When it comes to New York City’s running paths, I’m a bit of a whore. Yes, I’ve been around the block – several times and more – and fortunately for you, I’m willing to share all of my secrets. In detail.
In short, I love New York City and all it has to offer, from the crowded streets to the waterside pathways to the bridges and beyond. No Garmin? No problem. I know when they’re crowded, where there’s dirt, and the approximate distance from the water fountain at the Central Park Reservoir to Prosperity Dumpling’s $1 meals in China Town.
Here are some of my favorite running routes from east to west, north to south, in New York City, aka the greatest city on earth.
**Note: I live around Grand Central Station, so my personal running routes start in that general area. Distance is approximate, and depends on street lights, etc.
Under construction! Details and new routes being added all the time.
Where: Bottom loop of Central Park and around the reservoir
Approximate Distance: 4 miles
To Know: Thirsty? Be sure to stop at the water fountain at the southern entrance of the reservoir. (This is also a great place to run laps since you essentially have a water station every 1.7 miles.)
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Where: Across the Williamsburg Bridge (optional, and back)
Approximate Distance: 5 or 10 miles
To Know: This run combines the flat surfaces of the East River with the steady incline of the Williamsburg Bridge. Know that, once on the bridge, the pathway splits off for runners and bikers, making for a pleasant route void of dodging typical city foot-traffic. From Grand Central to Williamsburg, you’re looking at 5 miles. If you’re in training mode, skip the subway home and use your legs.
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Where: Around Grand Central up to the 104th (approx) Street entrance of Central Park via Madison Avenue (generally pretty quiet above 60th Street, so a good route to take). Enter the park and weave through the Conservatory Garden, heading west. Cut across the park (avoiding Harlem Hill; add 1 mile if you actually continue northwest around this beast), and run the length of the park, exiting at Columbus Circle. Take an avenue of your choice (we chose 8th, but this is a bad idea if you’re not used to New York congestion) down to Union Square.
Approximate Distance: 10 miles
To Know: I had never stumbled upon the Conservatory Garden until this run, and I have to say, it was one of the most beautiful, zen places I’ve ever discovered in Manhattan. Run around here, and you may never want to run anywhere else ever again. Ever.
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Where: From around Grand Central Station around the reservoir and back
Approximate Distance: 7 miles
To Know: On weekends, you may want to skip the Manhattan streets. They’re crowded! If you love running through New York City though, and don’t mind playing Frogger in your head, then I at least suggest taking Park Avenue. Because it’s mostly corporate and residential, with very little shopping, you’ll run into the least tourists here.
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Where: From around Grand Central, up the east side of Central Park and around the reservoir (2 laps). Exit at 72nd Street, run cross town to the East River. Run to the top of Carl Schurz Park and back down the East River. Exit at the Bridge, and take 1st Ave. back downtown to around the U.N. and back to Grand Central.
Approximate Distance: 12.5 miles
To Know: Incorporating 2 major running areas — both Central Park and the East River — gives you room to be playful. Don’t be afraid to add an extra lap around the reservoir like I did, or to skip the northern most part of Carl Schurz Park if you’re getting tired. It’s up to you; just enjoy the beautiful park and water views!
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Where: Down the East River from 34 St. to the Williamsburg Bridge and back
Approximate Distance: 5 miles
To Know: A great place for warmer summer runs. Enjoy a nice breeze off the East River as well as ample water fountains along the way. Knees need a break, or feel like extending your route? Check out the track about a half mile before the Williamsburg Bridge. Do I smell speed work?
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Where: Start at 34th Street on the East River, and run south, around the tip of Manhattan, past Battery Park and up the West Side Highway.
Approximate Distance: 11 miles
To Know: One of my favorite parts about this course is the abundance of water fountains all along the East and West sides of New York City. While the breeze can be especially nice on a particularly hot day, neither side of the city offers much shade. Either wear sunscreen, or stick to the city streets, where you’ll find ample shade from the buildings, if you’re afraid of overheating.
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Where: From around Grand Central around the bottom loop of Central Park. Enter at the 72nd Street entrance (the Inventor’s Gate), and exit at the park’s bottom.
Approximately Distance: 5 miles
To Know: Run down 5th Avenue because, while busy, these are the widest streets and it’s easiest to weave in and out of commuters. Best in the morning, before 8:30.
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Where: From 34th Street to The High Line (entrance is around 30th St. and 10th Ave). Exit at the bottom of The High Line and head west toward the water. Run down the Hudson River to Battery Park. Exit around the Freedom Towers and weave your way through the streets back north.
Approximate Distance: 8.5 miles
To Know: Best in the morning. If running any time after the morning, it’s probably just best to run back north along the Hudson River to avoid commuters and foot traffic.
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Where: Around Grand Central up to Central Park. Run toward the top along the Bridle Path (going counter clockwise), but cut the route before you get stuck climbing Harlem Hill. Loop all the way around to the bottom of Central Park and head back north, past Cat Hill, to the reservoir. Complete 1 loop of the reservoir and head back south from the 72nd Street exit to Grand Central.
Approximate Distance: 11.5 miles
To Know: Feel free to run the entire loop around Central Park, but know that if you don’t choose to cut west where I did, you’ll come face to face with (cue the dooming music) Harlem Hill. It’s really not a big deal, I’m just dramatic. But if you’re not in the mood for a long, slow incline, which I’m usually not, it can be a real ass-kicker.
