If you live in the five boroughs and you want a Sunday that crosses three of them without ever feeling rushed, the F train and the Roosevelt Island Tram give you a quiet, cheap loop: Long Island City to Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side. The whole route is one OMNY tap, every anchor is free, and every stop has a real bathroom. Here is how a resident actually does it.
Stop 1: Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City
Address: 4-09 47th Road, Long Island City, NY 11101 (at the East River, between 48th Avenue and 49th Avenue).
Best transit + walking time: Take the 7 to Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av. From the station it is about a 7-minute walk west toward the river down 49th Avenue. On Sundays the F also serves 21 St–Queensbridge, about 15 minutes north on foot. The G to 21 St runs all weekend and lands you 10 minutes from the south end of the park.
Parking guidance: Sunday metered parking is suspended on 47th Road, 48th Avenue, and Center Boulevard, but spaces fill by 9:30 a.m. when the weather is warm. The Modern Spaces garage at 4720 Center Boulevard and the LIC One garage at 4615 Center Boulevard both publish day rates online and typically run cheaper than Manhattan equivalents. If you can wait until after 2 p.m., curb spots open up as the early picnic crowd leaves.
Restrooms: Public restrooms are inside the park near the playground at the 48th Avenue entrance. They open with the park and close at dusk. Backup option: the Starbucks at 4720 Center Boulevard, one block in.
Accessibility: The esplanade is flat, paved, and step-free from end to end. Curb cuts at every pier entrance. The 47th Road entrance has the most level approach from the street.
Hours residents wish they knew: The park is open dawn to dusk year-round. The two best windows are 7–9 a.m. (sunrise light hitting the Pepsi-Cola sign, almost empty) and 4–6 p.m. on a weekday (the after-work crowd has not arrived yet and the piers are open).
When to avoid: Summer Saturday afternoons after 1 p.m. (picnic crush), and any weekend the Long Island City waterfront has a fireworks viewing — the entire esplanade fills two hours before showtime.
Three nearby places residents go after:
- Hunter’s Point South Park, the longer waterfront strip directly south of Gantry, for a quieter walk away from the piers.
- LIC Landing on Center Boulevard for coffee with the same skyline view.
- Court Square, a 15-minute walk inland, for a connection to the E, M, G, and 7 if you want to skip the F back.
Stop 2: Roosevelt Island and the FDR Four Freedoms State Park
How to cross from LIC: Walk or take the Q103 bus to the Queensboro Bridge area, or take the F at 21 St–Queensbridge one stop to Roosevelt Island. On weekends, F trains stop at Roosevelt Island as part of the 63 St routing. If you prefer the view, walk to East 60th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and take the Tram across; the Tram accepts OMNY and MetroCard at the standard subway fare.
Address of the anchor: FDR Four Freedoms State Park sits at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. From the Tramway Plaza or the F subway station, follow the Red Bus south or walk about 20 minutes along the West Promenade.
Parking guidance: Do not drive. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation states plainly that there is no parking at Four Freedoms and very limited parking on the island. The Motorgate Garage at the north end is the only public option, and it is a long walk from the park.
Restrooms: Restrooms are inside the park’s visitor pavilion at the entrance to the memorial, available during park hours. Backup option: Riverwalk Commons near the Tram, which has public restrooms in the community area.
Accessibility: The park is fully ADA accessible. There is a step-free path from the entrance to the memorial room. Benches are placed along the granite allée. The Tram cabin itself is step-free with priority seating.
Hours residents wish they knew: Four Freedoms is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week, and it is free. Most residents do not realize the park closes at 5 sharp — show up by 3:30 to actually sit at the southern tip without being asked to leave. The light at 4 p.m. on a clear afternoon, with the U.N. and Midtown lined up to the west, is the reason to come.
When to avoid: The week of the U.N. General Assembly in September, when security cordons reach the island. Also any day the Tram is single-cabin (RIOC posts updates on its Tram Operations page); use the F instead.
Three nearby places residents go after:
- The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse at the north tip, a 25-minute walk along the East Promenade with constant skyline views.
- The Cornell Tech campus, where the central lawn is open to the public.
- The Octagon and its surrounding waterfront path, a quieter loop most tourists skip.
Stop 3: Carl Schurz Park and Gracie Mansion, Upper East Side
How to cross from Roosevelt Island: Take the F train one stop west to Lexington Av/63 St, transfer to the uptown Q, and exit at 86 St. The whole transfer is about 20 minutes. From 86 St, walk east on 86th Street toward the river — Carl Schurz Park starts at East End Avenue.
Address: Carl Schurz Park runs from East 84th Street to East 90th Street, between East End Avenue and the East River. Entrances at East 84th, 86th, 87th, and 89th Streets.
Parking guidance: Sunday alternate-side rules are suspended citywide, which makes East End Avenue and York Avenue legal for the day. The closest public garage is on East 86th Street between First and York; rates are typical Upper East Side pricing. If you came by subway, do not bother driving back — the Q is faster than crosstown traffic.
Restrooms: Public restrooms are inside the park near the John Finley Walk on the river side, just north of the 86th Street entrance. Backup option: any of the cafés along York Avenue between 84th and 86th.
Accessibility: The 84th Street and 86th Street entrances are step-free. The John Finley Walk along the river is paved and flat. The promenade above the FDR has ramps at the south and north ends, so wheelchair users can do the full waterfront loop without using stairs.
Hours residents wish they knew: The park itself is open to the public year-round. Playground hours, posted by NYC Parks, are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. between November 1 and March 1, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. between March 2 and October 31. Gracie Mansion offers free guided public tours on select Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., booked in advance through the Gracie Mansion Conservancy — so a Sunday visit is for the grounds and the view, not the house interior.
When to avoid: Marathon Sunday in early November, when the FDR closes and crowds spill into the park. Also the first warm Saturday in spring, when the dog runs and playgrounds peak.
Three nearby places residents go after:
- The Stanley M. Isaacs Playground and basketball courts at 96th Street and FDR, a quieter waterfront stretch ten blocks north.
- The Asphalt Green campus on York Avenue between 90th and 91st, where the public outdoor field is open most evenings.
- The 96 St Q station for a fast ride down Second Avenue back to Midtown without re-fighting the 86 St crowd.
One OMNY tap, three boroughs, four free anchors
The whole loop — Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av, F to Roosevelt Island, F to Lex/63, Q to 86 St, Q back downtown — runs on a single subway-fare day. Every anchor is free to enter. Every anchor has a real public restroom. The only thing you have to plan ahead is the Tram if you want to ride it; otherwise the F covers all three stops.
FAQ
Does the Roosevelt Island Tram accept OMNY?
Yes. RIOC confirms the Tram accepts standard MTA fares including OMNY tap-to-pay, MetroCard, and unlimited passes. The fare is the same as a subway ride.
How much does FDR Four Freedoms State Park cost?
The park is free to the public. It is open six days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Can you tour Gracie Mansion on a Sunday?
No. Free guided public tours run on select Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. by reservation through the Gracie Mansion Conservancy. On a Sunday, you can visit Carl Schurz Park and view the mansion grounds from the public path.
Is Gantry Plaza State Park accessible from the F train on weekends?
Yes. F trains serve 21 St–Queensbridge on weekends as part of the 63 St routing. From the station it is about a 15-minute walk south to the park; the 7 from Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av is a shorter walk.
Where is the closest parking to Carl Schurz Park?
The closest public garage is on East 86th Street between First and York Avenues. On Sundays, alternate-side parking is suspended, so curb spots along East End Avenue and York Avenue are also legal.
