Best 10 Picnic Spots in New York [2024 Updated]

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Best 10 Picnic Spots in New York [2024 Updated]
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People in New York love picnicking when the weather gets warm. People usually find one of the best picnic spots in New York to visit with their loved ones. While picnicking, most New Yorkers or visitors lay out a blanket, snack on cheese and crackers, and bring some electronics, like a laptop, portable cooler, Bluetooth speaker, etc., to enjoy the picnic outdoors.

However, one might need a Jackery Portable Power Station to keep the picnic-related electronics running. This portable power station has a high battery capacity that helps picnickers charge most of their appliances. Since they have an ergonomic design, one can easily carry them during their outdoor adventures without worrying about the space or weight of it.

Why Do People Love Picnic in New York?

Demanding jobs and taking care of the family causes a lot of stress that can affect mental health. Picnic in New York allows one to relax from the stressful daily routine. While spending time outdoors, one gets access to fresh air that helps improve the overall being.

People in New York love picnics for several reasons:

More Exposure to Nature

Nature inspires people in different ways. Some tend to simply play with their children or read a book. Others might just want to sit together with their families to have a wonderful dining experience.

Incredible Art

Parks in New York have various sculptures, fountains, and curated landscapes. These parks in New York provide ample options to those who are interested in street photography or simply wish to click pictures to create a lasting memory.

Delicious Food

New York streets are famous for food trucks and local delights. When people visit these parks, they prefer getting something from the local deli or trying some local cuisine.

Amazing Amenities

New York Parks also provide various exercises galore like biking, running, sports courts, skating rinks, etc. It helps them to stay active and energized while enjoying a relaxing picnic.

Stunning Views

Parks in New York offer stunning views, thereby enhancing the picnic experience. The iconic city skylines, tranquil waters, and green landscapes serve as add-ons to the outdoor meal of picnickers.

Customer Reviews:

"Such a beautiful city park. It almost feels like you're on a rich person's lawn or something. They have a restaurant, plenty of seating, live music sometimes, and more. It's a place where people celebrate, date, relax, everything. And the area is super nice and safe. Highly recommend a visit!" - Leonard.

"Beautiful public park spread out with plenty of room for children and pets - restrooms available and ample parking. Be sure to do the boardwalk walk and enjoy the downtown Manhattan skyline." - Nick Win Law.

Best 10 Picnic Spots in New York

Governors Island

Location: 10 South Street, Slip 7, New York, NY, 10004

Contact Number: Not available

Website: Governors Island

Facilities: Public restroom, picnic tables, amphitheaters, ferries, rental wheelchairs, and more.

Governors Island is an island getaway just a ferry ride from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. As one of the best picnic spots in New York, Governors Island provides an incredible view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It is ideal for playing mini golf, relaxing in a hammock, or visiting Fort Jay. The island also hosts various events, like Jazz Age Lawn Party, GrowNYC's urban farm, and more.

Liberty State Park

Location: 1 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07305

Contact Number: 201-915-3403

Website: New Jersey State Park Service

Facilities: Ferry services, boating, picnic areas, trails, science center, playground, public restrooms, rental wheelchair, and more.

Liberty State Park is one of New York's most dramatic waterfront parks. It features the highly famous Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. This picnic spot is perfect for picnics, casual walks, and family fun at Liberty Science Center.

Bryant Park

Location: New York, NY 10018

Contact Number: 212-768-4242

Website: Bryant Park

Facilities: Rides, art carts, playing area, picnic areas, playground, public restrooms, rental wheelchair, and more.

Bryant Park is a well-maintained picnic gateway behind the New York Public Library. This versatile park is ideal for outdoor activities throughout the year. For instance, one can enjoy the Monday night outdoor movies or can have a fun time doing ice skating during the winter season.

Riverside Park

Location: R25M+R3, New York, NY 10025

Contact Number: 212-870-3070

Website: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Facilities: BBQ area, dog-friendly area, marinas, roller hockey, spray showers, hiking trails, playground, running tracks, sports courts, fitness equipment, public restrooms, skate parks, and more.

Riverside Park is one of the eight officially designated scenic landmarks in New York City. This waterfront park is famous for offering space for sports courts, a skating park, and a public marina. The park also features various monuments, like the American Memorial and Six Million Jews of Europe. When visiting the park in the summer season, one can also enjoy the famous Riverside Shakespeare Festival.

