Two things happen on the NYC waterfront this Saturday, May 23, and they line up better than any waterfront weekend so far this year: free public kayaking returns to the Hudson River, and Governors Island officially flips to its summer schedule, with later evening hours starting Memorial Day weekend. Add a stable 70s forecast across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and the harbor is the play.
Free Kayaking Returns Saturday
Two free public boathouses on the Hudson reopen for the 2026 season this weekend, both in Hudson River Park, both volunteer-run, both no-reservation, first-come first-served. You sign a waiver, you grab a life vest, you paddle inside a protected embayment, you come back after about 20 minutes so the next group can go.
Downtown Boathouse (Pier 26, Tribeca) — Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 23 through October 4. Closing time is when the last boats go out, so arrive earlier to actually paddle. Weeknight Tuesday/Thursday sessions also start June 16 and run through August 27, 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Manhattan Community Boathouse (Pier 96, Hell’s Kitchen) — Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last admission 5:30 p.m.), May 23 through October 11. Closed July 4 and 5. Monday and Tuesday evening sessions, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last admission 7:00 p.m.), run June 1 through August 25.
Both locations provide all equipment, including life vests. You must know how to swim. Children 12 and under share a double kayak with an adult; ages 13–18 can paddle solo. Plan to get wet below the waist — both boathouses have changing areas, lockers, and outdoor showers.
Governors Island Goes to Summer Hours Today
Today, May 22, is the official switch to Governors Island’s extended summer season. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Island stays open until 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday, with the South Island Park areas (the Hills, Hammock Grove, Picnic Point) open until dusk.
Trust-operated ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan and run every 30 minutes, with 15-minute peak service on weekday mornings and weekends. Seasonal Brooklyn ferries return Saturday, May 23: weekend service from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Atlantic Basin in Red Hook directly to Yankee Pier on the Island, every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday through November 1.
NYC Ferry also serves the Island via its South Brooklyn Route and the seasonal Governors Island shuttle — that is a separate operator and separate ticketing through ferry.nyc.
Heads up: the Kayak Dock at Pier 101 on Governors Island is currently out of service for repairs. If you were planning to paddle to the Island from another launch, check the Trust’s site for the reopening status before you go.
The Intrepid’s Memorial Day Weekend Pier Party
There is no Fleet Week in New York this year — the U.S. Navy moved its 2026 New York events to July 4–8 as part of the country’s 250th anniversary. But the Intrepid Museum is filling the Memorial Day weekend slot with its own four-day program at Pier 86 on the Hudson, May 22–25. Expect free Movie Night on the flight deck, Battle of the Big Bands, public pier activities, and the Museum’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony. Museum hours Saturday–Sunday and holidays are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., last entry one hour before closing.
How to Get to the Waterfront
- Pier 26 (Downtown Boathouse) — Hudson River Park at North Moore Street. 1 train to Franklin Street, then walk west to the river.
- Pier 96 (Manhattan Community Boathouse) — Hudson River Park at West 56th Street. A/C/E/B/D/1 trains to Columbus Circle, then walk west.
- Battery Maritime Building (Governors Island ferry) — 10 South Street, Lower Manhattan. 1 train to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall Street.
- Pier 86 (Intrepid Museum) — 12th Avenue and West 46th Street. A/C/E to 42nd Street, then M50 crosstown bus or 12-minute walk west.
What to Bring
- For kayaking: a change of clothes, water shoes or sandals you don’t mind getting wet, a waterproof phone pouch if you want photos, and sunscreen. Lockers are provided, but valuables are at your own risk.
- For Governors Island: a picnic blanket, water, snacks (or cash for vendors), and a layer — the Upper Bay breeze runs cool even on a 75-degree day. No outside alcohol is permitted on the Island, but on-Island vendors sell beer and wine for consumption in designated areas.
- For the Intrepid: tickets in advance if you’re planning to board the ship itself; the pier activities are free.
Water Safety Reminder
The Hudson is a tidal estuary, not a lake. Even inside the protected embayments at Pier 26 and Pier 96, currents and chop change quickly. Trust the boathouse volunteers — they decide when to close the launch for weather or wake conditions, and that decision exists to keep you safe. If you can’t swim, the free kayaking programs aren’t for you; book a guided harbor tour with one of the licensed commercial operators on Hudson River Park’s site instead.
The Weekend in One Line
Free kayaking is back on Saturday, Governors Island opens its long evenings tonight, and the Intrepid is running a pier party from now through Monday — the Hudson is doing more this weekend than any single neighborhood can match.
Sources: Downtown Boathouse 2026 schedule (downtownboathouse.org); Manhattan Community Boathouse (manhattancommunityboathouse.org); Trust for Governors Island visitor info (govisland.com); Intrepid Museum Memorial Day Weekend page (intrepidmuseum.org).
