Though public transport in the US isn’t great outside urban areas, if you’re planning to travel to the institute without a car there are still a few options.

* Please note: all costs below are approximate costs as of 2024. You should verify all costs directly with the transportation provider.

Flying

There are 3 nearby airports we recommend: JFK, Newark, and Albany. Of the three, Albany is the closest and simplest to use, but also the most expensive. We would definitely not recommend the other nearby airports — Boston, Hartford, or Laguardia — as public transport is much worse.


Arriving at JFK
Traveling from JFK to the Institute usually costs around $90 and takes around 3.5 hours.

  1. First, take two trains from JFK to Penn Station: the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, ($8.50) and then the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Penn Station ($15). This takes about 1 hour. (Alternatively, a taxi from JFK to Penn Station is $50 and can take around 45 minutes.)

  2. Second, take the Amtrak train from Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station to Hudson, NY. This costs $38 (one way) if you reserve it online at least a day or two in advance but otherwise is more like $53 or $70 (one way). This takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

  3. Last, from Hudson to The Nature Institute is a $25 - $35 taxi ride (see Taxis and Rides section below). This takes about 20 minutes.

Arriving at Newark
Traveling from Newark to the Institute usually costs around $80 and takes around 3 hours.

  1. First, take two trains from Newark to Penn Station: the airport’s free Air Train to the Newark Airport Railroad station (about 10 minutes) and then the New Jersey transit train goes to Penn Station and takes about 30 minutes.

  2. Second, take the Amtrak train from Moynihan Hall at Penn Station to Hudson, NY. Reserve it online at least a day or two in advance. This takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

  3. Last, from the Hudson train station to The Nature Institute is about a 20-minute ride. (See Taxis and Rides section below).

Arriving in Albany
The best way to travel from the Albany airport is via taxi or Uber/Lyft. The drive is about an hour long and prices vary. See Taxis and Rides section below.

Taxis and Rides

Taxis from Hudson & Albany

  • Miller Transport (tel: 518-828-8694)

    $35 — Hudson Amtrak station to Harlemville; $150 — Albany Airport to Harlemville

    * 24 hour service, but make sure to call in advance.

  • Hudson Region Transport (tel: 518-697-0056)

    $25 — Hudson Amtrak station to Harlemville; $120 — Albany Airport to Harlemville

    * be sure to book in advance, up to a week.

Informal Rides from Hudson & Albany

  • Uber and Lyft operate in Albany, and sporadically, in Hudson.

  • Tim Smith (tel: 518-755-5527)

    $60 from Albany airport

    * Notify if delayed.

Accommodations

(last updated 5/26/2021)

Below you will find listings for motels, B&Bs, and camp grounds around the institute. For longer visits, there is also the possibility of accommodations at the institute’s guest house or at homestays within the community. Check with our office manager about these options.


Motels, B&Bs, and Private Homes

Chatham Travel Lodge (12 miles)
Route 295
Chatham, NY 12037
(518) 392-4066
thetravellodge.com/

The Wick, Hudson (10 miles)
41 Cross St.
Hudson, NY 12534
marriott.com

The Maker Hotel (9.8 miles)
302 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
themaker.com

Rivertown Lodge (9.4 miles)
731 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
rivertownlodge.com

Wm Farmer & Sons (10 miles)
20 Front St.
Hudson, NY 12534
wmfarmerandsons.com

The Cooper’s Daughter Distillery Suite (6.5 miles)
Olde York Farm
284 NY-23
Claverack, NY 12513
oldeyorkfarm.com

Private home in Kinderhook Village
Charming, clean and fully furnished 3-bedroom home available to rent; discount for our course participants.
Contact owner: Jenny Endresen, neserdne53900b@gmail.com
802-490-0544


More homes/apartments are available at airbnb.com (search in Ghent, New York area).

Camping

Fox Hill Camping (8.5 miles)
603 Route 203
Spencertown, NY 12165
(518) 392-3714

Taghkanic State Park (13.3 miles)
1528 State Route 82
Ancram, NY 12502
(518) 851-3631

Taconic State Park (15 miles)
253 State Route 344
Copake, New York 12517
(518) 392-3993

Prospect Lake Park (15 miles)
50 Prospect Lake Rd
North Egremont, MA 01230
(413) 528-4158