Major city · United States
BinghamtonBinghamton, New York
Give Binghamton one full day: carousels, the Roberson and a spiedie. Two nights if you add the Ross Park Zoo or a Broome County drive.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, ice); late Jul–Aug (humid)
- Airports
- BGM · SYR · ALB
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Binghamton is a small upstate New York city of about 47,000 at the meeting of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers, and the seat of Broome County. It is known as the Parlor City for its Romanesque Revival downtown and as the Carousel Capital of America, with six antique carousels still turning in the area. Most travellers pass through on I-81 or stop for a night; the city answers a day of architecture, museums and the local spiedie sandwich.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Binghamton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyBinghamton is a small city with ordinary US street sense: fine downtown and on the Westside in daylight…
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBGM Greater Binghamton Airport (About 7 mi (11 km) northwest of downtown in Johnson City; no public transit…BGM Greater Binghamton Airport (About 7 mi (6.8 mi) northwest of downtown in Johnson City; no public transit…
- Getting aroundDowntown, the Westside and the Southside bridges are walkable in 20–30 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$2–5
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, before tax and tip$18–35
- Street or quick mealSpiedie sandwich$8–14
- BeerDraught beer in a bar$6–9
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi or rideshare3.1 mi taxi or ridesharecheck$12–18
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheck$8–12
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
- Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
- High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$240
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BGM Greater Binghamton Airport (About 7 mi (11 km) northwest of downtown in Johnson City; no public transit, taxi about $25 to anywhere in Broome County (check)) · SYR Syracuse Hancock International (About 70 mi (113 km) north; more airlines and often cheaper fares) · ALB Albany International (About 95 mi (153 km) northeast; Southwest and other carriers)BGM Greater Binghamton Airport (About 7 mi (6.8 mi) northwest of downtown in Johnson City; no public transit, taxi about $25 to anywhere in Broome County (check)) · SYR Syracuse Hancock International (About 70 mi (70 mi) north; more airlines and often cheaper fares) · ALB Albany International (About 95 mi (95 mi) northeast; Southwest and other carriers)
Weather and climate
Binghamton: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C30°F
−9°C16°F
15 rd
Feb
0°C32°F
−8°C18°F
13 rd
Mar
5°C41°F
−4°C25°F
13 rd
Apr
12°C54°F
2°C36°F
13 rd
May
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Jul
26°C79°F
15°C59°F
11 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
11 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
10°C50°F
11 rd
Oct
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
12 rd
Nov
7°C45°F
−1°C30°F
13 rd
Dec
1°C34°F
−6°C21°F
15 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Downtown, the Westside and the Southside bridges are walkable in 20–30 minutes end to end. Broome County Transit (BC Transit) runs local buses from BC Junction next to the downtown bus terminal; service thins out in the evening and on Sundays. A car is the easy answer for the carousels, the zoo and the surrounding towns.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Vestal and Binghamton University
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Car or BC Transit along the Vestal Parkway (NY-434)
Campus events and the Parkway's shops and restaurants; the region's commercial centre.
Endicott and Johnson City
goDoor to door: About 15–25 min
Car or local bus west along Main St
The other two of the Triple Cities; Endicott was IBM's birthplace and keeps a Little Italy on its North Side.
Cooperstown
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
I-88 northeast, then NY-28
Baseball Hall of Fame and the Fenimore Art Museum; a full day out.
Ithaca and the Finger Lakes
goDoor to door: About 1 h
NY-17/I-86 west, then NY-13 north
Gorges, Cornell and Cayuga Lake wineries; easy as a day or an overnight.
Windsor, New York
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
NY-17/I-86 east, about 20 mi (32 km)NY-17/I-86 east, about 20 mi (20 mi)
Small village with an 1800s covered bridge; worth an hour if you are already driving east.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / City Center
Walk to the Court Street Historic District, the bus terminal and the riverfront; the practical base without a car.
Westside
Across the Chenango River; the Roberson Museum, Binghamton High School and Main St commercial strip. Quieter, still walkable to downtown.
Vestal (Parkway)
South of the river along NY-434; chain hotels, big-box stores and Binghamton University. Car needed.
Johnson City
Borders the Westside; Oakdale Mall and cheaper motels, close to the airport road.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–170 excl. bed
- High
- $170+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$140 | US$140 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Taxi from BGM to downtown1 × US$25 · check | US$25 |
| BC Transit single ride2 × US$2 · check | US$4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$42 |
| Trip total≈ US$231 per person per day, bed included | US$461 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $2–5 |
| Spiedie sandwich | $8–14 |
| Diner or casual lunch | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner, before tax and tip | $18–35 |
| Draught beer in a bar | $6–9 |
| 5 km taxi or ridesharecheck | $12–18 |
| Museum entrycheck | $8–12 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Winter brings lake-effect and Nor'easter snow; city side streets can go unplowed for days after a storm.
- Binghamton averages only about 52 sunny days a year and 161 days with precipitation — pack for grey.
- Summer humidity is high and mosquitoes are heavy near the rivers.
- Some blocks along the Brandywine industrial spine and parts of the First Ward are run-down; stay aware after dark.
- The nearest Amtrak station is about 65 mi (105 km) away in Syracuse — there is no train to Binghamton.The nearest Amtrak station is about 65 mi (65 mi) away in Syracuse — there is no train to Binghamton.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BinghamtonBinghamton, New York
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Binghamton; national embassies are in Washington, DC, and many countries keep consulates in New York City.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi BGM → downtown Binghamton: about $25, 15–20 min (check)
- BC Transit single ride: about $2 (check)
- Bus New York City → Binghamton: about $40–80 one way, 3–4 h (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- One spiedie, please — One spiedie, please
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
- Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Binghamton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, ice); late Jul–Aug (humid) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BGM: taxi flat rate and rental desks field-checked, plus the Syracuse and Albany fallbacks.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Court Street, the Westside and Roberson, the Southside bridges, the riverfront.
- Place pages with verified hours (Roberson Museum, Ross Park Zoo, Kopernik Observatory, the carousels) and eat pages with last orders.
- Winter and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.