The Hudson River Greenway with a stroller

If you want a long, flat, easy stroller walk with water views the whole way, the Hudson River Greenway is it. It runs up Manhattan’s West Side past piers, lawns, playgrounds and the best sunsets in the city. Here’s how to make the most of it with a baby in tow.

The greenway follows the Hudson River from Battery Park all the way to Dyckman Street in Inwood. The most popular section for strollers is Hudson River Park, about 4 miles of waterfront from Tribeca to West 59th Street, with a walkway separated from the bike path, piers to explore and restrooms along the way. North of 59th Street, the path continues through Riverside Park.

At a glance

• Distance4 miles in Hudson River Park
• SurfaceSmooth, paved
• HillsFlat
• TrafficSeparated from cars
• StrollerAny stroller works
• CostFree

Because it’s a straight line rather than a loop, most people walk out and back. Pick a starting pier, walk until the baby (or you) is ready to turn around, and head home. An hour gets you about two miles out and back at an easy stroller pace.

Map

Open in Google Maps

Hudson River Park’s website has detailed maps of every pier, restroom and playground. Save it to your phone before you head out.

Getting there

By subway

The greenway is long, so the best stop depends on which stretch you want:

• Tribeca: the 1 to Franklin Street, or the A/C/E or 1/2/3 to Chambers Street.
• West Village: the 1 to Christopher Street or Houston Street.
• Meatpacking and Chelsea: the A/C/E or L to 14th Street–8th Avenue, then walk west.
• North end of Hudson River Park: the 1, A, B, C or D to 59 St–Columbus Circle.
• Riverside Park: the 1/2/3 to 72nd Street, then head west.

A stroller warning: many Manhattan subway stations have stairs only. Check the MTA’s accessibility page for stations with elevators, and remember that most stops are a few long avenue blocks from the water. Crosstown buses are often easier with a full-size stroller.

Crossing to the water

The greenway sits on the far side of the West Side Highway (West Street and Twelfth Avenue). Cross only at signaled crosswalks, give yourself the full light and watch for turning cars and bikes on the bike path, which you’ll cross before you reach the walkway.

By car

We’d skip driving. Street parking near the water is scarce. If you must drive, there are paid garages along the West Side, including at some piers, but check current rates and availability before you go.

The best stretches with a stroller

Think of the greenway as a string of neighborhoods. Pick one, or walk a few:

1. Tribeca (Piers 25 and 26). Our favorite for little kids: one of the best playgrounds in the park, the Pier 26 Science Playground, lawns and restrooms, all close together. Great for a shorter walk that ends with play.
2. West Village (Piers 40 to 51). Wide walkways, the big lawn on Pier 45 and the water-play playground at Pier 51. One of the prettiest stretches in late afternoon.
3. Meatpacking and Chelsea (Little Island to Chelsea Piers). Busy and fun, with Little Island’s gardens, Pier 57’s food hall and rooftop park, and Chelsea Piers. Go on weekday mornings for space.
4. Hudson Yards and Midtown West (Piers 76 to 84). Bigger, more open piers and the Intrepid museum ship. Pier 84 has a playground and summer water play.
5. Riverside Park (north of 59th Street). Greener and calmer, with lots of playgrounds. A stretch of the path between roughly 72nd and 83rd Streets is set aside for people on foot, a nice break from bikes.

Lanes and etiquette

The Hudson River Greenway is one of the busiest bike paths in the country, so the most important rule is simple: stay on the pedestrian walkway. Through most of Hudson River Park, the walkway and bikeway are separate paths, often with a strip of planting between them.

• Look both ways before crossing the bike path, every time. Bikes, e-bikes and scooters move fast.
• Walk two across, not four, so others can pass.
• Pull onto a pier or bench to stop, feed or change the baby.
• Keep dogs on short leashes and on the walkway.

Restrooms by pier

One of the best things about Hudson River Park for parents: lots of restrooms, and the park says all of them are wheelchair accessible. Public restrooms are at or near:

• Pier 25 in Tribeca, next to the playground.
• Pier 40 at West Houston Street.
• Pier 45 in the West Village.
• Pier 51 by the playground.
• Little Island and the Gansevoort Peninsula near 13th Street.
• Pier 57 at West 15th Street.
• Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers.

