Overview
Beacon is a city in Dutchess County, New York.
2 sights · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Beacon
Dia:Beacon
Museum for the Dia Art Foundation's collection of modern art, including works by Andy Warhol. Located in a 300,000 square foot historic factory on 31 acres of riverfront.
Mount Gulian Historical Site
Mount Gulian Historic Site, open for the purposes of a guided tour, special event, school or group program, weddings, or simply something to do on a lovely afternoon. The site is about the Verplanck family which contains…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 21°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Mar. (climate data from nearby Briarcliff Manor)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SWF New York Stewart International Airport, Newburgh — 7 mi away. Directions
- HPN Westchester County Airport, White Plains — 33 mi away. Directions
- LGA LaGuardia Airport, New York — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 84 runs through Beacon, providing east-west connections to Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Route 9D is the main north to south road through the city.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dia:Beacon
- Afternoon Mount Gulian Historical Site
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
- Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. The closest major airport is directly across the river from Beacon. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, and JetBlue operate flights from Florida and Philadelphia (Mar 2021). Interstate 84 crosses the Hudson at Beacon via the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, providing easy access. About a 20-minute drive.
- Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Road, White Plains, +1 914 995-4860 (airlines). Two counties and a 50-minute drive away, but an alternative to the congestion of the 3 major international airports around New York City. Rental cars available.
- Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport: Livery cars offer service to and from 3 major international airports. It is possible in a convoluted sort of way to get to and from JFK via the Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit.
By car
Interstate 84 runs through Beacon, providing east-west connections to Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Route 9D is the main north to south road through the city.
By train
- Metro-North Railroad – Hudson Line. Express service between Beacon Station and New York City's Grand Central Terminal takes about 90 minutes. A one-way ticket to or from Grand Central costs $17.50 off-peak and $23 peak. Local service is also available to other Metro-North commuter stations. Full weekday and weekend schedules are available online. On-board train fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets at the vending machines located on the platform. On trains departing from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, get a seat on the left side of the train, while on trains departing from Beacon Station, sit on the right side. Opposite Yonkers and Hastings-on-Hudson, you will be treated to great views of the sheer cliffs of the Palisades, and between Cold Spring and Beacon, you will get a glimpse of Bannerman Castle on an island offshore, in addition to the beautiful Hudson River Valley.
- Amtrak. Connections to Amtrak's long-distance services are available at New York City's Penn Station and Metro-North's Poughkeepsie station.
See
See Mount Gulian Historical Site
Mount Gulian Historic Site, open for the purposes of a guided tour, special event, school or group program, weddings, or simply something to do on a lovely afternoon. The site is about the Verplanck family which contains an assortment of stories about husbands and wives, army generals, and an escaped slave.
Do
Rent a kayak or canoe or take a guided kayak trip on the Hudson River. Hudson Valley Pack & Paddle, 45 Beekman St, +1 845 831-1300. From New York City to Albany the Hudson is a tidal estuary, so be aware of tides and currents as well as ships and barges. There is a public launch to the west of the Beacon railroad station.
Sleep
Stay Swann Inn of Beacon (Neil Caplan and Darlene Swann)
Relaxed Victorian B&B at the foot of Mt. Beacon.
Nearby
Newburgh
City / town · 8 listings · 2 mi away
New Windsor
City / town · 6 listings · 4 mi away
Fishkill
City / town · 8 listings · 4 mi away
Cold Spring
City / town · 16 listings · 6 mi away
Marlborough
City / town · 31 listings · 9 mi away
Highlands
City / town · 6 listings · 11 mi away
Bear Mountain State Park
Park · 4 listings · 13 mi away
Poughkeepsie
City / town · 24 listings · 14 mi away
My experience
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