Roosevelt Island Tramway

The basics

The tramway is part of New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, making the cost of a ride a single swipe of a MetroCard. Some tours of Roosevelt Island visit the tramway station on their way to local highlights such as the Smallpox Memorial Hospital and Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park.

You can hop on for a ride at either end of the line—Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island and 59th Street or Second Avenue in Manhattan. Two gondolas make the 4-minute ride more than 100 times daily

Things to know before you go

• The tram generally runs until 3:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Students with tram permits ride for free.
• Children 44 inches tall and under ride for free when accompanied by an adult.
• Seniors and people living with disabilities receive fare discounts.
• Unless service animals, dogs must board in an enclosed container.
• Each gondola cabin has room for 125 passengers.

How to get there

To reach the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tramway in Manhattan, take the subway to the 59th Street–Columbus Circle station or the 59th Street–Lexington Avenue station. From there, walk to the tram station at 59th Street and Second Avenue. On Roosevelt Island, the tram station is off East Main Street near the ferry terminal.

When to get there

Officially a commuter line, the tramway runs dozens of trips daily, with more trips (about every 10 minutes instead of every 20) for morning, evening, and weekend rush hours. Ride the tram in the mornings or evenings for the most romantic views of Manhattan over the East River—you can also ride well into the night, as the tram operates until 2am on most days and until 3:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Getting tickets for the Roosevelt Island Tramway

You can purchase tickets (MTA MetroCards and OMNY are accepted) for the Roosevelt Island Tramway at the machines at the tram station in Manhattan or on Roosevelt Island. Machines accept credit cards and cash. A 1-way ticket costs the same as a subway fare. You can use a MetroCard for payment or tap a phone or watch connected to a digital wallet.