Oneonta (New York)

Oneonta is in Otsego County, in Central New York.

Understand
Oneonta is an important town between Binghamton and Albany. It contains a branch of State University of New York (SUNY), the small private Hartwick College, and a historic district, the Walnut Street Historic District, which is rich in lovely architecture.

By car
Interstate 88, which connects Binghamton with Schenectady and the Capital Region of the state, runs along side the Susquehanna River, and separates the older section of the city (center city and Main Street) with Southside, home to malls, big box stores, and home improvement maga-stores. This divided, limited access, four-lane highway has three interchanges in Oneonta.


 * I-88 Exit 13 (Route 205) - heading eastward (from Binghamton towards Albany) and after passing through the town of Otego (there is a large truck-stop at exit 12 in Otego) Interstate 88 has its first Oneonta exit at exit 13. There is not much city here yet, exit 13 intersects Route 205, which heads north through rural Otego County.  Just north of the intersection are the New York State Police sub-station on Oneida Street, a Hertz car rental next door, and the location of the former Soccer Hall of Fame.  Just north of here is the community of West Oneonta.  The city itself can be accessed either via River Street Extension (north of the highway, or continuing northeast on Oneida street and making a right (east) on Chestnut Street.  On Chestnut Street, you will pass through west end, and then to the city itself.  Making a left onto West Street will deliver you to the front door of three fine institutes of higher learning, SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and Oneonta Job Corps.
 * I-88 Exit 14 (Main Street) - This is a partial exit, in that there are only exit and entrance ramps serving the westbound direction. Travelers to the east should enter (and on the return trip, exit) I-88 at Exit 15, which is .7 miles east of here at the intersection of I-88 and James F. Lettis Highway/NYS Route 28.  At this exit (14), Main Street Oneonta (AKA Center City) is only two or so blocks north.  Use this exit for Main street, including the Public Safety Building (Police, Fire, Courts), the Armed Forces Recruiting Center, several gas stations and the main entrance to Neahwa Park and the baseball games at Damaschke Field.

By bus
The Trailways Bus Terminal is located at 47 Market Street in Oneonta. This location is part of the lowest level of the municipal parking garage, across from the Foothills Performing Arts Center. Oneonta is a hub for Trailways, locations served from Oneonta include several daily runs to and from the Port Authority in NYC, Long Island, Albany, Binghamton and Utica. Not all runs are non-stop, some require changing buses at another hub location. Albany, Binghamton and of course NYC are major hubs from which service to the entire nation (and Canada) can be accessed.

See
The major draw of this town is all the lovely buildings, some of whose photos grace this page.

Buy
Oneonta is one of the few places in the region with a large selection of 'real' stores.

Southside (Route 23) in Oneonta, has runs from the intersection of Main Street (at Home Depot) in Oneonta east to the Town of Davenport in Delaware County. It is a typical unsightly 'main drag' with most of the big-box chain stores typical of suburban sprawl America. In town, the business do become more interesting:


 * The Bearded Dragon, 19 Ford Street near the YMCA is a comics and games store
 * ArtWare, on Main Street, sells everything for the artist
 * An upscale shoe store on Main Street, near the intersection with Chestnut Street

Go next

 * Cooperstown, with more lovely buildings and the Baseball Hall of Fame, is about 35 minutes away.
 * Binghamton
 * Schenectady
 * Albany