New York can be an exhausting destination even for full-grown adults. For kids – especially kids that aren’t used to big cities – it can be deeply overwhelming. That being said, it’s also an incredibly family-friendly city that will give your family vacation memories to last a lifetime.
The trick to making sure that your kids have fun rather than a stressful, tiring, and overwhelming time in New York is getting the logistics right. Getting from place to place smoothly, without too much battling crowds and sitting in traffic, will take a huge amount of the hassle out of a Big Apple vacation with kids. So, to help you out, here’s a guide to the best ways to get around New York with children.
When To Rent A Car
A car can be very useful at times in New York, but at other times (particularly during heavy traffic in Manhattan), it can be a bit of a burden. Most New York trips work best when you mix car travel with public transport, rideshares, and walking. Depending on what you’re doing, you might find that Ubers and Lyfts cover the times you need to get from place to place by car.
However, if you have a lot of luggage and gear, if you want the freedom and flexibility provided by a car, if you’re heading further afield than the central boroughs, or if you’re simply not comfortable walking long distances or using public transport with your kids, it might be a good idea to rent a car. Remember that smaller cars often have an advantage in New York, where parking spaces are sparse and often quite small. Also bear in mind that you’re likely to have to spend some time idling in traffic, and will need a car that can keep you all comfortable and entertained during these times.
So, if you do decide you need a personal vehicle, make sure to do some comprehensive rental car comparison before you opt for anything. It’s important to get a car that keeps you safe and comfortable while also letting you navigate the busy roads of New York with ease.
Understanding the Layout
Planning your logistics will be easier if you have a simple mental map of the city’s layout. So, here’s a basic primer:
New York City is made up of five boroughs, connected by bridges, tunnels, and ferries. Most first-time visitors will spend much of their time in Manhattan, the skyscraper-dominated island in the middle of the city. This is where you’ll find tourist attractions like Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, the Empire State Building, and many of the major museums. Manhattan is laid out in a grid, making it easy to navigate on foot. However, it can be busy and crowded at peak times, and traffic is often congested and slow-moving.
The other boroughs are Brooklyn and Queens on Long Island to the east of Manhattan, the Bronx on the mainland north of Manhattan, and Staten Island across the harbor to the south. These areas have a variety of residential neighborhoods, parks, zoos, waterfronts, and family-friendly attractions – so don’t discount them in favor of spending your whole vacation in Manhattan! It can take a little extra time to get to these boroughs, as you’ll need to navigate the rivers, but the bridges, tunnels, and ferries are easy to use.
Walking With Kids in New York
New York is much more walkable than many major American cities – but do bear in mind that distances can be deceptive. The grid system makes some distances look much shorter than they actually are, so check how many miles there are between your starting point and your destination rather than judging distances by eye on a map.
The sidewalks of Manhattan (and in most major tourist areas in the other boroughs, too) are wide and easy to navigate – but do be careful of crowds. Tourist areas can be very busy at all times, and general foot traffic will increase a lot during commute periods and office lunch hours. Keep your children close – ideally holding the hands of younger kids at busy times.
Remember to follow basic road-crossing etiquette. Don’t walk unless the sign says you can, and be strict with children about stepping out into the roads – even if there’s no traffic.
Using The New York Subway With Children
Most New Yorkers use the subway as their main way of getting around the city. It can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you understand how it works, it becomes much more straightforward.
The subway runs 24 hours a day, and you rarely have to wait long for a train on major lines. You can easily reach most attractions in all five boroughs from the subway.
To get to the stations, you’ll need to navigate stairs, escalators, and elevators. Older stations often don’t have elevators at all, which can make things tricky if you’re trying to get bulky strollers down to platform level. You’ll probably find the subway much easier to navigate if you’ve got a lightweight, foldable stroller.
As you’d expect, the subway can be busy during rush hours (roughly 7-10am and 4-7pm). Try to avoid these periods with young children, if you can. Things are usually much calmer around midday, late morning, and early afternoon.
Using Buses and Ferries in New York with Children
The New York bus network is a useful alternative to the subway for families that want to avoid stairs or crowded platforms. Most buses run at street level, which makes it easy to get strollers on and off, and bus routes cover some areas that trains don’t reach (residential neighborhoods and parks, for example). They also stop more frequently than the trains, which can make walking distances much easier for little legs.
The main downside of the buses is speed. Buses are limited by road traffic, which can be infamously congested and slow-moving in New York.
Ferries are an integral part of the New York transport system. The Staten Island Ferry is free and runs between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. It’s a good way to get a nice, free view of the Statue of Liberty and the harbor. It also has indoor seating and toilets. The East River Ferry, meanwhile, connects parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens along the waterfront. It stops near family-friendly places like Brooklyn Bridge Park, and is a great way to turn a simple journey into a fun family sightseeing experience.
Ferries add another layer of transport that many visitors overlook. The Staten Island Ferry is free and runs between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island, offering views of the Statue of Liberty and the harbour. It is large, stable, and has indoor seating and toilets, which makes it very family-friendly. Many families take it simply for the ride, even if they do not plan to spend time on Staten Island.
The East River Ferry connects parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens along the waterfront. It stops near places such as Brooklyn Bridge Park, Williamsburg, and Long Island City. Ferries are spacious, allow strollers on board, and give children a break from underground travel. They can also turn a simple journey into a small sightseeing experience.
Have a Smooth, Stress-Free Family Trip to New York
Getting around New York with kids can be stressful, but it becomes much easier when you understand how the city’s logistics work. Having a basic layout in your head, being prepared to use the subway, and knowing when a car is useful and when it’s a drawback will all help. Remember that distances can be deceptive, and peak commuter times can be very crowded, so it’s worth planning any journey with kids, however short, in advance. With a bit of basic planning, you and your kids can have a New York trip that you’ll remember for all the right reasons.
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