The Best Route to Walk Central Park North to South in Under Two Hours

What is the best path to walk Central Park from north to south?

Central Park runs 51 blocks, from 110th Street down to 59th Street. That is 2.5 miles as the pigeon flies, but the park is not a straight line. You need a route that keeps you on good paths, avoids dead ends, and passes the landmarks worth seeing. Here is the one locals use.

The Route: 110th Street to 59th Street

This walk follows a spine down the eastern half of the park, then cuts west through the heart of it. Every segment is on paved, well-marked paths.

Leg 1: Harlem Meer to the Reservoir (110th St to 90th St)

1. Start at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center on the north shore of Harlem Meer. Take the path along the east side of the Meer heading south.
2. Walk south past the Conservatory Garden entrance at 105th Street. If you have five extra minutes, step inside. It is the most formal garden in the park and almost always uncrowded.
3. Continue south on the path paralleling East Drive. You will pass the North Meadow on your right.
4. At around 96th Street, you reach the north gate of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Take the western side of the Reservoir running track (counterclockwise). The Manhattan skyline view from the west side is one of the best in the city.
5. Exit the Reservoir path at the south gatehouse near 90th Street.

Time for this leg: approximately 35 minutes.

Leg 2: The Reservoir to Bethesda Terrace (90th St to 72nd St)

1. Head south from the Reservoir toward the Great Lawn. Skirt the east side of the lawn.
2. Pass Turtle Pond and the Delacorte Theater (home of Shakespeare in the Park each summer). Belvedere Castle sits on the rock outcrop above Turtle Pond. Walk up for a 360-degree view; it takes two minutes.
3. Continue south through The Ramble, a 36-acre wooded section. Stay on the main path heading south toward the Lake. The Ramble is the one place in the park where people get turned around, so keep heading downhill toward the water.
4. Cross Bow Bridge, the cast-iron span over the Lake. This is the most photographed bridge in the park.
5. Walk south to Bethesda Terrace and Fountain at 72nd Street. The Angel of the Waters statue and the tiled arcade underneath are Central Park’s architectural centerpiece.

Time for this leg: approximately 35 minutes.

Leg 3: Bethesda Terrace to Columbus Circle (72nd St to 59th St)

1. From Bethesda Fountain, walk south along The Mall and Literary Walk. This is the grand, elm-lined promenade. You will pass statues of Shakespeare, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott.
2. At the south end of The Mall, you hit The Dairy (now the park’s visitor center) and Chess & Checkers House.
3. Continue south past Wollman Rink (ice skating in winter, amusement rides in summer) and through The Pond, the small body of water near the park’s southeast corner.
4. Exit at Merchants’ Gate at Columbus Circle, 59th Street and Central Park West.

Time for this leg: approximately 25 minutes.

Total walking time: approximately 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on your pace and how long you linger at Belvedere Castle and Bethesda Fountain.

What are the best walking trails and outdoor activities in Central Park?

The route above covers the park’s greatest hits, but Central Park has 58 miles of paths. A few standouts beyond this route:

• The Bridle Path (1.6-mile loop around the Reservoir): flat, wide, and quieter than the main running track.
• North Woods: the most rugged section of the park, between 101st and 110th Streets on the west side. Actual waterfalls. Feels nothing like Manhattan.
• The Loop (Park Drive): the 6.1-mile road that circles the entire park. Closed to cars, used by runners and cyclists.

Can you suggest a route for a one-hour walking tour of Central Park’s main highlights?

If you only have one hour, do Leg 2 and Leg 3 of the route above. Enter at 86th Street on the east side (4/5/6 train to 86th St), walk to the Great Lawn, through The Ramble, across Bow Bridge, down The Mall, and exit at Columbus Circle. That covers the five most iconic spots in about 55 minutes.

Tips only a local would tell you

• Go early. Before 9 a.m. on weekdays, the park belongs to runners and dog walkers. By noon on weekends, The Mall is shoulder-to-shoulder.
• Restrooms are at the Dana Discovery Center (110th), Belvedere Castle (79th), Bethesda Terrace (72nd), and the Dairy (65th). They are clean and free.
• Water fountains are scattered every few blocks along the main paths. Bring a refillable bottle.
• Skip the pedicabs. They charge $5 to $10 per minute and cover the same ground you can walk in 20 minutes.
• Download the Central Park Conservancy app before you go. It has GPS-enabled maps that work offline, which is useful in The Ramble where cell service can drop.
• Fall foliage peaks in late October to early November. The elms on The Mall turn gold. It is the best time to do this walk.

What are some unique activities and experiences to enjoy in Central Park?

• Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater (free tickets, summer only; line up at the theater by noon or enter the digital lottery).
• Loeb Boathouse rowboats on the Lake: $20 per hour, cash only, first-come first-served. Available April through November.
• Belvedere Castle is free to enter and has exhibits on the park’s wildlife and weather station.
• Chess & Checkers House near 65th Street loans free chess sets. Bring your own opponent.
• Conservatory Water (the model boat pond near 74th and Fifth Avenue): rent a model sailboat for $11 per half hour. The Alice in Wonderland statue is right next to it.

Is the Alice in Wonderland statue suitable for families with young children?

Absolutely. The Alice in Wonderland statue at the north end of Conservatory Water (East 74th Street) was designed for kids to climb on. It is bronze, smooth, and built to be touched. Toddlers to ten-year-olds love it. No fee, no hours, always open. It sits right along the route above if you make a quick two-block detour east at 74th Street.