I have been meaning to take the tram to Roosevelt Island for years, but it wasn’t until this summer that I finally made it happen. There always seems to be a long line, which usually makes me give up before I even get started. But one afternoon, when Steve and I were out for a walk, we passed the station on 59th Street and saw that there was almost no line. We decided on the spot to take a little trip to Roosevelt Island.
The ride across the East River takes just about three to four minutes. You float high above the cars on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge with an open view of both Manhattan and Roosevelt Island the entire way.
The tram, officially known as the Roosevelt Island Tramway, opened in 1976 as a temporary solution because the island wasn’t yet connected to the subway system. It became so popular that it’s now a permanent part of the city’s transit network. In 1989, the F train station on Roosevelt Island opened, so there are now two public transportation options. Even so, the tram remains the most iconic of the two.
The New York Times recently wrote about the flood of tourists taking the tram and how frustrating that can be for locals who actually rely on it for commuting. I get it. If you live on Roosevelt Island, it must be annoying to stand in line behind half a TikTok crew and a bunch of selfie-happy tourists. But on the other hand, Roosevelt Island is still one of those places that often goes unnoticed, and the tram helps make it more accessible (and more fun) to visit.
If you have some extra time in New York and the weather is nice, I can really recommend a trip on the tram (sorry Roosevel Islanders. It feels more like sightseeing than transportation, and it’s (almost) free.
On Roosevelt Island, the pace is noticeably different from Manhattan. There are quiet streets, green spaces, and beautiful views of the city from both the east and west sides of the island. You can walk all the way down to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip, a minimalist and truly stunning tribute to the former president. If you have more time, you can hop on the island’s small red bus, which loops around the island for free.
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A tram ticket costs the same as a subway ride ($2.90 as of 2025), and the tram runs between Manhattan (59th Street and 2nd Avenue) and Roosevelt Island every 7 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day.
Operating hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Friday and Saturday: 6:00 AM – 3:30 AM
Roosevelt Island Tramway, 254 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022, United States
