The 18 Main Central Park Entrances to Know About (w/ Map)

Visiting Central Park can be overwhelming for a first-time visitor. The park is expansive with so many different highlights in all corners of the park. You may be wondering where to even enter the park as there are just so many entrances throughout.

Choosing which of the Central Park entrances to walk in from can help dictate the route you will take as you stroll through these 843 acres of prime scenery. This guide will go through 18 of the main Central Park entrances to choose from to better help plan out your day.

I will also pinpoint the entrances on a map, talk about the closest sites and attractions to the entrances, and how to go about a day visiting New York’s Central Park.

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1) Introduction & Overview

I will start off by saying that for the most part, you do not need to go out of your way to get yourself to a particular entrance of the park. If you are coming from the Upper East Side, then choose an entrance that is closest to there. If coming from midtown, choose an entrance on the southern end of the park.

At the end of the day, it does not really matter that much about which entrance you choose since odds are you will be doing a good amount of walking anyways.

On the other hand, if you are looking to just visit certain attractions, then it may be more beneficial to pay attention to exactly where you are entering (especially if you are short on time).

As I talk through the 18 main Central Park entrances, I will also mention which sites and attractions in Central Park are closest.

A few additional things to note about the park that can be helpful for your visit:

Surrounding Streets: The 4 streets that surround the outer park are:

Central Park South = 59^th Street
Central Park North = 110^th Street
Central Park East = 5^th Avenue (signs will just indicate 5th Avenue)
Central Park West = 8^th Avenue (signs will just indicate Central Park West)

Park Streets: Within the park there are 4 main streets – East Drive, West Drive, Center Drive, and Terrace Drive. So as I mention these throughout the guide, just know that I am talking about streets within the park itself.

Traverses: Note that some entrances are traverses where cars can cut through the park such as 79^th Street. If coming in from these entrances, you will obviously not want to follow the cars. Instead, you should also see pedestrian entrances on either side.

How Many Entrances Are There to Central Park?

Believe it or not there are around 50 entrances to Central Park that can be found on all four sides. Most of these entrances are low key pedestrian entrances that are used by those who know they are there and live nearby.

While many are pedestrian only entrances, others allow cars to pass through the park, and a few are made for the horse & carriages / pedicabs to enter from.

For the average tourist though, starting at one of the main entrances will be easiest to begin the navigation around the park.

2) List of Central Park Entrances

Below is a list of the Central Park entrances (broken out by park side) that I will be highlighting through the rest of this guide:

South (Central Park South / 59^th Street)

→ 59^th Street & 5^th Avenue (Grand Army Plaza)
→ 59^th Street & 6^th Avenue
→ 59^th Street & 7^th Avenue
→ 59^th Street & 8^th Avenue (Columbus Circle)

West (Central Park West)

→ 67^th Street & Central Park West
→ 72^nd Street & Central Park West
→ 79^th Street & Central Park West (Museum of Natural History)
→ 86^th Street & Central Park West
→ 100^th Street & Central Park West

North (Central Park North / 110^th Street)

→ 110^th Street & Central Park West (Frederick Douglas Circle Plaza)
→ 110^th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
→ 110^th Street & Malcolm X Blvd

East (5^th Avenue)

→ 64^th Street & 5^th Avenue
→ 72^nd Street & 5^th Avenue
→ 79^th Street & 5^th Avenue (The Met – South)
→ 85^th Street & 5^th Avenue (The Met – North)
→ 90^th Street & 5^th Avenue
→ 102^nd Street & 5^th Avenue

3) Central Park Map Entrances

Below you can find a map with each of these entrances pinpointed down.

Central Park South / 59^th Street: Red
Central Park West: Yellow
Central Park North / 110^th Street: Purple
Central Park East / 5^th Avenue: Black

4) Central Park Entrances South Side

59^th Street & 5^th Avenue (Grand Army Plaza)
59^th Street & 6^th Avenue (Center Drive)
59^th Street & 7^th Avenue (West Drive)
59^th Street & 8^th Avenue (Columbus Circle)

Let’s begin with the southern end of the park along 59^th Street (aka Central Park South). There is one entrance at each avenue here – 5^th, 6^th, 7^th & 8^th.

These are some of the most popular entrances to the park. Most people who are traveling to the park from below 59^th Street, end up getting off a subway around this area. Essentially all the main NYC subways have a stop near 59^th Street.

The entrances also give the easiest and quickest access to many of the top attractions in the park including The Pond, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Central Park Zoo, Wollman Rink, and Heckscher Playground.

In addition, here is where you have pedicabs lined up (many nearby the 5^th Avenue entrance). A pedicab can be a quicker way to see the park if you are short on time or don’t want to walk as much.

5) Central Park Entrances West Side

67^th Street & Central Park West
72^nd Street & Central Park West
79^th Street & Central Park West
86^th Street & Central Park West
100^th Street & Central Park West

Moving onto the West side of the park, you will find entrances every few blocks from 59^th Street all the way up to 110^th Street. I have highlighted 5 of these entrances that are around ~7 blocks away from each other.

If you are coming from the Upper West Side, then odds are you will be using one of the entrances on this side of the park. Whether that be from Lincoln Center, the Museum of Natural History, or Riverside Park.