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Where: From around Grand Central Station up 3rd Ave. to 59th Street. Cross over to take the Queensboro Bridge entrance at 1st Ave. and 59th Street. Run across, and jump up and down declaring “I’ve made it to Queens!” Then run back, taking 1st Avenue to around 42nd Street instead of 3rd.
Approximate Distance: About 6.5 miles, depending on where you start and finish exactly.
To Know: You’re dealing with a bridge here, and one that’s known to break a lot of hearts come marathon day at that. If you’re not in the mood for a hill — especially with no water fountains in sight — then you might want to skip it for the day. Otherwise, the long, slow incline does wonders for you as a runner.
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Where: From Grand Central area to The High Line and home.
Approximate Distance: Between 4 and 4.5 miles.
To know: Do not – I repeat do not – attempt this run any time after 9am. The High Line is a main tourist attraction in Manhattan, and while incredibly stunning when empty, it can be that much more frustrating when packed with strollers and an abundance of SLR cameras. You should be safe between 7 and 8 in the morning.
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Where: Near Grand Central to Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park and home.
Approximate Distance: 3 miles
To know: Beware of crowds in Madison Square Park during rush hour and, when circling Gramercy Park, be even more aware of dog poo. Consider yourselves warned.
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Looking forward to trying out some of these at the weekend – and wondering if I have long enough to do all of them
Feel free to shoot me an email if you need recommendations on good places to run near whatever you’re staying!
Thanks Stacy! I was in NY last weekend and used the first of your routes for a little Saturday morning jog. Of course, my internal navigation system was totally off despite repeatedly studying the route and I ended up doing 5 miles instead of 4. But I loved it! Central Park is a runner’s paradise!
I am so happy you were able to use one of the CP routes! Awesome. It is an amazing place – even if I can’t be there now
Glad SOMEONE got to enjoy it’s perfect pathways.
Thanks for all of the choices of running routes. My wife and I will be traveling to NYC later this month, staying near 39th/Lexington. Your post are just what we were looking for. I especially appreciate the info on water stops for my long run. Thanks again, and take care.
Awesome! So glad these helped. That’s just what I was going for.
Just discovered your blog, and I LOVE IT. This is SUCH a great resource! Thank you so much! You’re definitely getting linked to my lil’ blog start-up, and I’ll be a regular reader from now on!
Thanks so much! Totally appreciate the kind words
I love your running routes–especially since I start and end in the same area as you. Thanks for putting these together–they motivate me to get out the door.
Thanks so much, Nicole! I’ve been in a bit of a lull in terms of originality lately — kind of just been hitting up these routes a bunch. Hopefully in the coming months I’ll be able to keep adding. Any you’d suggest?
We’re headed to NYC this weekend, and we’re thinking the High Line is a pretty safe route to do 3-4 mi on Sunday morning. We’re staying in the financial district, so we’ll take the subway, then just run up and back. Can you suggest anywhere to grab a quick bite to eat when we’re done? Grab and go is fine since we’ll be sweaty, but want something kind of good.
Would Chelsea Market be appropriate?
Chelsea Market is always a good one, though if you’re down with an upscale diner that serves all local ingredients, then I definitely suggest Westville (I believe on 18th b/w 7 and 8, but look it up!). They have awesome veggie starters and, my fave, a mint lemonade and prosecco smoothie. Enjoy!!
I don’t know if post-run sweat + upscale diner mixes well?
I’m NOT pretty when I’m done running! What do you think?
I’ve never run in a city. Do you run on the street or the sidewalk?
I guess it depends where I am. In midtown, it’s super busy, so I stick to the sidewalk for safety reasons. But further downtown I’m able to run in the street I suppose — with caution! My goal is always to get to a park or promenade though.
Thanks for this. Im from charlotte nc and headed with family for july fourth week so looking to do some new routes. Ran in nyc last june and last december so will try out a couple above. Im looking for 8 to 12 mile routes. Will likely run daily that week while there to suck it all in. Staying at roosevelt hotel so seems in the right area for these routes.
Right near home! I’ll try to think of other good ones. Have you thought about going up the west side to toward the GW bridge?
I havent. How far of a run there and back would it be?
My first run there will be july 1st am prob 530ish. How far north of riverside park is it? Ive been as far north as grants tomb but not far beyond that.
I’ve only run up to about 96th street and back, that way I can cross over into Central Park and change up the view a bit.
I’m also a big fan of running around the tip of Manhattan, which would take you about 10 miles total from where you’re staying. Start on the east side at 34th street, and you’ll end up passing all 3 bridges, heading west by the ferry, and heading back up the west side (which is a helluva lot nicer than the east side). If you do it super early, you can probably hit the high line just as it’s opening at 7AM. Now that it’s build further up, you can hop on in the Meatpacking District around 12th and hop off at 30th and 10th Ave.
I ran from last summer over to west side from 45th st and then down to tip and back up east side. Nice run and enjoyed seeing all the asians doing morning tai chi over lower east. West side is much nicer though, had to do a lot of shifting on east due to construction.
Is running over williamsburg br a good one?
I did that one a few weeks ago and actually really enjoyed it. It’s a lot less crowded than the Brooklyn Bridge, but not as ugly (err, I mean urban) as Queensboro. If you can swing it on a weekend, there’s a really cool little thing called Smorgasborg right on the other side of the bridge with awesome views of Manhattan and tons of great artisanal bites to eat.
Thanks. I think day one run i will go from hotel to williamsburg bridge then to brooklyn bridge and back up east to start (or maybe up west to start depending on distance). Think that would be a reasonable longish run?
Meaning btw OVER williamsburg bridge to Brooklyn bridge then OVER it