How many miles around is Roosevelt Island?

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.



The perimeter of Roosevelt Island in New York City is approximately 3.8 to 4.0 miles. The island features a dedicated, paved path known as the Roosevelt Island Greenway, which hugs the waterfront and provides nearly uninterrupted views of the Manhattan and Queens skylines. In 2026, this loop remains a favorite for local runners and cyclists because it is mostly flat and separated from vehicle traffic. A full circuit takes about 75–90 minutes at a brisk walking pace. The route takes you past notable landmarks like the Southend's Renwick Ruin (the old Smallpox Hospital), the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park at the southern tip, and the historic 1872 lighthouse at the northern tip. Because the island is only about 800 feet wide at its broadest point, you are never more than a few minutes' walk from the water, making it one of the most scenic urban loops in the United States.

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Check out this 4.5-mile loop trail near New York City, New York. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 21 min to complete. This is a popular trail for running and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

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At 1 ½ miles, this loop trail is the island's longest. It passes through swampy woods and cattail marsh. The trail is part pea gravel and part boardwalk. This short, ? mile trail passes through the heart of the island, including the memorial plaza with its statue and fountains.

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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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  1. Bus.
  2. Tram.
  3. Subway.
  4. Ferry.
  5. Driving.
  6. MTA 63rd Street Track Replacement Project.


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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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Blackwell's Island, now known as Roosevelt Island, has a deep connection to disability and incarceration. For much of the early 1900s, New Yorkers nicknamed the island Welfare Island after the asylums, prisons, and almshouses that were built there.

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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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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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Theodore Roosevelt Island serves as a wilderness retreat for the residents of the Washington, D. C., area and is not a tourist destination. There are a few hiking trails and a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, who served from 1901 to 1909.

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

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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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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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It's an amazing place to live, work and play – so come visit us today! All are welcome! Roosevelt Island – Where Neighbors Become Family! So if you're looking for an affordable place to live with easy access to Manhattan but still want some peace and quiet away from it all, then look no further than Roosevelt Island.

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First Development. By 1823 New York City had become a bustling trade hub and the country's largest city. To combat the rising rates of crime, poverty, and general threats to public health, the city began purchasing the islands surrounding Manhattan for the construction of institutions for rehabilitation.

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Roosevelt Island can be reached via the Q102 bus from Queens. RIOC also provides the Red Bus, which is free and makes convenient stops throughout the island. Strollers and shopping carts must be folded upon request of the bus operator.

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