Central Park

Location: New York, NY

Contact Number: 212-310-6600

Website: Central Park Conservancy

Facilities: Zoos and aquariums, ice skating rinks, sports courts, rental paddle boats, recreation centers, spray showers, horseback riding trails, public restrooms, and more.

Central Park is one of the most famous and best picnic spots in New York. Spread across 843 acres in the center of Manhattan, this park includes sprawling lawns, brooks, rural woodlands, and lakes. Central Park offers something for everyone -- it has a zoo for children and walking trails for someone who wishes to spend some leisurely time here. The park also comes along with running paths for joggers, theaters, concert venues, etc.

central park in new york city

Bear Mountain State Park

Location: 3006 Seven Lakes Drive, Tomkins Cove, NY 10986

Contact Number: 845-786-2701

Website: New York State

Facilities: Biking, boat rentals, campsites, lodging, fishing, hiking trails, ice skating rinks, playgrounds, swimming pools, public restrooms, and more.

Bear Mountain State Park, situated in rugged mountains on the west of the Hudson River, is yet another iconic picnic spot in New York City. This park has a large play field, shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, and a swimming pool, which is ideal for those who are looking for water-related picnic activities. The park also comes with an outdoor skating rink, which is operational from late October to mid-March.

Fort Tryon Park

Location: Riverside, Dr To Broadway, New York, NY 10040

Contact Number: 212-795-1388

Website: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Facilities: Gardens, playground, outdoor fitness, public restrooms, rental scooters, and more.

Fort Tryon Park is an Inwood public park that provides an incredible view of the Hudson River and Cloisters. It possesses Manhattan's largest dog run, a gazebo, two playgrounds, sports courts, and built-in picnic tables, which allow you to enjoy and socialize on a picnic. Fort Tryon Park offers serenity to those who prefer exploring and meandering strolls.

Madison Square Park

Location: 11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010

Contact Number: 212-520-7600

Website: Madison Square Park Conservancy

Facilities: Spray showers, dog-friendly area, wi-fi access, playgrounds, eateries, rental wheelchairs, and more.

When it comes to discussing the best picnic spots in New York, Madison Square Park is one such place that most New Yorkers or visitors know about! The famous park has been featured in multiple movies and shows for its iconic Madison Square Garden sports arena. Additionally, the park offers other amenities, like a spacious dog run, playground, and grassy areas for people to enjoy.

Clove Lakes Park

Location: 1150 Clove Rd, Staten Island, NY 10301

Contact Number: 718-390-8000

Website: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Facilities: BBQ area, hiking trails, fitness equipment, playground, sports courts, fishing, paddleboat rentals, public restrooms, ice skating rinks, and more.

Clove Lakes Park is a wonderful option if you are looking for a secluded waterfront spot. This park is located on Staten Island and has a beautiful lake where one can enjoy fishing. It also has a shoreline BBQ area, which makes it one of the best picnic spots in New York with a BBQ. Additionally, the park has a mesmerizing daffodil-surrounded middle lawn to explore and a cherry tree to relax after a long leisure walk.

Astoria Park

Location: 19 19th St, Astoria, NY 11105

Contact Number: 212-639-9675

Website: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Facilities: Outdoor pools, bocce courts, running tracks, public restrooms, skate parks, wi-fi access, playgrounds, and more.

Astoria Park is a 60-acre-long park in Queens that provides a panoramic view of New York City. The central Great Lawn and the bench between the Robert F. Kennedy and Hell Gate Bridges provide an astonishing sight to all those who like to enjoy the panoramic views of the city. The place has a famous spot called Agnanti, where one can have an open-air dining experience.

Picnic in New York Tips

Whether you are dining in the open air or having a laid-back lunch with your family or friends or with yourself, having a picnic requires planning and thorough brainstorming.

Here are some of the tips you can use while picnicking in New York:

Select the Location: Selecting the location for a picnic beforehand spares you the time to decide on the materials and resources you may require on that day. When planning a picnic day, make sure that you choose a spot that has proximity to parking, public restroom, and food trucks.

Date and Time: It is essential to select a date or time that everyone agrees on. This way, you can invite more people and make the picnic a perfect gathering.

Plan Your Picnic Food: Sandwiches are the ideal food people take on a picnic. However, you can make your picnic food list while planning the little gateway. Some of the most prominent foods that you can include are chips, lemonade, boiled eggs, creamy cheese, etc.

