United States

New York City - Manhattan

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Home to some 15 million people, New York City is one of the most vibrant cities in the world and is a major commercial, cultural, and financial center. Given its incredible density, running along the main streets of Manhattan can be a challenge. But, there are some iconic and inspiring places to go running in Manhattan, mainly in Central Park and along the wonderful and continually improving greenways along the Hudson River and the East River. It is possible to run nearly the entire length of Manhattan on off-road paths. Our guide to running in New York City is divided into two parts: the island of Manhattan, and the other four “Boroughs”  — Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Note: If you’d like to have a guided running experience in Manhattan, we highly recommend our affiliate partner Go! Running Tours. 

In Manhattan, there are four “must-do” runs: Central Park (numerous options); the spectacular run on the west side along the Hudson River Greenway, with views of the river, New Jersey, and the new One World Trade Center; the East River; and a run incorporating one of the bridges crossing over to Brooklyn. We’ve also added some routes at the northern end, around Fort Tyron Park and a crossing over the George Washington Bridge!

The Manhattan topography is very flat. Any hill options are generally in Central Park. And the fantastic subway system (called the MTA) can make getting to or from any run a snap. All of our routes are easily accessible by subway.

View our companion piece, covering Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.  Or hop across the river for some fabulous runs in New Jersey!
Great Runs – NYC Boroughs  Great Runs – Hoboken/Jersey City/Newark

Location Author:
Mark Lowenstein

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Editor's Picks

Some of our favorite runs in New York City - Manhattan

Central Park

An iconic urban run and certainly an oasis in Manhattan. Numerous options: 7 mile perimeter path, reservoir... more...

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  • All Routes
  • Iconic Routes
  • Weather & Climate
  • Where To Stay
  • Stores & Group Runs
  • Events

East River Greenway

New York City – Manhattan
A car-free waterfront esplanade along Manhattan’s east side, from Battery Park in the south to 125th Street in north, with a 1.2 mile-long gap near the U.N. HQ. Some sections are spectacular, others a little more industrial and being improved.
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Two Bridges

New York City – Manhattan
Incorporating one New York’s iconic bridges is an integral part of the running experience in New York City. Brooklyn Bridge is a ‘must do’. This nearly 4-mile run features the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
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New York City has a humid subtropical climate, being the northernmost major city in North America with this categorization. Summers from June to August are typically warm to hot with some periods of high, uncomfortable humidity. Temperatures average in the 80s in summer. Winters are cold and damp, with average January highs in the 30s (4C) and lows dipping below freezing. Surface conditions can get icy but don’t stay that way for long. New York averages 25.8 inches of snowfall. Spring is unpredictable but autumn is gorgeous and lingers well into November. Humidity is a factor, especially in summer. Another factor is the buildings — they create shade and shadowing from the sometimes oppressive sun.

nyc-climate

Far be it from us to recommend where to stay in New York. Some 50 million people visit New York annually, and there are nearly 300 hotels and 75,000 rooms. There are hotels all over Manhattan, at various budget ranges.

For runners, it is important to be within a few blocks of Central Park, the West Side Highway, or the East River paths. If you want to be within proximity to Central Park, look for hotels between 50th and 115th Streets (and in the 50s-70s to be close to Columbus Gate), between 3rd and 8th Avenues. For the West Side, try staying west of Broadway, and for the East Side, stay east of 5th Ave. You will be most ‘landlocked’, as in, not close to any of the iconic routes described here, if you are in mid-town.

Running Stores

New York features a wide selection of running and athletic retailers from smaller specialist stores to multistory flagship stores of world’s largest sporting goods brands.

New York Running Company. Knowledgeable staff and treadmills for gait analysis. Located on Columbus Circle at Central Park southwest corner. Provides storage lockers for leaving your belongings if you go out for a run. Group runs, too.

Nike Town. Nike flagship store located a few blocks from Central Park‘s’ southeast corner. Multiple group runs every week.

Super Runners Shop. Several locations in Manhattan and one also in Brooklyn. Offers complimentary video gait analysis.

Jack Rabbit. Several running stores in New York City, including Union Sq., 72 St., East Side, Columbus Circle. Has group runs, gait analysis, bra fitting and nutrition advice. Group run calendar.

Community

City Running Tours NYC. Huge number of group runs, with various touristy and fun themes, for a fee. They can also be booked for customized individual and small group runs.

New York Road Runners (NYRR). Non-profit running organization, conducts over 100 events each year, including classes, clinics, and races.

The Reservoir Dogs. A midsize running club consisting of runners of all levels. Arranges several group runs each week in Central Park, some of them followed by food and drinks.

The Most Informal Running Club, Ever. NYC. As the name suggests, it is all about running and community. No fees, no other requirements.

Because NYC attracts so many visitors, it is a great place to host some major running events!

Events Calendars #1. Events Calendar #2

The New York City Marathon November. The world’s biggest and most popular marathon

NYRR Five-Borough Series

Scotland Run 10K April. Runners bring the feel of Scotland stateside, donning their kilts, waving Scottish flags, and even painting their faces in the white and blue of Saint Andrew’s Cross.

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