New York Roosevelt Island to Astoria Run and a Sportspark Drop-In Pass
Updated October 3, 2026
From the Sportspark, run up Roosevelt Island, cross the Roosevelt Island Bridge to Ravenswood, go north on Vernon Boulevard to Astoria, return along the Socrates Sculpture Park waterfront, then cool off in the pool.
Roosevelt Island is a two mile sliver of land in the East River with almost no through traffic, and its promenades make an easy start before this route hops over to Queens. A lift bridge from the middle of the island, its only road link, carries you to Ravenswood. There, Vernon Boulevard heads north along the shore toward Astoria past Socrates Sculpture Park, a former illegal dump that artists turned into an outdoor gallery. Your base is the public Sportspark near the red aerial tram, which charges a modest drop-in fee. Bring your own padlock, and ask at the window whether your bag can stay while you run before you swim. As of October 2026, Bounce shops around the city keep suitcases from $2.90 a day.
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The run: Roosevelt Island and Astoria waterfront loop
It stays nearly flat, mixes quiet island promenades with an artsy stretch of the Queens shore, and serves up the Manhattan skyline from both sides of the channel.
- Distance
- 7 km (4.3 mi)
- Start
- Roosevelt Island Sportspark
Leave the Sportspark and run north along the island's east side, facing Queens across the narrow channel, to the Roosevelt Island Bridge by the Motorgate garage. Take the bridge walkway over to Ravenswood, turn left onto Vernon Boulevard and head north past Rainey Park and Socrates Sculpture Park to the edge of Astoria. Turn around near 30th Road with a short loop on the residential blocks just inland, rejoin Vernon Boulevard at Broadway, then run through Socrates Sculpture Park and south along the waterfront esplanade to Rainey Park. Recross the bridge, cut over to the Manhattan side promenade and finish south toward the tram with the skyline and the Queensboro Bridge ahead.
Open the route mapThere's a six-lane, 25-yard indoor pool, a gym floor and changing rooms; bring your own lock and a card, since phone payments aren't accepted.
- Price
- As of October 2026, $25 adult drop-in at the front desk
- Showers
- Yes
- Hours
- Mon to Fri 7 am to 8 pm, Sat and Sun 9 am to 5 pm
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