Scenic Drive on the Belt Parkway

The Belt is a working highway that happens to follow the entire south shore of Brooklyn and Queens — water on one side for nearly the whole ride.

New York City · Drive · about 40 min · 20 miles · Pleasantness: High

Why this route is pleasant

• Water visible for nearly the entire route
• Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge appears as you round Bay Ridge
• No trucks allowed — cars only
• Parkway-era stone overpasses and bike path alongside

What you'll see

• The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge framed against the harbor
• Coney Island parachute jump
• Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
• JFK Airport runways from above the water

Best time to go

Sunday morning before 10am — it's a different parkway without traffic.

Open this route in Pleasant Routes · More New York City routes · All cities