Running in New York

Running in New York is a popular pastime. Running in Central Park, along the Hudson River or over the Brooklyn Bridge will make you feel like a real New Yorker. I sprint regularly, too. To my front door when my pizza is delivered. But for those who really love a workout, I’ve made a selection of the best places for running in Manhattan. Did you know there are actually several loops that pass by the city’s major attractions? This is a perfect activity if the New York Marathon is a bit extreme for you, but you still want to go for a run in the city.

Running in Central Park

You might be wondering if Central Park is good for running. It absolutely is! In fact, it is the most popular spot for running in New York. Local New Yorkers head to the park regularly to work on their condition.

Where to run in Central Park

There’s a paved route through the entire park that includes several lanes: for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorised vehicles. This is a good track for a safe run. A full loop through Central Park is a little over 6 miles (10 km). But, you can also take one of the various transverses to cut across the park.

Another popular loop for a Central Park run is the 1.58-mile (2.5 km) soft gravel track around the Reservoir. It’s even one of the most popular running destinations in the world, I guess because of the great views of the city along the way!

You can enter the park at various points to start your run, especially if you want to run the full park loop. For the Reservoir running track, most NY runners enter via the gravel bridle path entrances located at 90th Street (Engineer’s Gate) on the East Side or 86th Street/93rd Street on the West Side.

Running groups in Central Park

Do you prefer to join a running group in New York and would you like to learn more about the sights you see while running? Join this casual run through Central Park. During this 5k running tour, your guide will tell you all about the famous landmarks as you jog by them. Do you have the energy to go for a longer run? Then this 7k Architecture  Run might be for you.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

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Eric’s Tip: “If you’re planning on going for a run in Central Park, head to the park early in the morning. Later in the day, it can be quite crowded. I wouldn’t recommend going in the evening as the park isn’t a very safe place at night. Don’t forget to bring your OMNY card in case you’ve been running behind a good-looking New Yorker for too long and you’re too exhausted to run back.”

Running over the Brooklyn Bridge

Another great place to go for a run is the Brooklyn Bridge. Take the subway to Brooklyn and run back towards Manhattan. This distance one way is about 1.3 miles (2 km). If you’ve been eating too many hot dogs, you can also run to Brooklyn first and then run back. Don’t forget to stop every once in a while to enjoy the skyline views.

Joining a New York Parkrun

Keen runners often wonder whether there are any parkruns in New York, a free, weekly community run. Joining a New York Parkrun is a great option if you prefer running with company. Especially if you’re not sure if it’s safe to jog in New York. It actually is safe overall, but joining a group run can make the experience feel more comfortable, social and motivating.

There’s a weekly 5k New York parkrun in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Running in Manhattan

Manhattan offers many more places for a good run. They’re perhaps less known but might be just as fun. You can even jog through the busy area surrounding Times Square, Grand Central Station and Rockefeller Center.

In Lower Manhattan, you can discover the roots of New York. This is the area where immigrants entered the country and left their marks at South Street Seaport and City Hall. You can also pass by Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial.

Other New York runner locations

The High Line Park in New York is definitely worth visiting. It’s an ideal place for a run in the morning.

Another popular spot for running in the area is Hudson River Park. It is a very long park area that stretches through most of the West Side of Manhattan parallel to the Hudson River. Along the route, you get 4 miles (7 km) of almost uninterrupted views of the river, glimpses of dozens of piers and lots of greenery.

And if you need new running clothes or shoes, you can visit one of the sports stores in New York.

The New York Marathon

When I talk about running in New York, I can’t, of course, leave out the New York Marathon. This yearly event, organised in November by the New York Road Runners (NYRR), is the highlight for a lot of New York runners.

People also often wonder if NYC does a half-marathon. You can’t run a half-marathon at the New York Marathon in November, but there are various other half marathons organised at other times of the year.