Whenever friends visit me for the first time in NYC, I take them on the 4-minute ride across the East River on the Roosevelt Island Tram.
You might wonder why I take them on such a short ride to an island with a few sights to see.
Well, that short ride in an aerial cable car, 250 feet (76 m) high above the river, offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of NYC.
Once on Roosevelt Island, the views of Midtown Manhattan are unparalleled. It’s one of the best places to get a free skyline view of NYC.
Better still, the tram costs the same as a NYC subway ride, and if you have an unlimited MetroCard, you won't pay anything for the tram.
I can’t say that the tram ride is a good substitute for any of the observation decks in the city, but if you are on a tight budget like me, take the tram!
In the video below, take a virtual ride on the tram with Katie, a tour guide with us, Tours by Foot, NYC.
In this post, I share tips to plan your trip including where to board, the best times to go, how to pay for the ride, what to do on Roosevelt Island and more.
- Plan Your Trip
- Tickets
- What to Do on Roosevelt Island
- Free Tours a pie
- Other Things to Do in NYC
- Other Skyline Views of NYC
Where to Board?
The Manhattan station of the Roosevelt Island Tram is located on 2nd Ave. between 59th and 60th Streets on the Upper East Side.
The closest New York City subway stations are 59th Street (4,5,6 trains) and Lexington Ave/59th Street (N, Q, R trains).
The station is also within walking distance from the Lexington Ave/53rd Street Station (E, M trains).
Plus, you can take the M15 bus which runs south on 2nd Avenue and north on 1st Avenue.
We recommend using this Google map for directions to the Manhattan terminal to the Roosevelt Island tram.
New to the subway system? Check out our post on using the NYC Metro system.
Best Time to Go
When you plan your ride on the tram, you should consider a few factors.
First, keep in mind that it's a commuter tram that brings island residents to Manhattan in the morning and back to the island at the end of the work day.
Next, will you spend some time on the island?
There are some interesting things to see there and the views from the southern tip of the island are phenomenal!
Include the amount of time you intend to spend when choosing what time to take the tram there and back.
Read my guide, What to Do on Roosevelt Island to see how long you might want to stay.
Roosevelt Island Tram Hours
- Sunday - Thursday | 6 am - 2 am
- Friday - Saturday | 6 am - 3:30 am
- There is a tram every 15 minutes except during rush hours when there is one approximately every 7 minutes.
Weekday Visits
You'll want to avoid rush hours on Mondays through Fridays!
- Morning Rush Hour: from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Evening Rush Hour: from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
If you are going to take a quick ride from Manhattan to the island and back for the great views, go between 10 am - 3 pm.
If you can't take the ride during the suggested hours, don't worry. You can still get good views.
To be next to the windows, try to be among the first people to enter the car as soon as the doors open.
Another option is to take the tram at night for a dazzling view of the sparkling lights.
For a night ride, the best time is between 7 pm and 2 am (the last tram back to Manhattan).
A suggestion: you might want to go to one of the 5 observation decks during the day and then get a quick night view from the tram.
Weekend Visits
Weekends are a great time to go if your schedule permits since you'll skip the commuter rush. Still, island residents will be going back and forth to Manhattan, but not in droves.
If you want a daytime view, consider a trip in the morning before 10 am.
For excellent sunset views, head to the island on any tram after 7 pm.
If you can only go on a weekday for a sunset view, note that sunset corresponds to rush hours approximately between November and March.
During these months, plan your return trip from Roosevelt Island to coincide with sunset. Check NYC sunset times.
TIP: The tramway station is just a 15-minute walk from the starting point of our Central Park Lower Section Tour and a 13-minute subway ride from the start of our Midtown Manhattan Tour, both of which can be taken anytime as GPS-enabled audio tours.
Roosevelt Island Tram Tickets
There is no ticket for the tram but rather you pay the same way you would for a subway ride - with a MetroCard or by using the OMNY tap-to-pay option.
Cost:
- Adults $2.90 one-way
- Children: Up to three children 44 inches tall and under ride for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
- Children more than 44 inches tall require full fare.
- $1.45 for reduced fare customers
Take a look at our post about choosing a New York City subway MetroCard which also explains the OMNY alternative to MetroCards.
