Looking to explore this great borough by foot or squeeze in some scenic miles? Then throw on your kicks and check out the best places to run in Brooklyn.
Welcome to another great Wild Workout Wednesday Link Up where Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama, Jen from Pretty Little Grub, Michelle at Fruition Fitness and I bring you workout ideas, motivation, inspiration and recipes to try. Join us each week by reading along, linking up and grab the button to proudly display on your blog/in your posts!
I am back in New York City this week for work and for my bridal shower! WOOT! I can’t wait to hit up some of my favorite spots and hope I can figure out a way to make it over to Brooklyn for a run. Since I’ll be reminiscing all week long, I thought I’d share a post from my NY days. ENJOY!
As a runner, you get to know your neighborhood pretty well. You know exactly how far it is to that graffiti-ed stop sign (exactly 1.23 miles, thank you very much) and the diameter of pretty much every park nearby.
Brooklyn is no different. After living here for four years and training through 3 (currently on my 4th) marathons, six half marathons and countless other races, I’ve gotten to know these streets pretty well. I know which streets have the most shade, which routes have the fewest streetlights and which areas get jammed with tourists past a certain hour.
So, for all my NYC dwellers or those of you planning on visiting in the near future (note: I have a really comfy couch if you do!), I put together a list of all my favorite places to run in Brooklyn, complete with distances and tips and tricks for best running times.
Lace up and let’s get going!
Prospect Park
This park, situated between the neighborhoods of Park Slope; Prospect Lefferts Gardens; Ditmas Park and Windsor Terrace, is a great little escape from the city streets. When you’re inside, you’re surrounded by trees and ponds and almost forget you’re in a major metropolis. Because of all the wonderful greenery, there are a lot of shaded spots, making this a great place to run on hotter days. The outer loop of the park, which is about 3.5 miles, is divided into 3 lanes: one for runners and walkers, one for bicyclists and one for cars. The car lane, however, is only open on weekdays between 7 and 9am, so it’s pretty closed off to traffic at all times. There are also water fountains stationed along the outer loop, so if you aren’t a fan of carrying a water bottle, make this park you’re go-to running local. Lastly, if you run on Sunday, you can make a mid or post-run stop at Smorgasburg, an outdoor foodie market offering food and refreshments from dozens of vendors (I’m a big fan of the Alchemy Creamy stand for vegan ice cream).
Landmarks: Be sure to make a pit stop at Grand Army Plaza, on the North Side of the park, to see The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch and the Bailey Fountain.
Best Times To Run: The park is the least crowded early in the mornings on weekdays and weekends. Run on Sunday afternoon to make a pit stop at Smorgasburg!
Times To Avoid: Avoid Grand Army Plaza on Saturdays between 8am and 4pm as a farmer’s market takes over and causes crowding.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a landmark in itself and is something every NYC runner should run at least once. The bridge itself is gorgeous, and the views of downtown NYC can’t be beat. The bridge is about a mile long, so it’s a great place to meet up for short runs or as part of a long run that will take you into Manhattan. There are pedestrian and cycling paths that run over all of the automobile traffic, so you won’t have to worry about that. However, the bridge can get VERY crowded during peak hours, so choose your running time wisely.
Landmarks: The bridge itself, views of One World Trade/downtown Manhattan, views of the Manhattan Bridge
Best Times To Run: Early morning before 8am
Times to Avoid: Weekends anytime after 9am. The crowding is for real.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
If you enjoy running by the water and want amazing views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a can’t miss running spot. There’s greenery, piers, and paths far away from traffic. It’s one of my favorite spots. If you run around the little park and around each pier, the run will be about 2 miles, but you can easily extend it by making it an out-and-back, running to and over the bridge, running up into nearby neighborhoods or running down the Brooklyn Greenway into Red Hook.
Landmarks: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Downtown Manhattan Skyline, Jane’s Carousel, The OY/YO sculpture
Best Times to Run: Basically anytime on weekdays or early morning on weekends
Times to Avoid: Nice weekend afternoons
Brooklyn Greenway into Red Hook
The Brooklyn Greenway will eventually be a 14-mile, landscaped route connecting Brooklyn’s waterfront. Right now, only sections of it are complete, one of which is a section that runs from Brooklyn Bridge Park into Red Hook. This is a great, flat path with very little exposure to traffic or streetlights. At the end, you can run out onto a pier and get great views of the Statue of Liberty. Because the Greenway isn’t quite complete, there are some rocky spots, but that also means it’s never really gets crowded.
Landmarks: The Statue of Liberty
Best Times To Run: Anytime!
Times to Avoid: None really – run your heart out!