Pack the Essentials: Do not forget to pack the essential items, like disposable utensils, insect repellent, fresh water bottles, camp soap, etc. In order to charge your electrics quickly and without disturbing the serenity of the picnic spot, you can also carry a Jackery Portable Power Station.

Be Practical: It is important to consider some practical items for a stress-free picnic. For instance, you can check the weather conditions or weekend traffic. Also, you should be prepared for any surprises that you might encounter while spending quality time.

picnic packing list

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Picnic in New York

Jackery is a global manufacturer of power supply solutions, like solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations. The high-capacity batteries and compact designs of Jackery Portable Power Stations make these inverter-generators ideal for camping, picnic, or other outdoor adventures.

When planning an outdoor adventure, one always prefers something that is lightweight and compact. The Jackery Portable Power Station is one such portable power station that not only weighs less than 11 lbs, but the folded handle design helps the picnickers to carry it around easily. With a Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panel, you can quickly and efficiently charge your portable power unit and later use it to charge picnic-related appliances, like portable coolers, portable speakers, smartphones, etc.

Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station

The Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station is a lightweight power solution that can charge low to high-power appliances simultaneously, which makes it a reliable battery backup source for camping, picnics, and even mind-size apartments. This portable power station does not emit fumes or use fuels, which makes it eco-friendly and ideal for those who prefer environmentally friendly power sources.

For instance, if you want to charge your picnic appliances, like portable coolers (100 W), portable speakers (20 W), and cameras (15 W), the working hours that you can get from a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station can be calculated with the following method:

Working Hours = Battery Wattage in Wh * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of Appliances = 518 Wh *0.85/ 135 W = 3 H

Note: Here, we multiply the battery capacity of the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Station to 0.85 because of the power loss occurring while charging the appliances.

jackery explorer 500 portable power station for best picnic spot in new york

Customer Review:

"I love the Jackery Explorer 500. Just the right amount of power to run my camping lights and other powered camping items up to 500 watts." - Larry.

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station is a lightweight, portable power station that's so compact that one can easily carry it to different picnic spots in New York. The portable power station comes with a sturdy handle, dual PD 100 W ports, and various charging options -- making it convenient for outdoor adventures.

The working hours that you will get with a Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station can be calculated by considering the different appliances that you will charge simultaneously. For instance, if you want to charge portable coolers (100 W) and portable speakers (20 W) with a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station, then the total working hours you will get are:

Working hours = Battery Capacity in Wh * 0.85/ Wattage Consumption of Appliances = 288 Wh * 0.85/ 135 W = 2 H

jackery explorer 300 plus portable power station for best picnic spot in new york

Customer Review:

"The unit's well built, lightweight, and very reliable." - Stanley Daniel.

Picnic in New York FAQs

What size of power station do I need for a picnic in New York?

The size of the power station you will need for a picnic in New York depends on the number of appliances and their respective wattage, which can be learned from the user manuals. If you are charging a portable cooler (100 W), camera (15 W), and portable speaker (20 W), the working hours of the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station will be 2 H.

Working Hour = Battery Capacity in Wh * 0.85/ Wattage Consumption of Appliances = 518 Wh * 0.85/ 135 W = 3.2 H

Where can I have a picnic in New York?

You can enjoy picnics in various picnic spots in New York. However, Central Park and Madison Square Garden are considered one of the best spots to have a picnic with your family.

Which part of Central Park is best for a picnic?

The best park to picnic in Central Park is Sheep Meadow. This lawn is a favorite spot for picnickers as it offers a stunning view of Midtown's skyscrapers. The spot is also within walking distance of Columbus Circle and is easily accessible to several subway lines.

How to do a posh picnic?

A posh picnic comprises spending quality time with the best of the capabilities. Make sure that when you plan a posh or luxurious picnic, you choose the right basket, glasses, plates, and cutlery. Additionally, pack various delicious sandwiches, fresh salads, and canapes. If the moment allows, you can also add a bottle of your favorite wine or champagne.

Final Thoughts

Picnic in New York is a great way to escape from the busy life for once and relax in the lush greenery. Picnic and similar outdoor adventures also help you create a strong bond with your loved ones and improve your social connection. There are various best picnic spots in New York that you can choose according to their locations and the amenities they provide.

The next time you are planning to visit some of the best picnic spots in New York and make your picnic essentials bag, add a Jackery Portable Power Station to it. These portable power stations are designed keeping outdoor activities in mind and can help you quickly charge your appliances.

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