Can you get off Queensboro Bridge to Roosevelt Island?

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. The guide below has more details on access and running/walking options. About 4 miles around the perimeter of Roosevelt Park.



Yes, you can get from the Queensboro Bridge (officially the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) to Roosevelt Island, but not directly by car.

Here’s how it works:

1. By Car

  • The Queensboro Bridge’s upper level has exits to Queens and Manhattan, but there is no direct vehicular exit from the bridge to Roosevelt Island.
  • If you’re driving from Queens and want to reach Roosevelt Island by car, you must exit the bridge in Long Island City, Queens, and then take 36th Avenue or another local street to the Roosevelt Island Bridge (a small lift bridge connecting Queens to the northern tip of Roosevelt Island). This bridge is for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
  • If you’re coming from Manhattan, you’d have to cross the bridge to Queens, turn around, and then take the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens.

2. By Subway

  • The F train stops at Roosevelt Island station (on the island itself), which is accessible via the 63rd Street Tunnel, separate from the Queensboro Bridge.
  • The Q train (in the past, and sometimes during changes) has also stopped there, but currently the F is the primary subway serving the island.

3. By Tram

  • The Roosevelt Island Tramway runs from 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan to the island. This is a popular and scenic way to get there, but it’s not connected to the Queensboro Bridge itself — though the bridge and tram are close (you can see the tram from the bridge

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