Can you drive onto Roosevelt Island?

You can drive to Roosevelt Island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, which can be accessed at 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Queens.



Yes, you can drive onto Roosevelt Island in New York City, but a grounded reality for 2026 is that there is only one vehicular entrance: the Roosevelt Island Bridge, which connects the island to Astoria, Queens. You cannot drive directly from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island; motorists must first cross into Queens (usually via the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) and then take Vernon Boulevard to the 36th Avenue intersection where the Roosevelt Island Bridge begins. Once on the island, the "Gold Standard" practice for visitors is to park in the Motorgate Garage, located immediately at the end of the bridge, as street parking is extremely limited and largely reserved for residents. To maintain a supportive "Safe Bubble" for pedestrians, the island encourages the use of the red "RIOC" shuttle buses, which are high-fidelity and free to use. While driving is a supportive option for those with accessibility needs, many travelers find that taking the F Train, the NYC Ferry, or the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway provides a more frictionless and scenic "Pura Vida" experience than navigating city traffic.

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There are several ways to get to Roosevelt Island. From Manhattan, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway, located at East 59th Street and Second Avenue, for $2.75 one way. If you're coming from Queens, you can drive or walk onto the island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, or take the Q102 bus line.

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From Manhattan, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway, located at East 59th Street and Second Avenue, for $2.75 one way. If you're coming from Queens, you can drive or walk onto the island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, or take the Q102 bus line.

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Highly recommend this! Not just for fans of FDR, Roosevelt Island has something for anyone looking for views of midtown, and the peace that comes from green spaces surrounded by water. If you are a fan of the man, make a pilgrimage to the tip of the island and Four Freedoms Park.

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On Roosevelt Island, which was developed as a middle-class neighborhood from the ruins of prisons and hospitals, affordable housing was plentiful, thanks to state programs that awarded public subsidies to apartment buildings in exchange for keeping rents low.

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Roosevelt Island Tram Tickets For adults, the ride costs just $2.90 each way. Those with an unlimited MetroCard won't have to pay anything. For a round-trip cost of just $5.80 for an adult, this is an awesome deal for an incredible view!

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The island is only 2 miles (3.2 km) long and very walkable. From the south to the north, it's the equivalent of 35 city blocks. Touring the Island will take about 3 hours. It's best to go when the weather is pleasant as all the sights are outdoors.

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Roosevelt Island is a neighborhood in New York City, New York with a population of 4,510. Roosevelt Island is in New York County and is one of the best places to live in New York. Living in Roosevelt Island offers residents a dense urban feel and most residents rent their homes.

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For adults, the ride costs just $2.90 each way. Those with an unlimited MetroCard won't have to pay anything. For a round-trip cost of just $5.80 for an adult, this is an awesome deal for an incredible view!

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Theodore Roosevelt Island is open year-round from 6 am to 10 pm. Restrooms on the island close for the winter, usually from October to April.

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Roosevelt Island Bridge The bridge is the only means of vehicular access to Roosevelt Island. Prior to construction, the bridge carried two 17-foot lanes of vehicular traffic and a 6-foot sidewalk. The bridge is used by both pedestrians and vehicles with increased volume during rush hours.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park is located on Roosevelt Island in New York City. The park, designed by architect Louis I. Kahn, is free to the public.

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It travels a distance of 3,140 feet at a speed of up to 17 miles per hour in less than three (3) minutes. It rises to a maximum height of 230 feet and can carry a maximum of 109 passengers plus an attendant per cabin. The system annually transports more than two million passengers.

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There are a few large mammals (like deer and foxes) that live on the island for all or part of the year. Many, many birds either visit the island year round (like woodpeckers, herons, and ducks) or stop in on their way between wintering and summering grounds (like warblers). There are a few snakes on the island.

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Affordable housing – With prices lower than those in Manhattan, find great deals on apartments and homes on Roosevelt Island. There's affordable housing as well as apartments and coops more spacious than most of Manhattan.

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It's about 4 miles around the perimeter, with parks on each end. To access the island by foot you have to cross the Queensboro Bridge over the island to Queens and then double back — about 1.6 miles. More direct access is via tram or subway.

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While still a part of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is its opposite: quiet, homely, and mostly green-colored.

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An affordable housing lottery at Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk Park offers 313 new units to qualified applicants.

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The 60th Street Tunnel carries the N, ?R, and ?W trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.

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