Central Park Maps, Directions & Parking

Getting to Central Park by subway

The subway is the fastest and cheapest way to reach Central Park, and several lines stop within a block of an entrance. Which train you want depends on the side of the park you are heading for: the west side along Central Park West, or the east side along Fifth Avenue and Lexington.

For the southern entrances near our meeting point, the A, B, C, D, and 1 trains all stop at Columbus Circle (59th Street), while the N, Q, R, and W reach Fifth Avenue/59th Street. A single ride on the subway is a flat fare regardless of distance, so it is almost always cheaper than a taxi from Midtown.

Getting there by bus

City buses are a scenic, step-free alternative to the subway and are handy if you are travelling with a stroller or limited mobility. North–south routes run right alongside the park: the M10 follows Central Park West on the west side, and the M1, M2, M3, and M4 run along Fifth and Madison Avenues on the east side.

To cross the park or reach a specific entrance, the crosstown routes — M66, M72, M79-SBS, M86-SBS, M96, and M106 — connect the east and west sides at major streets. Buses take the same flat fare as the subway and accept OMNY contactless payment, so you can tap the same card or phone you use underground.

Driving and where to park

You can drive to Central Park, but you cannot park inside it and you can no longer drive through it — the park drives have been car-free since 2018. That means visitors arriving by car need to leave the vehicle in a paid garage or at a metered street space around the perimeter, then walk in through the nearest gate.

Paid garages cluster around Columbus Circle, Midtown, the Upper West Side, and the Upper East Side, and typically run about $30–$60 for the day depending on the block and time of year. Metered street parking exists but is scarce and time-limited, so for a relaxed visit a garage is usually the safer bet. Always confirm current rates with the garage, as Manhattan pricing changes often.

• No public parking exists inside Central Park — plan to use a perimeter garage.
• The park drives are car-free, so you cannot cut across the park by car.
• Garages near Columbus Circle are the most convenient for the southern entrances and our meeting point.
• Booking a garage spot online in advance is often cheaper than the drive-up rate.

Best entrances to start from

Central Park has 21 named entrances, and choosing the right one puts the landmarks you came for within an easy walk. For first-time visitors, the southern gates are the most popular because they sit closest to Midtown hotels, Columbus Circle, and the park’s best-known sights — Bethesda Terrace, the Mall, and the Lake are all a short stroll north.

Merchants’ Gate at Columbus Circle (59th Street and Central Park West) is the busy western entrance, while Artisans’ Gate at Seventh Avenue and Central Park South and Scholars’ Gate at Fifth Avenue and 60th Street anchor the south. If your goal is the Conservatory Garden or the northern woodlands, enter higher up around 105th–110th Street instead.

Where our tours meet

All NY Central Park Tour rides begin at the same easy-to-find spot: Seventh Avenue and Central Park South, at the southern edge of the park near Artisans’ Gate. It is a two-minute walk from Columbus Circle and the 57th Street subway stops, so you can step off the train and be on your pedicab, bike, or e-scooter within minutes.

We ask guests to arrive about 15–20 minutes before their start time so there is no rush to check in. If you are driving, the Columbus Circle garages are the closest option, and we are happy to send precise directions and a pin when you book — just ask on the contact page.