This post is a comparison of three top Central Park horse and carriage rides.
We list what is included in a ride, and compare the top two providers, including prices and bonus services.
HOW MUCH DOES A CARRIAGE RIDE IN CENTRAL PARK COST?
- All of the prices we list include all processing fees.
- Prices are per carriage and not per person.
- Carriages can seat 4 adults, or 1 adult and six children, or 2 adults and 4 children, or 3 adults and 2 children.
- All carriages are private, and all companies offer blankets for cold weather days.
Good to know
When planning your trip, keep in mind that horses do not go out if the temperature is above 89 or below 19 degrees Fahrenheit (31 or -7 Celsius), during heavy weather conditions, and if special events are occurring in the park.
Always check the weather. This could be important for night carriage rides in colder weather.
Key sights included in most rides:
- The Lake
- Cherry Hill
- The Bow Bridge
- Carousel
- Strawberry Fields
- Upper West Side
- Dakota Building
- Sheep Meadow
- Tavern On The Green
- Heckscher Playground
- Columbus Circle
- Wollman Rink
- Museum of Natural History
- Chess & Checker House
- The Dairy • Plaza Hotel
- 5th Avenue/Upper East Side
- Literary Mall • Balto Statue
- Summerstage
- Boat Pond
- Loeb Boathouse Restaurant
- Bethesda Fountain
- Bandshell
For a summary of what you may see on a carriage ride, take a look at our self-guided tour of Central Park.
NYC Adventures
This company currently offers several carriage rides in and around Central Park, including short loops, standard/basic outings, and specialty services.
They also have carriage rides which will take you to Rockefeller Center and Times Square!
Hours of Operation
Daily from 10:00 am until 11:00 pm.
Tours
Short Loop Carriage Ride in Central Park
- $109 per group of up to 4 people.
- Availability: Every hour on the hour.
- Duration: 20 minutes.
Standard Central Park Horse Carriage Ride
- $230 per group of up to 4 people.
- Availability: Every hour on the hour.
- Duration: 45 minutes.
Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square Carriage Ride
- $320 per group of up to 4 people.
- Availability: Nightly at 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm.
- Duration: 55 minutes.
Romantic Central Park Carriage Ride w/ Free Champagne
- $430 per group of up to 4 people.
- Availability: Every hour on the hour.
- Duration: 50 minutes.
Reviews
NYC Adventures has ratings which range anywhere from 4.6 to 4.8 stars out of 5, so you can rest assured that they offer a pretty reliable service (read reviews here).
Guests report that their carriage drivers are very professional and friendly, indicating they are willing to answer questions about Central Park and New York City along the way.
NYC Fancy Rides
This is another company offering horse carriage rides in Central Park, and they currently have several different lengths of service which cover a lot of notable ground in and around the area.
Hours of Operation
- Mon - Fri | 10:00 am - 12:00 am
- Weekends | 8:00 am - 12:00 am
Tours
Central Park Carriage Ride w/ 2 Photo Stops
- $149 per group of up to 4 people.
- Availability: Every half hour.
- Duration: 45 minutes.
Private Central Park Carriage Ride
- $159 per group of up to 4 people from Monday - Friday.
- Availability: Every half hour.
- Duration: 55 minutes.
Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square Carriage Ride
- $185 per group of up to 4 people (Tuesdays only)
- $205 per group of up to 4 people on Monday, Wednesday - Friday
- $215 per group of up to 4 people on Saturday and Sunday
- Availability: Every half hour from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am.
- Duration: 1 hour.
Reviews
NYC Fancy Rides has ratings ranging from 4.5 to 5 stars out of 5, and most of their guests have suggested that they offer an excellent service (read reviews here).
While some customers report their drivers weren't very friendly or informative, others mention their driver by name and indicate that this company offers excellent carriage rides.
ECO CENTRAL PARK TOURS
With over ten years of experience in the horse and carriage business, ECO promises customer satisfaction, guides that are licensed, genuine, personable, and very flexible.
Every tour ends with a photo taken with the carriage.
Additionally, they are the only of the three services to offer a price match guarantee. They will match the price of all of their competitors.
Hours of Operation
Daily from 10 am until midnight.
Tours
- Long Ride (45 minutes) for $140.14
- Short Ride (15-20 minutes) for $71.38
- Not currently available as of December 2022.
- Christmas Lights Ride (50-60 minutes) for $225
Reviews
This company is rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor.
Reviews speak of how comfortable the ride was, as well as how knowledgeable the guides were. One guest wrote of how wise it is to book the tours at night time.
An additional company is NYC Horse Carriage Rides.
We hope you found this post useful in choosing which horse and carriage company is right for you.
Remember, that horse and carriage is not the only way to experience Central Park.
Free Tours By Foot offers free walking tours through multiple parts of Central Park which you can find here.
Please feel free to enjoy our self-guided tour with a map.
In addition, we offer private Central Park Tours on foot or bike which you can request here.
