<p>I think it makes sense to fly into Albany if you are going to finish your visits at Bard and possibly visit NYC. You could fly to Albany on Saturday and either head to Syracuse for the game later that day, which would take about 2 1/2 hours or head to Ithaca for your Sunday visit, which would be just under three hours. You’d spend a couple of days in Central New York and then swing back to Bard for your last college visit. You could take a train to NYC from Bard. I guess you’d leave your car at the train station near Bard (Red Hook?) and then pick it up after your day in the city. After that, it’s any easy swing back up the Thruway to Albany airport and home. The nice thing about flying into Albany is that it’s central to all of the schools you are visiting. It’s definitely closest to Bard, but the drives to Ithaca and Syracuse are all mostly highway and very manageable. </p>
<p>I would agree with above posters that you might want to consider visiting Niagara Falls another time apart from the college visits, unless your best option is flying into Buffalo… It would be a long drive across NYS from Bard campus to Niagara Falls and even from Ithaca and Syracuse it is quite a drive as with Ithaca, you need to either get over to 81 or 390 to drive up to the Thruway unless you take a route that parallels the Thruway which is a longer ride as not highway. . I wouldn’t plan on flying into Ithaca as it is a small regional airport, either Albany or Syracuse would work better.</p>
<p>I live in Albany and lived in Syracuse. I would fly into either of those cities. Check out Jet Blue if you decide to fly into Syracuse. </p>
<p>If you fly into Albany, I would go straight to Ithaca - a bit less than a 3 hour drive taking I88 to Bing and 81N to Ithaca. Then head up 81N to Syracuse (about an hour’s drive.) Then take NYS Truway (I90) E from Syr to Albany (2 1/2 hrs) to 87S to get to Bard (about 50 minutes from Albany.) </p>
<p>If you fly into Syracuse but need to be in Ithaca first you will be doing more driving - down to Ithaca and back up to Syracuse - but it’s not all that much. </p>
<p>I would fly into whichever city you can get the cheapest fare. </p>
<p>And I agree - forget about NF unless you have a lot of time to waste. It’s at least 2 1/2 hours from Syracuse. </p>