Hours vary by season and location, so check Hudson River Park’s restroom page before you go. Bring a portable changing pad just in case. North of 59th Street, Riverside Park has its own restrooms, mostly near playgrounds.

Playgrounds

• Pier 25 (Tribeca). A big, much-loved playground with a sandbox, climbing and water play in summer.
• Pier 26 Science Playground (Tribeca). Climbable giant sturgeon sculptures, nets and a slide, with a river-science theme.
• Pier 51 (West Village). Slides, climbing and one of the best water-play areas in the city on hot days.
• Pier 84 (Midtown West). A playground and summer water play near the Intrepid.
• Pier 57 (Chelsea). A small, free indoor play space inside the building, handy on cold or rainy days.
• Riverside Park. Many neighborhood playgrounds just off the path north of 59th Street.

Playgrounds close at dusk. Water play usually runs in warm months only.

Feeding and nap stops

The piers make perfect pit stops:

• The lawn on Pier 45. Big, open and breezy, with plenty of room for a blanket.
• Benches facing the river. Pull off the walkway and let the water views calm a fussy baby.
• Pier 57. Indoor seating and the rooftop park when it’s too hot, cold or rainy outside.

Feeding in public is your right in New York, and you’ll see plenty of families doing it here.

Accessibility

The greenway is flat, paved and separated from car traffic, which makes it one of the most accessible long walks in Manhattan.

• Restrooms. Hudson River Park says all of its restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
• Crossings. The hardest part is crossing the West Side Highway. Use signaled crosswalks and give yourself the full light.
• Subway. Many stations have stairs only. The MTA lists accessible stations, and buses are often easier.

Coffee and food

• Market 57 at Pier 57 (West 15th Street). A food hall with more than a dozen vendors, curated with the James Beard Foundation, plus indoor seating with river views and a public rooftop park upstairs. Our top pick for a stroller-friendly lunch.
• Tribeca, the West Village and Chelsea. Endless cafés a few blocks inland. Grab coffee on your way to the water.
• Seasonal kiosks and restaurants at several piers in warmer months.

Bring water and snacks for you, too. On hot days there’s less shade along some stretches than you’d expect.

History and the river

The West Side waterfront looked very different not long ago.

• ⚓
  BeforeA working waterfront

  For generations, this was a busy, industrial shipping waterfront. As shipping moved away, many piers fell into disrepair.

• 🌳
  1998A park is born

  New York State created Hudson River Park in 1998, with about 150 acres of land and piers and 400 acres of water.

• 🐟
  SanctuaryAn estuarine sanctuary

  The 400 acres of water are protected as an estuarine sanctuary, home to more than 85 species of fish, including lined seahorses, eels and striped bass.

• 🦪
  OystersMillions of oysters

  The park has added millions of juvenile oysters to its waters through habitat projects in Tribeca and near Gansevoort Peninsula.

At Pier 26 in Tribeca, look for the Tide Deck, an engineered rocky salt marsh that floods at high tide. Kids love watching the water rise and fall, and the park sometimes offers tours.

Rainy day backups

When the weather turns, try these spots along the river:

• Pier 57. A small, free indoor play space, Market 57 food hall and plenty of indoor seating.
• The Intrepid Museum at Pier 86. A huge ship and space shuttle that wow older kids. Check hours and admission.
• A neighborhood library branch. Tribeca, the West Village and Chelsea all have nearby branches with children’s rooms.

Seasons and events

• SpringBlooming gardens along the walkway and on Little Island, and the start of Hudson River Park’s outdoor programs.
• SummerWater play at Piers 25, 51 and 84, and free summer programs like music, movies and kids’ events. Walk early or near sunset; midday sun on the water is intense.
• FallOur favorite season here: cool, clear and gorgeous at sunset. Perfect for longer walks.
• WinterThe wind off the river is no joke. Bundle up, use a stroller cover and keep it short. Pier 57’s indoor spaces make a great warm-up stop.

