How to Get to Roosevelt Island in NYC (Plus A Few Things to Do)
Roosevelt Island is in the middle of the East River, between Manhattan and Queens.
You have a few options to get there:
- The Roosevelt Island Tramway
- The F Train (subway)
- The Ferry
- Drive over a bridge from Queens
There’s no way to drive (or walk) from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island.
Roosevelt Island in Brief
- Once home to asylums and institutional hospitals
- NYC saw an opportunity for affordable housing in the 1960s
- Today, it’s home to 14,000 residents
Take The Roosevelt Island Tramway Over the East River
The Tramway is the most exciting way to get to Roosevelt Island.
Basics on the Tramway
- Enter from Manhattan at 59th Street.
- The cost is the same as a subway ticket.
- The ride itself across the river is about 3 minutes.
- You’ll travel alongside the Queensboro Bridge.
The entrance and payment system is the same as the subway. You tap a credit card to pay at the turnstile.
The Tramway opened in 1976 to connect the island’s growing residential community to Manhattan. The F Train’s construction was underway, so originally the Tramway was seen as a temporary solution.
It wound up becoming permanent, and the Tramway really became part of Roosevelt Island’s identity. Locals and tourists alike love the views!
The Tramway Cars
The Roosevelt Island Tramway uses a dual-car system, each of which carries 125 passengers per cabin. You’ll be squished if it’s full to the max!
The cars and cables were replaced in 2010. Between two and three million people ride the Tramway each year across the East River.
Take the Subway to Roosevelt Island
The F Train to Roosevelt Island station opened in 1989.
On Manhattan, the F Train follows 63rd Street west, then turns south along 6th Avenue.
Drive to Roosevelt Island
From Astoria, Queens, 36th Avenue turns into the Roosevelt Island Bridge.
That’s the only way to drive to the island. There’s no vehicular access from Manhattan.
Take a Ferry to Roosevelt Island
The Roosevelt Island Ferry Terminal is on the eastern side of the island.
From the outdoor decks, you get wide-open views of Midtown Manhattan, the East River, and the Queensboro Bridge. It’s one of the best cheap photo ops in NYC!
The ferry, along the Astoria Route, makes stops north of the island in Astoria, Queens, south in Long Island City, and over to Manhattan at East 34th Street, along FDR Drive.
The entire route on the Astoria Line is:
- East 90th Street
- Astoria
- Roosevelt Island
- Long Island City
- 34th Street
- The Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Wall Street
It’s about a 50-minute line, if you’d like to ride the whole thing. The ferry departs every 30 minutes (or so).
Citi Bike Around Roosevelt Island
It’s easy to get off the Tramway and walk to one of the Citi Bike stands. You can use the Lyft app to rent a bike, and cruise around the island. The price is steeper than it used to be. Last time we went, we paid about $20 for the hour. Still, it’s a great way to spend part of the day.
You can’t ride your bike into the Four Freedoms Park on the southern tip of the island. You’ll have to dock the bike to stroll in.
Walk the Promenade for Manhattan Skyline Views
The waterfront paths around Roosevelt Island are great for walks and photos. You get an unobstructed view of the Manhattan skyline.
The United Nations World Headquarters is right across the river.
You can spot all of the iconic buildings, from One World Trade to the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.
The Old Smallpox Hospital (Renwick Ruin)
The Smallpox Hospital opened in 1856 as the nation’s first medical facility dedicated solely to treating smallpox. Designed in Gothic Revival style by architect James Renwick Jr., it originally stood as a three-story granite building. The hospital was built by prison labor, using stone quarried on the island.
Renwick, who also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Smithsonian Castle, and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse, created a dramatic structure that sits in ruin today.
Still, it’s protected as both a New York City Landmark. It’s also listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
Over the years, the building evolved:
- Renamed Riverside Hospital in 1875
- Converted into a nursing school in 1886
- Expanded with north and south wings in the early 1900s for classrooms and dorms
The school closed in the 1950s, and the building was abandoned and stripped of its interior. What survives today is the haunting exterior shell known as the Renwick Ruin.
The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse (Blackwell Island Lighthouse)
The small stone lighthouse at the island’s northern tip was built in 1872 and designed by architect James Renwick Jr. (who also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral). It was originally called the Blackwell Island Lighthouse and helped guide ships through the East River.
The lighthouse is only about 50 feet tall, but it’s beautifully detailed with gothic-style stonework. It was built by inmates from the penitentiary, which sat on the island at the time.
Today, the lighthouse is surrounded by a small park, with benches, lawns, and great sunset views. It no longer functions as a navigational light, but it’s a popular spot for photos and one of the most peaceful corners of Roosevelt Island.
Public Art: The Girl Puzzle
The series of oversized bronze and stainless-steel heads near the lighthouse is called “Girl Puzzle,” created by the artist duo Gillie and Marc.
Installed in 2021, the work honors Nellie Bly, the pioneering investigative journalist who wrote “Ten Days in a Mad-House” after going undercover at the island’s asylum in 1887.
The installation features 5 large female faces:
- One central face of Nellie Bly, representing her courage and activism.
- Four additional faces of real women from diverse backgrounds, symbolizing resilience, representation, and overcoming adversity.
Food Options: Limited
I’ll be honest: Roosevelt Island is not a great destination for food and drinks.
The island is home to a few fast food places and a Starbucks. Otherwise, plan to grab food before and after your visit. Or bring a lunch to eat at one of the tables along the riverbank.
A Few More Sites on Roosevelt Island
The Cornell Tech Campus
It’s one of NYC’s newest tech hubs.
The Octagon
A historic stone structure (once the entrance to the New York City Asylum) that’s now apartment housing. The exterior is interesting to see and ties into the island’s layered past.
Community Garden
Riding or walking around, you’ll come across the fairly large urban garden, tended to by the residents of Roosevelt Island.
Wrap: Is Roosevelt Island Worth a Visit?
I think the views and the unique tramway make Roosevelt Island a visit if you’re in Manhattan.
Generally, I enjoy Governors Island more (mostly because of the additional food options).
If you’re looking for more of the non-touristy parts of New York City, you’ll at least find some peace and quiet on Roosevelt Island!
I’m writing this as I prepare to book a Christmas trip to NYC, and I’d say: Roosevelt Island is more of a spring/summer/fall trip, since the winter wind can whip down the East River!