Once you enter from any of the Central Park West entrances, you will soon meet up with the main loop of the park (called West Drive on this side of the park). From there, you should be able to get yourself going in the right direction.

Some highlights that are nearby the west side entrances include: Tavern on the Green (67^th Street), Sheep Meadow (67^th Street), The Lake & Bow Bridge (72^nd Street), The Ramble (72^nd Street), Belvedere Castle (81^st Street), the Great Lawn (81^st Street), the Reservoir (86^th Street), North Meadow (100^th Street), and North Woods (100^th Street).

6) Central Park Entrances North Side

110^th Street & Central Park West (Frederick Douglas Circle Plaza)
110^th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
110^th Street & Malcolm X Blvd

The north side of the park is outlined by 110^th Street (aka Central Park North). Here you will find a few main entrances that will get you into the northern most part of Central Park.

If you are coming from further up the Upper East / Upper West sides or anywhere in Harlem and Morningside Heights, then these north entrances can work for you.

By entering the park from the north side, you will immediately be welcomed to the North Woods area – one of the largest wooded areas of the park, and a great place for some Central Park Fall Foliage.

Here you will find The Loch and The Ravine, the Central Park waterfall, the Blockhouse, among several other highlights along the way. In addition, there is the Harlem Meer located in the northeast corner of the park nearby the Lasker Rink.

7) Central Park Entrances East Side

64^th Street & 5^th Avenue
72^nd Street & 5^th Avenue
79^th Street & 5^th Avenue
85^th Street & 5^th Avenue
90^th Street & 5^th Avenue
102^nd Street & 5^th Avenue

Similar to the west side of the park, on the east side you will consistently find entrances every few blocks from 59^th Street to 110^th Street. Here I have highlighted 6 of the main entrances to choose from.

Entering from the east side of the park (aka 5^th Avenue), will mostly be done if coming anywhere in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Maybe you are just planning to walk along the area, do some shopping, or visit one of the nearby museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim.

Some of the nearby highlights to the east side entrances include: Central Park Zoo (64^th Street), the Mall & Literary Walk (64^th Street), Bethesda Terrace & The Lake (72^nd Street), The Ramble (72^nd Street), Loeb Boathouse (72^nd Street), Belvedere Castle (79^th Street), the Great Lawn (79^th Street), the Reservoir (85^th Street and 90^th Street), North Meadow (102^nd Street), Conservatory Garden (102^nd Street).

8) Best Main Entrances Recap

So, to recap the entrances that are closest to just some of the park’s main attractions:

Best Central Park Zoo Entrance: the closest entrance to the zoo will be right at 64^th Street and 5^th Avenue, which brings you directly in front of the zoo entrance.

Best Central Park Reservoir Entrance: while there are entrances to the Reservoir on all sides, the main entrance is on 90^th Street and 5^th Avenue. Here is where you will find the Engineer’s Gate entrance, and immediate access the Reservoir loop, East Drive and the Bridle Path.

Best Lake Entrance: whether you are coming from the east side or west side, then opt for 72^nd Street entrance. This entrance will take you along Terrace Drive in the park, where you will be greeted by the Central Park Lake, Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace & Fountain, and Loeb Boathouse.

Best Belvedere Castle Entrance: the castle lays in the center of the park alongside the 79^th Street traverse. So entering, from 79^th Street on either side will be your best bet if you want to visit the castle and the Turtle Pond down below.

Best North Woods Entrance: if interested in the North Woods, any of the main entrances along the northern end of the park will do the trick here.

Best Entrance for Pedicabs: if you would like to take a ride on a pedicab, start off at the 59^th Street and 5^th Avenue entrance, where you should see many lined up. If you don’t see them there, then continue another avenue over along the southern end of the park, and you should spot some.

Best Entrance for Running or Biking: I would recommend starting a run or bike at the 59th Street and 7th Avenue entrance. Here you will enter right onto West drive and can begin the loop around Central Park.

Overall Best Central Park Entrance: this is a tough one but I would opt for the entrance on the corner of 59^th Street and 5^th Avenue. You immediately will be greeted with views of the Pond and Gapstow Bridge (if heading on the lower pathway here), and then pass the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Wollman Rink, followed by the Mall & Literary Walk. From there you can continue northbound visiting many of the other top highlights along the way.

Learn More: Take a look at this self-guided walking tour of Central Park that will take you through it all.

9) Where to Stay in NYC

There are so many different neighborhoods to choose from when visiting NYC. Below are some of my top choices for a few of my recommended locations in the city:

Looking for the top hotels & neighborhoods in NYC? Check out some helpful accommodation resources when it comes to picking the best spot for you!

Neighborhood Overview: Best Places to Stay in NYC
Best Skyline Views: NYC Hotels with a View
Times Square: Top Times Square Hotels with a View
Theater District: Hotels in Broadway Theater District
Central Park: Best Hotels with Central Park Views
Tribeca: Best Tribeca Hotels
SoHo: Where to Stay in SoHo
Greenwich Village: Top Greenwich Village Hotels
Brooklyn Bridge: Hotels with Brooklyn Bridge Views
Best Panoramas: Hotels in NYC with Floor to Ceiling Windows

That about wraps up a guide to the best entrances of Central Park. If you have any questions or comments about it all, feel free to write them in below.

Also don’t forget to check out the other New York itineraries and guides up on the site.

Have fun out there and safe travels!