Top 10 Best Picnic Spots in NYC

This article explores the Top 10 Best Picnic Spot in NYC. It highlights some of the most relaxing locations for memorable outdoor activities.

Whether you are seeking a peaceful escape to the waters, ample space for uncountable outdoor activities, or a lively park, NYC has you! These NYC Picnic spots are ideal for gatherings with friends and family or for quiet time alone, offering a variety of activities to keep you entertained during your picnic.

Pack your baskets, grab a blanket, and get ready to discover the Best Picnic Spots in NYC

Gantry State Park

Gantry State Park has a Google rating of 4.8 stars after more than 9K reviews.

The twelve-acre state park is one of the most attractive places to picnic in NYC, offering breathtaking views of Manhattan Skyline across the East River. While here, you can spread your blanket and enjoy your day beside the waters.

Talk of lush greenery! Gantry has it all! The well-maintained lawns make it a perfect place to bring in the kids for play and dogs for a run as you enjoy the fresh air. And because a picnic is ideal with packed food and refreshments, you can take advantage of the free parking, bring your parked food, and enjoy it at your peril.

Gantry is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm and is free to enter, making it an affordable place for any NYC picnic.

Gantry State Park Address

4-44 47th Rd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Gantry State Park contact

+1 (718)-786-6385

Sheep Meadow

Located inside the famous Central Park, Sheep Meadow has a Google rating of 4.8 reviews and over 3K reviews.

Sheep Meadow is a 15-acre meadow ranked as the most popular Picnic spot in NYC. It has a dog park and is mainly referred to as a sunning & lounging locale because you can witness the city’s views here. It is a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy nature and people’s energy. You can lay out your picnic rug if you prefer not to sit in the designated sitting areas.

You can also bring a cooler and fill it with drinks to unwind on a sunny day. Sheep Meadow is open from 11 am–7 pm.

Sheep Meadow Address

1802 65th Street Transverse, 1802 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065

Sheep Meadow Contacts

+1 (212)-310-6600

Bryant Park

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Bryant Park has a Google rating of 4.7 stars after 95K reviews.

This well-maintained getaway ranks the top 10 most visited picnic spots in NYC. Known for its charming ambiance, Bryant is the perfect choice for outdoor and children’s activities throughout the year. You can enjoy ice skating during the wet seasons, while during aridity seasons, you can sit and relax as you enjoy your packed food and drinks in the cooler.

The motel in the park is the cleanest one in the city. The park also hosts poetry readings and live piano performances, adding a touch of culture and elegance to your visit. The variety of activities always ensures something new to experience, making each visit unique and memorable.

Bryant Park is open daily from 7 am to 11 pm.

Bryant Park address

New York, NY 10018

Bryant Park Contacts

+1 (212)-768-4242

Madison Square Park

This public square has a Google rating of 4.6 stars after 20K reviews.

From the Google rating, it’s easy to tell that Madison Square Park is the best picnic spot in NYC. At the entrance, you are welcomed by charming noises from the public that often visit here, as well as a green space that covers the whole land. Madison provides an atmosphere, whether you are planning a relaxing day or a quick lunch/snack with a basket full of food.

Additionally, if you are an art lover at Madison Square Park, you can see some of the best art displays. This park is open from 6 am to 12 am, providing ample leisure time in NYC Picnic.

Madison Square Park Address

11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010

Madison Square Park contacts

+1 (212)-520-7600

Prospect Park

This 526-acre urban park has a Google rating of 4.7 stars after more than 26K reviews.

Prospect is one of the most peaceful picnic spots in NYC, with its green meadows, plenty of space for kids, and shaded trees. It is a favorite to locals and visitors who visit with friends/families for outdoor activities like team buildings where fun like soccer rules the day.

You can carry your portable grill for that BBQ or enjoy a casual picnic peacefully with a picnic basket. It is open from Monday to Sunday at 6 am to 1 am.

Prospect Park Address

Brooklyn, NY

Prospect Park Contacts

+1 (718)-965-8951

Brooklyn Bridge Park

It has a Google rating of 4.8 stars, with more than 40K reviews.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the most iconic places to picnic in NYC. It offers incredible beautiful scenery for pictures, is family-friendly, and has excellent restaurant options. It has a zoo for children and walking trails for those who wish to spend some leisure time here. The park also has running paths for joggers, theaters, concert venues, etc.

In addition to that, if you wish to avoid packing your baskets, you can visit the Time Out Market inside the park and order whatever you feel like eating. As you continue enjoying your stay at this park, you can take photo tours and photoshoots for remembrance. The entry fee is free and open from 6 am to 1 am.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Address

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Croton Gorge Park

It has a Google rating of 4.7 stars after more than 4k reviews.

Croton Gorge Park service options include picnic tables and playground slides. Located just outside NYC, this is a good place for that natural setting for a picnic. You get to have the feeling of watching the Croton Dam and accessing the hiking trails to burn calories during the day.

The park also allows you to feel the wilderness as you enjoy leisure, alone or with company. Opened from 8 am to 7:30 pm, Croton Gorge Park charges a $10 vehicle entry fee, but this place’s serenity makes it worth the pay for those looking for a scenic picnic spot near NYC.

Croton Gorge Park Address

35 Yorktown Rd, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520

Croton Gorge Park Contacts

+1 (914)-862-5290

Riverside Park

This scenic public park has a Google rating of 4.6 stars after more than 11k reviews.

Riverside Park is known as an NYC picnic spot with shaded areas under towering trees. This makes it ideal for a relaxing day with family. This spot boasts other facilities: the BBQ area, marinas, hiking trails, sports courts, and running tracks. One of the reasons why the public loves this place is the idea of the fitness park and the running tracks. With this, you can bring your dogs and run with them as you unwind your day.

Riverside Park also boasts various monuments like the Six Million Jews of Europe and the American Memorial. These make it a perfect spot for those Instagrammable photos as you enjoy the American heritage. Operating hours begin at 6 am until the wee hours of 1 am.

Riverside Park Address

R25M+R3, New York, NY 10025

Riverside Park Contacts

+1 (212)-870-3070

Bear Mountain State Park

Located on the West bank of the Hudson River, this spot has a Google rating of 4.7 stars with more than 15k reviews.

Bear Mountain is one of the most loved picnic spots NYC. This is because it has a large playfield, lake, and fishing access, a swimming pool for the swimmers, and shaded picnic grooves. With these outdoor activities, the park also comes with skating classes where you get guided by professionals as you skate in the well-maintained skating trails.

For those looking for a nature escape, Bear Mountain is the best picnic spot near NYC that will offer that. It opens from 8 am to 8 pm.

Bear Mountain State Park Address

3006 Seven Lakes Drive, Tomkins Cove, NY 10986

Bear Mountain State Park Contacts

+1 (845)-786-2701

Governor’s Island

This spot has a Google rating of 4.7 stars after more than 600 Google reviews.

Would you believe that the famous Statue of Liberty is viewed while here? Well, now you know and have a reason to visit this public space. With a ferry drive from Manhattan, NYC, Governor’s Island is one of the most unique places to picnic in NYC. It has picnic tables that many picnic spots need more, plenty of shaded areas, and is the best place to view the New York Harbor.

With comfortable picnic tables, it’s an ideal place to unpack your packed basket with cheese, sandwiches, and fruits. Operating hours begin from 10 am–6 pm daily.

Governor’s Island Address

910 Gresham Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Governor’s Island Contacts

+1 (212)-504-4115

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