Event schedules change every year, so check Hudson River Park’s website for current events before you go.

Safety and heat

The breeze off the river helps, but there’s less shade than you might expect.

• Watch the heat. New York’s health department notes that babies and children up to age 4 are more sensitive to heat. During heat advisories, walk early, keep it short and look for shade and water.
• Know the signs of overheating. For you: dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea or weakness. For your baby: flushed skin, unusual fussiness or sleepiness and fewer wet diapers. Get to shade or air conditioning, offer fluids as your pediatrician advises and call 911 if anyone seems confused or faint.
• Never cover the stroller with a blanket. It traps heat. Use a ventilated sunshade and a clip-on fan instead.
• Check air quality. On ozone or wildfire smoke days, the city issues air quality health advisories. Consider a shorter walk or an indoor backup.
• Sign up for Notify NYC. The city’s free alert system sends heat, storm and air quality warnings, and the city’s Cool It! NYC map shows spray showers, fountains and cooling options.
• Walk with a friend. Share your route, keep your phone charged and call 911 in an emergency.

Keep the stroller on the pedestrian walkway, and look both ways every time you cross the bike path. It’s one of the busiest in the country.

A sample morning

An easy first walk with a baby:

• 8:00 a.m.Take the 1 to Franklin Street and walk west to Pier 25.
• 8:15 a.m.Look at the Tide Deck on Pier 26.
• 8:35 a.m.Walk north along the river toward the West Village.
• 9:00 a.m.Feed or rest on the Pier 45 lawn.
• 9:30 a.m.Playground at Pier 51, then coffee in the Village and the subway home.

That’s about two miles one way, flat the whole way.

What to pack

Our short list for the Hudson River Greenway with a baby:

• Water for you, plus whatever your baby needs for feeds.
• A ventilated sunshade and a clip-on fan, for summer.
• A warm stroller bag or footmuff, for fall and winter walks by the wind.
• A portable changing pad and wipes, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.
• A MetroCard or tap-to-pay card, for the ride home if little legs (or yours) are done.
• A charged phone, with your route shared with a friend.
• A layer for the baby, since it’s often windier by the river.

Keep it light. A packed-full stroller basket is harder to push, harder to carry up subway stairs and harder to fold at the end.

Make it a routine

Because the greenway is a straight line with so many entry points, it’s easy to make it a habit. Pick one stretch close to home and walk it a few mornings a week, adding a pier or two each time it feels easy. If you’re postpartum, let your provider guide how quickly you add distance.

Pro tips

• 🌅
  TimingGo for sunset

  The West Side faces New Jersey, so evenings are golden. Mornings are calmest.

• 🔄
  RouteWalk out, ride home

  Walk north as far as you like, then catch a bus or subway back instead of retracing your steps.

• 🌬️
  WeatherPack a layer

  It’s often cooler and windier by the water than a few blocks inland.

• 🧊
  SummerBring a towel

  If you’re walking past Pier 25 or 51 in summer, your toddler will want to get wet.

• 📍
  Meeting upUse pier numbers

  “Meet at Pier 45” is the easiest way to find friends on a long path.

• 🚲
  SafetyRespect the bike path

  Most close calls happen when someone steps onto the bikeway without looking.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding longer walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk the greenway with us

The Hudson River Greenway is one of the places we expect our first Manhattan walk clubs to start. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first times and meeting piers.

Here’s what a Pink in Progress walk looks like: an easy, regular walk with strollers and sneakers welcome, a pace where everyone can talk, and coffee after when the babies cooperate. No one gets left behind, and there’s no fancy gear required. In a city this big, it’s one of the simplest ways to find mom friends a few blocks from home.

Live in Brooklyn? Try our guide to the Prospect Park Loop. And see everything we’re building in New York City.

More stroller walks in New York City

• Prospect Park LoopBrooklyn · our full stroller guide
• Central Park drivesManhattan · our full stroller guide
• Brooklyn Bridge ParkBrooklyn · our full stroller guide