Roosevelt Island Tram New York

Roosevelt Island Tram in New York is a must do! With this aerial tramway, you can cross the East River from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in four minutes. Along the way, you can enjoy spectacular views of Manhattan, the East River and Roosevelt Island.

You can take the Roosevelt Tram for free with the Unlimited MetroCard. Otherwise the Roosevelt Island Tram ticket will cost $2.90.

How to take the Roosevelt Island Tram

The entrance to the Roosevelt Tram is at 60th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan. The aerial tramway resembles a ski gondola and fits up to 109 people. You can just walk up and pay with your subway pass. If you have an Unlimited MetroCard, you pay nothing extra. (You can even buy a MetroCard before you travel to New York.)

The Roosevelt Island cable car takes you to Roosevelt Island in four minutes. Roosevelt Island is a small island in the East River. It is a place where about 16,000 people work and live.

Want to know what to expect? Then watch my video below to see the trip!

How to get to the Roosevelt Island Tram?

Typically, people take the Roosevelt Island Tram from the Manhattan station located on 2nd Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. You can get there by subway. The closest subway stations are Lexington Av/59 St (lines 4 5 6) and Lexington Av/63 St (lines F Q).

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is helpful, honest, and always up to date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyorkcity.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYorkCity.ca and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “You can take the cable car to Roosevelt Island as part of my walking route,  ‘Tudor City – Roosevelt Island’, which can be found in my Eric’s New York App. In addition to the gondola ride, this handy route will walk you through all the nearby points of interest on the island and in Manhattan.”

You can use the tram again on the way back, but there is also a subway station just behind the tram, between the first apartment buildings. Here you can take the  F line to get back to Manhattan.

Another option is to take the NYC Ferry. You can board on the east side of the island. It first stops at Long Island City and then continues to Manhattan.

Best time to take the cable car to Roosevelt Island

This cable car in New York City has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. As a result, it can get busy at the entrance station, where there is sometimes a queue before you can hop on.

Do you want to avoid the crowds? Then I recommend you skip the tram during weekends and between approximately 16:00 and 19:00, as these moments tend to be busier than mornings and weekdays.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is helpful, honest, and always up to date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyorkcity.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYorkCity.ca and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “As an extra tip to avoid the queues, I advise you to save the cable car ride for your return trip. First, take the subway line F from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. Explore the island, then board the gondola for your return to Manhattan. You’ll be among the first to enter the Roosevelt Island Tram, and since it now faces Manhattan, you’ll get an even better view than on the way there!”

What to do on Roosevelt Island

On Roosevelt Island, you can take a wonderful (and quiet) walk. If you want to do this, then walk to the river and then take a left. There are many benches and a nice view of Manhattan. Perfect for relaxation.

There are also some interesting attractions along the route, like the ruins of an old Smallpox Hospital and Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park with a large bust of the famous US president.

Practical Information

• Duration: the ride takes four minutes
• Departure Point: 2nd Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets on the Upper East Side
• Opening hours:
  • Sunday – Thursday: 6:00 – 2:00
  • Friday – Saturday: 6:00 – 3:30
    The tram runs every 15 minutes, and every 7.5 minutes during rush hours.
• Price: $2.90 per ride. You can pay for the ride with your regular MetroCard.
  • Up to three children under 44 inches (112 cm) can ride for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Children over 44 inches tall must pay the full fare.
• Accessibility:  The gondola as well as the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island tram stations are wheelchair accessible