West Point graduation weekend 2027: things to do in West Point and the Hudson Valley

23 to 29 May 2027 · ExpectedWest Point and the Hudson Valley, United States

West Point Graduation Week brings parents, grandparents and siblings to West Point and the Hudson Valley for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in West Point and the Hudson Valley Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Graduation Week includes parades and the graduation hop. Guests need passes from the cadet.
Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Michie Stadium, West Point

Stewart (SWF) is 25 minutes away; New York airports are 1 to 1.5 hours.

Security screening and parking shuttles; arrive very early.

Public transport directions to Michie Stadium, West Point

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Newburgh and Fishkill	Chains across the river.
Mid-range	Highland Falls	Next to the Academy gate.
Splurge	Thayer Hotel and Cold Spring inns	Hotel on campus or river-town inns.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hampton Inn Newburgh Stewart Airport
Mid-range: Holiday Inn Express Fort Montgomery
Splurge: The Thayer Hotel at West Point

Links search the nights from 22 May to 30 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for 23 to 29 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Saturday 22 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeCold Spring and Breakneck Ridge hike.
EatNewburgh waterfront restaurants River views

Ceremony day

Sunday 23 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatCold Spring cafés River town Main Street
Easy outingHudson River cruise Half day · Low walking
Views of the Academy from the water.

The day after

Sunday 30 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayWest Point guided tour Half day · Family
From the visitor center; ID required.
EatNewburgh waterfront restaurants River views

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickStorm King Art Center Half day · Family
Giant sculptures in fields.
Rain or heat backupWoodbury Common outlets Half day · Indoor
Shopping outlets.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

West Point guided tour

From the visitor center; ID required.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Storm King Art Center

Giant sculptures in fields.

See times and prices

Bear Mountain zoo and carousel.

Evening and day-trip tours

Full day · Food

Hudson Valley wine and cider tour

Farms and wineries.

See times and prices

After dark

Beacon Main Street.

5 tours worth booking for West Point

Tour	Length	Good for
West Point guided tour	Half day	Families
Hudson River cruise	Half day	Tired legs
Storm King Art Center	Half day	Families
Woodbury Common outlets	Half day	Bad weather
Hudson Valley wine and cider tour	Full day	Food lovers

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Cold Spring cafés River town Main Street
Newburgh waterfront restaurants River views

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor

Woodbury Common outlets

Shopping outlets.

See times and prices

West Point Museum.
Dia Beacon.

Getting around on event days

You need a car; graduation week has heavy security and parking shuttles.

Day trips from West Point and the Hudson Valley

Beacon: 30 minutes
New York City: 1 hour 15 minutes

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for West Point.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is West Point Graduation Week 2027?

The next edition is 23 to 29 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Michie Stadium, West Point?

Stewart (SWF) is 25 minutes away; New York airports are 1 to 1.5 hours. Security screening and parking shuttles; arrive very early.

Where should I stay for West Point Graduation Week?

For most visitors the best base is Highland Falls: Next to the Academy gate.

What else can we do around West Point Graduation Week?

Good short outings in West Point and the Hudson Valley include West Point guided tour, Hudson River cruise, Storm King Art Center. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near West Point Graduation Week?

Family-friendly picks: West Point guided tour, Storm King Art Center. Bear Mountain zoo and carousel.

How far is Michie Stadium, West Point from West Point and the Hudson Valley centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Security screening and parking shuttles; arrive very early.

More University graduations

25 May 2027*Princeton Commencement
Princeton, United StatesGraduation 27 May 2027*Harvard Commencement
Boston, United StatesGraduation 27 May 2027*Johns Hopkins Commencement
Baltimore, United StatesGraduation 28 May 2027*MIT Commencement
Boston, United StatesGraduation 29 May 2027*Cornell Commencement
Ithaca, United StatesGraduation 30 May 2027*Brown University Commencement
Providence, United StatesGraduation

Everything we cover in West Point and the Hudson Valley