I want to visit West Point along with the FDR home and library. I will be coming from NY city. My plan is to take Metro North to White Plains and rent a car at that point. I will have two days. Any suggestions for another train line that will take me closer to West Point (and have access to car rental) or perhaps go further north on the Metro North train? Thank you.

Croton-on-Hudson, Ossining, & Peekskill would be closer Metro North stops (also on a different MNRR line than White Plains), but I'm not sure about rental car options. There used to be an Enterprise near the Croton stop.

The Hertz is by the NORTH White Plains stop - not White Plains. You can't beat that for convenience and White Plains really isn't out of the way once you have a car.

The suggested route to West Point is across the Bear Mtn Bridge. You can also take the TZB, but it's a less scenic route and probably no faster.

Hi Amie. We did this drive recently but rented our car at LaGuardia so can't answer your question about the train but wanted to share this so you won't be disappointed as we were. You cannot visit West Point. We went to Sleepy Hollow and then made our way to West Point enroute to Hyde Park. We went to the visitor's center and that was it. We were told the grounds have been off-limits since 9/11 except for official ceremonies, etc.

It took at least an hour detour to go there and all for naught. The only view we got was from a distance looking back when the road climbed to a higher elevation. We wished we had known ahead of time so this is a heads-up for you. Perhaps you have someone to visit there and your experience will be different but suggest you check it out.

The FDR Library is very humble compared to JFK, LBJ and GHWB Libraries that we have visited but it is very moving also. The Vanderbilt Mansion is nearby and also worth a visit. The entire area is beautiful and the drive even with our detour very enjoyable.

Poughkeepsie is probably closer to the FDR Library, and it may have a rental car option there. It's a pretty major stop. But it's farther from NYC and takes longer so the ticket is more expensive.

You could spend the night in Garrison, which is just across the Hudson from West Point.

But I've done North White Plains and rented from Hertz. With the car rental office immediately across the street from the train station (and it's a relatively cheap ride from Grand Central), you can't be the location. Plus the Tappen Zee Bridge is virtually right there and so easy to reach. I'd probably go that route. It's so easy to pick up and drop off the car there.

Location-wise, you're better off taking the Hudson line on Metro North, rather than the Harlem line to White Plains.
There is an Enterprise car rental at an auto dealer not too far the Croton train station (on the Hudson line). (They might even offer pickup service at the train station.) What day of the week and hour of the day will you be coming? I'm not sure of the hours of the rental place, so check with Enterprise. Croton is on the way to West Point and Hyde Park....and it's a beautiful drive over the Bear Mountain Bridge and the up along the west side of the Hudson.

Yes, you can visit West Point - just not on your own without a tour.

http://www.usma.edu/visiting.asp

I think we're splitting hairs here on WP vs Croton, etc. In the scheme of things it's six of one, 1/2 dozen of another, factoring in train cost, time, rental car convenience, etc.

I'd base my decision on cost of rental car. If I got a good deal from Hertz NWP I'd just do that.

I beg to differ; I don't consider it splitting hairs at all! Taking the train to Croton will save you a lot of time over going to White Plains and makes for a much, much easier drive. It's a good 15-20 miles closer to your destination. Further, if you can secure a car at the Enterprise office in Croton, it'll be most convenient. And, from experience, I find the prices there to be most competitive.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your help. This is why I love fodors.com Amie

Another thing to take into account is the hours the rental is open. NWP Hertz is open on the weekends and something like 7-7 weekdays. To wait for a pickup, to me, is major inconvenience. I'd rather just walk the 2 minutes from the NWP stop to Hertz.