Central Park runs two and a half miles north to south and half a mile across. The paths were deliberately designed to wander, which means your sense of direction disappears fairly quickly. All three routes below have a clear start and finish.
1. The southern classic (about 50 minutes)
Enter at Grand Army Plaza on Fifth Avenue at 59th Street, pass the Pond and Sheep Meadow, and finish at Bethesda Terrace. This covers most of the locations you have seen in films, and it is also the busiest stretch.
2. The reservoir loop (about 60 minutes)
The path around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is a mile and a half, and it is the run New Yorkers love most. Flat the whole way, with the skyline reflected in the water — and quite spectacular when the cherry trees are out in spring.
The 90th Street entrance is the most convenient way in.
3. The quiet north (about 70 minutes)
Enter at 110th Street and walk through the North Woods and past Harlem Meer. Almost no visitors come up here, the ground is more uneven, and it feels far more like actual forest. If you have had enough of crowds, this is the answer.
How to work out where you are
Every lamppost in the park has a four-digit number on its base. The first two digits are the nearest cross street; the last digit is odd on the west side and even on the east. Look up and you know exactly where you are.
When to go
- Early morning: emptiest, best light, full of runners.
- Weekend afternoon: busiest, and the best time to see New Yorkers being themselves.
- Late October: peak fall color, and the two prettiest weeks of the year.
- The morning after snow: if you happen to be here for it, do not hesitate.
