Pelham Bay Park: The Biggest Park in New York City

Pelham Bay Park covers more than 2,700 acres, which makes it the largest park in New York.

It sits at the northern tip of the Bronx and, although it's still inside city limits, it's practically untouched land.

What to do in Pelham Bay Park

New Yorkers come to Pelham Bay to hike, mountain bike, go horseback riding, or simply enjoy its natural variety, such a contrast to the steel and concrete of New York.

It's close to City Island, an unexpected New York neighborhood that looks like a New England fishing village. Combine both stops for a full taste of the real coastal Bronx.

Right by Orchard Beach

The park is a short walk from Orchard Beach, the only beach in the Bronx and one of the New York beaches that gets very busy in summer.

A battlefield

Pelham Bay was a battlefield during the American Revolutionary War. In several spots around the park you can still find ruins and military structures dating back to that era.

You'll also see memorials honoring the troops who fell here.

Historic mansions

The park holds a few mansions built in the Federal architectural style, the favorite at the time of the founding of the United States, when the idea was to match the young nation's buildings to the solidity of Greek democracy.

Hunter Mansion, built in 1804 on Hunter Island, and the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum are two perfect examples of that Federal style.

Having a car is ideal if you want to cover the park end to end, and it's worth it if you're staying in the city for a while and nature is your thing. But you can also get here by subway and then a bus (from Times Square the trip takes about an hour and 15 minutes).

How to get to Pelham Bay Park

Like everything in New York, you can get here by subway, at least to visit the southern section of the park, since going deeper into it takes more planning.

So grab your MetroCard, your camera and a good basket of sandwiches for a picnic. This is the classic park you visit on a day out from an English-language summer camp.

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Address

Pelham Bay Park, Bronx

Transportation

Line 6. Pelham Bay Park station