Guide to Running in New York City in Honor of the TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is always held the first Sunday in November, coinciding with peak fall foliage. In honor of this ‘marathon major, we’ve put together this handy-dandy guide to running in New York city. This should be very helpful to those who are tapering for New York, and for friends & family of those who are running the Marathon who might want to go for a great run in New York City itself. 

New York is a better city for running than most would imagine. And it’s been getting even better during recent years, with new green spaces opening up and improved pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure. In Manhattan, the running options revolve around iconic Central Park, and dedicated paths along the Hudson River (west side) and the East River. The extensive public transportation system helps to vastly expand access to some wonderful green spaces and waterside paths in the boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Here are some of our favorite places to run in New York City, including some highlights in the Boroughs and further afield. In fact, Great Runs has 200+ curated routes within 75 miles of Manhattan, as shown in this overview.

Best Places to Run on Manhattan

Central Park. The iconic New York City run. The two signature routes in this fabulous Olmsted-designed park are the 7-mile perimeter path (you will spot someone famous) or laps around the Reservoir’s 1.6-mile bridle path (great skyline views!). It’s also fun to explore the interior paths, which range from grand allėes paths to more woodsy trails.

Hudson River Greenway. Fabulous running along the Hudson River on an ever-improving network of paths. There are several ‘sections’ each with their own character and highlights, along the 11-mile path between Lower Manhattan and the George Washington Bridge. Headed south from about 40th St., there are great views of the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty. One can also run around ‘the tip’ to connect to the East Side Greenway. A highlight: Hudson River Park at sunset.

East River Greenway. Do this one at sunrise! A waterfront esplanade along Manhattan’s east side, from Battery Park in the south to 125th Street in the north, with a ~1 mile gap near the United Nations in midtown. There have been recent improvements to this path. 

Two Bridges Route. Combine a run over the historic Brooklyn Bridge with paths on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides of the East River, using the Manhattan Bridge to make a ‘loop’.

Best Places to Run in the NYC Boroughs

In addition to Manhattan, there are terrific running options in the other boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Most of these routes are easily accessible by transit! 

Brooklyn. Prospect Park is the running gem of Brooklyn, and is sort of a mini Central Park. There’s also nice running on the East River and incorporating bridges headed over to Manhattan. And for a throwback, head over to Coney Island and run on the 2.5-mile boardwalk.

Queens. The running highlight is Roosevelt Island, featuring fabulous water and skyline views. There’s also nice park and waterfront running at Astoria Park and Hunter’s Point. We also have a fun and scenic loop in the Flushing Meadows area, where you can run on paths past Citi Field, the National Tennis Center, World’s Fair site, and around Meadow Lake.

The Bronx. The highlight of running in the Bronx is Van Cortlandt Park, famous for its trails and marked cross-country courses. Really pretty in autumn! Two hidden gems for running in the Bronx are the restored High Bridge leading to Highbridge Park, and Pelham Bay Park, with miles of paths, fields, and a beachside promenade, with views to Long Island Sound.

Staten Island. Worth the ferry ride for some terrific running options, including a 2,800-acre greenbelt, the Staten Island Boardwalk, and miles of trails in Silver Lake Park and Cloves Lake Park.

Across the River in New Jersey. A quick subway ride will take you to Jersey City & Hoboken, which features a terrific waterside running path with incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. 

Further Afield: Great Runs has put together 150+ routes within 100 miles of Manhattan, as shown in this overview. Check out our running guides to New Jersey (Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark), Long Island, the Hamptons, Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, and the Stamford/Greenwich area.

Notes About the Marathon Course

The NYC Marathon course, which runs through all five boroughs and includes five bridge crossings, is mainly on roads that on the average day aren’t great for running. But there’s a lot to look at — from the unique character of the different neighborhoods to the millions of spectators lining the route. Overall, it’s a fairly flat course — an 800 foot gain with only a couple of meaningful hills.

Starting on Staten Island, the first part of the course features the unique opportunity to run over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which is not generally accessible to pedestrians. Once in Brooklyn, it’s a straight shot for about 5 miles on 4th Ave., then through tony Williamsburg and Green Point. The halfway point is just over the Pulaski Bridge in Queens. This next couple of miles is scenic, as runners pass through Hunters Point in Queens and then over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. Then, the course heads north along 1st Ave. for nearly 5 miles, crossing the Willis Ave. Bridge over the Harlem River into the Bronx. After a brief 2-mile section in the Bronx, runners will cross back over the Harlem River into Manhattan using the Madison Ave. Bridge. Then it’s south for 2 miles through Harlem along 5th Ave., then skirting the southern end of Central Park for another mile. Entering the Park at East 90th St., the final 2 miles of the course through Central Park are iconic, with the flags, crowds, and leaves at peak color. The finishing line is in the northwest section of the park near Columbus Circle.

Good luck to runners!