Some great news! If you have an unlimited MetroCard won't have to pay anything.
If you take the tram within 2 hours of a subway or bus ride, the tram is free since MetroCards and OMNY come with a free transfer.
What a great deal!
If you don't have a MetroCard when you arrive at the tram, you can buy one at the vending machines at both tram terminals.
Since there are only a few ticket vending machines at the tram stations, I recommend that you buy your MetroCard in advance at a subway station.
You can now use the OMNY contactless tap-to-pay system at the tram turnstiles. Just use your credit card or smart device to go through the turnstiles.
TIP: I only use the OMNY Tap-to-Pay system now, it is just so convenient! Plus there is a fare-capping system.
Once you’ve hit 12 paid trips in a 7-day period, the rest of your rides for that week are free! Read more about OMNY here.
Good to Know
The ride is short
This tram will take a maximum of 3-5 minutes to get across the river, giving you a limited amount of time to see the New York skyline.
So have your cameras ready or just enjoy the moment!
If you want to spend more time enjoying the view of this city, consider visiting one of the observation decks in NYC.
Choose your spot in the tram wisely
The windows on the same side of the car face south and you'll have views of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.
Take the tram there and the NYC Ferry back
You can catch the East River Ferry at Roosevelt Island.
Take the Astoria route from the island down to Wall Street for a 37-minute ride with amazing views from the water - all for $4.50!
Spend some time on Roosevelt Island
I think that the island is a nifty little place. It's small enough to walk the entire perimeter along the waterfront path.
There are some historic buildings there, but the real treat is Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip.
The expansive views are incredible. You'll feel like you can reach out and touch the United Nations Headquarters.
Read our detailed post, What to Do on Roosevelt Island.
Go to Serendipity 3 for Frozen Hot Chocolate
This restaurant with its signature dessert, Frozen Hot Chocolate, is one of my childhood favorite spots in Manhattan!
It's around the corner from the tram entry. Serendipity 3 is at 225 East 60th Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue.
About The Roosevelt Island Aerial Tramway
- The tram is not operated by the MTA but uses the same MetroCard System.
- Each car holds up to 125 passengers. About 115 trips per day are made.
- Once the Tram lets off at Roosevelt Island you can connect with a Red Bus, which will take you around the island for 25 cents per ride!
- You can see the full schedule for both the Tram and the Red Bus here.
- The Roosevelt Island Tramway has been in many films including Nighthawks (1981), Now You See Me (2013), and Spider-Man (2002).
Quick Facts About Roosevelt Island (check out our self-guided tour)
- The total land size is 147 acres (60 hectares)
- It was called Minnehanonck by the Lenape tribe, the island’s first residents. The Dutch called it Varkens Eylandt (Hog Island).
- During the British colonial era and beyond the island was privately owned. The Blackwell family was in possession for a long time, and the island’s oldest house, The Blackwell House, is NYC’s 6th oldest house. The island was also known as Blackwell Island for many years, even after the City of New York owned the island.
- The island was privately owned until 1828 when the City of New York purchased it for $32,000. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $680,242 today.
- The New York City Lunatic Asylum opened on the island in 1839. The asylum was often overcrowded, and at some points was at two times their designated capacity. The Octagon Tower was built as the entrance to the asylum. Today it is part of a luxury apartment complex.
- There is a beautiful, Gothic-style lighthouse on the island called the Blackwell Island Lighthouse. It was built by the City of New York in 1872 and was used until the 1940s. The supervising architect for the lighthouse was James Renwick, Jr., who designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
- The island was called Welfare Island from 1921 to 1971. In addition to the asylum, the island has a charity hospital and a state penitentiary. The inmates from the prison were moved off of the island to the newly opened Riker’s Island in 1935.
- The island was renamed Roosevelt Island in 1971, in honor of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- The Roosevelt Island Tramway opened in 1976, and runs parallel to the northern side of the Queensboro Bridge, connecting the island directly to Manhattan.
Even though this island is tiny, it is worth a visit!
You can see the historic Blackwell House (One of the city’s few surviving 18th-century houses), the Blackwell Island Lighthouse, and the Octagon Tower- all while enjoying great city views!
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