Ferries, trams, subways and trains with kids in New York
New York is a train fan's paradise, and the best rides are nearly free: the ferry past the Statue of Liberty costs nothing, the tram costs a subway fare, and kids ride free. For a 2-year-old, how you get there matters far more than where.
Three must-rides: the Staten Island Ferry (free, 25 minutes past the Statue of Liberty), the Roosevelt Island tram ($2.90 floating over the East River), and the NYC Ferry East River route ($4.50 under three bridges). The subway itself is a sight: ride the front car of the 7 as it climbs out of Manhattan onto the rooftops of Queens, and in Brooklyn the Transit Museum has twenty real subway cars in an old underground station to climb through. The advanced version is Metro-North from Grand Central along the Hudson to Cold Spring, $1 per kid on weekends.
- 7 places
- 1 free
- 6 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
7 places
Travel times from Midtown, by subway or car
Ride the elevated 7 train to Flushing
5.0Queens · 5 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Board the 7 at Grand Central or Times Sq and ride to the last stop, Flushing–Main St, about 35 minutes
Roosevelt Island Tramway
5.0Manhattan · 10 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Subway 4/5/6/N/R/W to 59 St–Lexington Av, then a 3-minute walk to the tram station
Staten Island Ferry (free Statue of Liberty views)
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St; the terminal is right outside
Ride the NYC Ferry East River route
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Board at Wall St/Pier 11 or E 34th St; buy a $4.50 ticket in the app, strollers roll straight on
New York Transit Museum
5.0Brooklyn · 25 min away
2 h · carrier recommended
$$ · Getting there: Subway 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall or A/C/F/R to Jay St, then a 5-minute walk
Jane's Carousel glass pavilion
5.0Brooklyn · 25 min away
1 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Subway F to York St or A/C to High St, then an 8-minute walk; NYC Ferry to DUMBO
Ride Metro-North up the Hudson to Cold Spring
4.0Cold Spring · 85 min away
5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Getting there: Hudson Line from Grand Central, about 75 minutes direct; weekend family fare (adult ticket plus $1 per child)
💡 Good to know
- One adult paying with OMNY can bring up to 3 kids under 44 inches free on subways and buses, and the tram too.
- Ferry decks are windy in any season, so bring a jacket for the kids; on the Staten Island Ferry you must get off and queue again to come back.