Riverside Park (Manhattan) Park

Address: Riverside Park, Manhattan - along the Hudson River from ~59th St to ~158th St, New York, NY, USA

Website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/riverside-park

Hours: Daily 6am-1am (NYC parks standard hours)

Admission: Free

Riverside Park is an urban waterfront park on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New York City, extending along the Hudson River. The linear park provides riverside promenades, recreational facilities and several historic monuments.

Visitors use the park for walking, jogging and cycling along continuous paved paths and for river views across the Hudson. Notable sites within the park include the General Grant National Memorial at about 122nd Street and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument near 89th Street, along with playgrounds, sports courts and planted promenades.

The riverfront was developed over the late 19th and early 20th centuries into parkland and public promenades, with successive improvements and restorations to add recreational amenities and preserve historic monuments. The park is the result of coordinated urban planning to provide green space along Manhattan’s west side.

Running roughly from the upper 70s to the mid 150s streets on Manhattan’s west side, Riverside Park borders the Hudson River and sits west of the Upper West Side neighbourhood in New York City.

• Length and layout: The park runs roughly 4 miles (about 6.4 kilometres) along Manhattan’s west side from the upper 70s to the mid 150s streets and offers continuous riverfront paths and promenades.
• Best times and activities: Sunset over the Hudson River along the park’s west-facing promenades is a popular time for views and photography, and bicycle and running paths are heavily used during warmer months.

What to See#

• General Grant National Memorial: General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb) sits at the northern end of the park near 122nd Street and is the largest mausoleum in North America.
• Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument: The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is a notable stone memorial in the park around 89th Street with steps and a viewing terrace toward the Hudson River.

Riverside Park runs along Manhattan’s Upper West Side on the Hudson River and is straightforward to reach from central Manhattan. Take the NYC Subway (1 train has multiple stops along the Upper West Side) or local buses to stops along Riverside Drive/West End Avenue, then walk a few minutes to the park.

By car it’s a short drive from Midtown Manhattan (roughly 3-5 miles depending on the section of the park) - street parking is limited, and the West Side Highway/Riverside Drive provide direct access.

• Visit Riverside Park early in the morning or at golden hour for the best river views and quieter paths; the stretch around 122nd Street is often less busy and includes Grant's Tomb, a substantial historic site many visitors miss.
• Use the park entrances near 72nd, 96th and 125th streets to tailor your walk - moving northward from the busier south sections will take you into quieter promenades and viewpoints along the Hudson Greenway.