Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Reservoir

Address: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park (between 86th & 96th Streets), Manhattan, New York, NY, USA

Website: https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-reservoir

Hours: Central Park open daily 6:00am-1:00am (reservoir accessible during park hours)

Admission: Free

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is a man-made reservoir in New York City’s Central Park, occupying roughly 106 acres within the park’s northern section. It was renamed for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1994 and serves now as a recreational and ecological feature rather than a primary water supply.

The reservoir is best known for its wide, tree-lined running and walking track that circles the water and measures about 1.58 miles (2.54 km). It is also valued by birdwatchers for migrating waterfowl and urban waterbird sightings and by locals for skyline views of the city.

The water body dates to the 19th century as part of Manhattan’s broader water-supply infrastructure and later became integrated into Central Park’s landscape. It sits between the park’s 86th and 96th Street transverses on the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan.

• Perimeter path: Encircling path measures about 1.58 miles (2.54 km), a very popular running and walking route on Manhattan’s Upper West and Upper East Sides.
• Naming and location: Named for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1994 and located within Central Park between 86th and 96th Streets, it is a notable urban birdwatching spot during migration seasons.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir sits in Central Park between about 85th and 96th Streets. By subway, take the B or C to 96th Street/Central Park West (a short 2-5 minute walk to the reservoir loop) or the 4/5/6 to 86th Street on the east side of the park (about an 8-12 minute walk to the reservoir’s east path). The M86 crosstown bus runs along 86th Street and drops you close to the park. By car it’s only a few miles from Midtown Manhattan (expect around 15-30 minutes depending on traffic); parking in the area is limited, so public transit is usually easiest.

• Visit at sunrise on a weekday for the best light on the water and much smaller crowds than mid‑day or weekend afternoons; photographers get clean skyline reflections early in the morning.
• Enter near the reservoir's southern end (around the 86th Street level) for the quickest access to the popular running/walking loop and the classic west‑side skyline viewpoints.
• Don't rush the full 1.58‑mile loop - people often stop at one viewpoint and miss the changing vistas around the circuit, including quieter stretches on the northern side where birdlife is easier to spot.
• Avoid peak fitness hours (late afternoon/early evening on weekends) by planning a weekday visit or coming right after sunrise; if you must come during busy times, stand back from the path to photograph the reservoir without runners in frame.