Brooklyn Greenway in Williamsburg
This is another part of the greenway that is currently open. The Kent Avenue path (about 2.5 miles) brings you past Steiner Studios (where I guarantee some of your favorite films and TV shows were filmed), by the Brooklyn Navy yard and down by the water for great views of midtown Manhattan and the Williamsburg Bridge, which you can run under (or over if you’re so inclined). There is a lot of construction currently going on in the area, but the water views provide a nice escape. You’ll also run by some pretty cool graffiti, which makes for awesome running shots. If run on a Saturday and plan correctly, you can end your run at the Williamsburg Smorgasburg!
Landmarks: Steiner Studios, Manhattan Skyline, Williamsburg Bridge
Best Times: There is not a lot of shade along this route, so I suggest running in the early morning or evening to minimize sun and heat exposure.
Times to Avoid: The path can get crowded on weekend afternoons, especially with Smorgasburg, which opens at 11am on Saturday. It’s awesome to end your run at Smorgasburg, but otherwise, it’s best to get your run in before it opens.
Brooklyn is a big borough, so there are quite a few routes I have yet to explore. If you know of some good ones, leave your suggestions below. In the meantime, come join in on the Wild Workout Wednesday Link Up!
Let’s Chat:
Have you ever run in Brooklyn?
Do you prefer running in cities or suburbs?

Great list! I raced in Prospect Park once and it was gorgeous…I’d love to run the Brooklyn Bridge one day!
Michelle recently posted…How Pulse Points Can Help You Stay Cool While Running
Next time I am there we go for a run around Brooklyn together! 🙂
Annmarie recently posted…Supermom Strong DVRT Workout Program!
Yes!
Next time I visit, I am going to take you through Manhattan and you are going to take me through Brooklyn. Then we are going to come to Chicago and I’m going to take you to the Lakefront!
Yes! I’m in.
You make me want to come to Brooklyn! What a great place to run.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…A Runner’s Gotta Do…
Come visit!
Can you believe I’ve never run a race in NY before! I ran in central park a few years back and I got lost and found it really crowded. I need to get back up there and run with you! Thanks for the link up
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Hagerstown Sprint Triathlon- Lessons Learned
We need to change that!
Thanks fo rputting this list together! I think people automatically think of Central Park when they think of running in NYC but other boroughs, like Brooklyn, have SO much to offer when it comes to running!
Kimberly G recently posted…#MusicMonday – Will.i.am Edition
Central Park is beautiful, but Brooklyn is pretty amazing, too!
You make me want to come visit you so we can run these routes together!
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub recently posted…Why I’m Breaking up with Running
Come visit!
Great list and cool photos. One day I’ll make it to New York, seems like a great place to live except in winter 😉
Ivanna recently posted…How To Save Money On Your Fitness Expenses
I became a huge fan of the Williamsburg bridge while marathon training, never crowded (can’t say the same for the Brooklyn bridge on a Saturday) and coming from Manhattan I loved ending up on the water in Williamsburg for those long long long runs.
Kayla recently posted…Beach Day: Coney Island
I haven’t gone over that one yet. I need to and we need to meet up for a run!
Looks awesome! My only experience running in Brooklyn is when we passed through during the New York City Marathon. The energy of the crowds there was amazing!
I’ve heard Brooklyn is the best part of the marathon 🙂
So many awesome spots to run!!! When I lived in Boston, I LOVED running in the city. City over suburbs…or country…all the way!
Agreed!
You have seriously found the best places to run! It’s nice you have so many options in the city!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Bearwallow Mountain Hike in Summer
NYC does have a lot of amazing places.
I need to go running in Brooklyn! It looks so beautiful – I will definitely use this as a guide.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Make a Band with the Rock ‘N Roll Virtual Run Series
Come visit and I’ll take you on a little running tour 🙂
I obviously need to return to NYC in order to run these routes!! Such pretty scenery.
Ange // Cowgirl Runs recently posted…The Race Photo Dilemma
Yes! Come visit!
Great list! I bet you any money, that alot of those landmarks and monuments are Pokemon GO “Poke Stops”. If you ever get the chance to confirm my suspicion, let me know 😉 lol Have a great week!
AutumnPTW recently posted…Pokemon Go Workout: Level Up
haha I bet they are!
sounds like some great routes to run!
I hope you have a wonderful bridal shower! I’m really excited to run RNR Brooklyn next month, it’ll be my first time running in Brooklyn!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…August Monthly Recap and September Running Goals
Yay! Happy bridal shower!!! And seeing all this makes me want to get back down to NYC STAT!
Annmarie recently posted…5 Fun Ways to Stay Active Outdoors This Fall
Love all your running pictures. I would love to go to New York someday. Like most people, it’s on my bucket list!
Jessica recently posted…Currently… {September 2017}
Awwww this made me homesick! <3 Enjoy being in NYC!
Gabrielle @ Marathons and Macarons recently posted…A Second Attempt at Marathon Number Three
I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge once, but would love to go back and run it.
AmyC recently posted…5 Things About My Moonset Run