Pelham Bay Park is New York City‘s largest park, more than three times the size of Central Park, spanning 13 miles of Bronx shoreline along Long Island Sound. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Three details worth flagging: the Pelham Bay Nature Center is currently closed to the public, and only beach Sections 5 through 10 are open for swimming some days, with all other sections closed.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Park: 6am–1am, daily. Orchard Beach: Memorial Day weekend–Sunday after Labor Day |
| Ticket prices | Free; Orchard Beach parking $10–$15 in season |
| Address | Orchard Beach: 1 Orchard Beach Road, Bronx, NY 10464 |
| Nearest transport/parking | 6 train to Pelham Bay Park, then the Bx29 bus in summer |
| Typical time needed | 2–5 hours |
Pelham Bay Park opening hours
Pelham Bay Park is open daily from 6am to 1am, under the city’s general parks rule. Individual facilities keep their own hours: playgrounds are open 7am to 6pm from November through early March, and 7am to 9pm the rest of the year.
Orchard Beach operates seasonally, from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor Day. Within that season, only beach Sections 5 through 10 are currently open for swimming some days; all other sections are closed. The Pelham Bay Nature Center and the Pavilion at Orchard Beach are both currently closed to the public.
5 great New York City experiences to book
- 🕊️ Make sure you get into the 9/11 Memorial Museum by booking tickets in advance.
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- 🌳 Take a pedicab tour around Central Park – and spot the hidden secrets on the way.
- 🍜 Taste the local flavours of New York on a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour.
Pelham Bay Park ticket prices
There is no entrance fee to Pelham Bay Park. During the beach season, parking at Orchard Beach costs $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and holidays for cars and vans, and $15 for buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles; seniors aged 65 and over receive a weekday discount with valid ID at the toll booth.
Groups of 20 or fewer can use designated barbecue areas at Orchard Beach without a permit; larger groups need a Special Events Permit from Bronx Recreation.
Opening hours and facility status were checked on the official Pelham Bay Park page and last updated in July 2026.
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How to get to Pelham Bay Park
The 6 train terminates at Pelham Bay Park station, on the park’s southern edge. From there, the Bx29 bus connects to Orchard Beach in summer, and the Bx12 Select Bus Service runs along Pelham Parkway to the park’s western boundary.
By car, the park is reached via I-95, the Hutchinson River Parkway, and Pelham Bridge Road to Shore Road.
Parking at Pelham Bay Park
A large parking lot serves Orchard Beach, with seasonal fees as described above. Free parking is available near other park facilities, including the golf courses and equestrian center.
How long to spend at Pelham Bay Park
Most visitors spend two to five hours at Pelham Bay Park, given its scale, whether at Orchard Beach, on the trails, or visiting the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.
Golfers using either of the two golf courses, or riders at the Bronx Equestrian Center, should plan for a half day or more.
Accessibility at Pelham Bay Park
Orchard Beach Playground has ramps and accessible play elements, and companion seating is available at nearby Pelican Bay Playground, though its restroom isn’t wheelchair accessible.
Pelham Bay Park doesn’t publish a single comprehensive accessibility guide covering the whole property; contact the Administrator’s Office at (718) 430-1891 for specific accessibility questions ahead of a visit.
Inside Pelham Bay Park: what to see
Orchard Beach, the Bronx’s only public beach, covers 115 acres and runs 1.1 miles, with a hexagonal-block promenade and 26 courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball.
The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, an 1842 mansion with formal gardens, operates separately within the park and is open to visitors on its own schedule.
Hunter Island and Twin Islands, once genuine islands and now connected to the mainland, carry hiking trails through the park’s forested Central Woodlands.
The park is a strong spot for wildlife viewing, including nesting osprey, harbor seals visible from the shoreline in winter at low tide, red-tailed hawks, and migratory songbirds.
The land’s history spans the Siwanoy people, who used the shoreline for ceremonies and as a source of wampum-making material, through to Thomas Pell, who received the land by treaty, and the city’s 1888 purchase that created the park.
Orchard Beach itself dates to 1903, when Parks opened a supervised facility with bathhouses and picnic tables at Rodman’s Neck, named for the orchards that once grew on nearby private estates; it was later expanded and proclaimed “The Riviera of New York” when redeveloped in the 1930s.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on weekdays for cheaper beach parking and quieter trails. |
| Crowds | Summer weekends draw the largest crowds to Orchard Beach. |
| Layout | Start at Orchard Beach for the shoreline, or the Bartow-Pell Mansion for history and gardens. |
| Entry process | There’s no gate for the park; pay at the toll booth if driving to Orchard Beach in season. |
| On-site logistics | Check current swimming section status before heading to the beach, since only Sections 5 to 10 are open. |
Frequently asked questions about Pelham Bay Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Pelham Bay Park free to visit? | Yes, though Orchard Beach charges for parking during the summer season. |
| Do you need a permit for a picnic? | No, for groups of 20 or fewer at designated Orchard Beach barbecue areas. |
| Is Orchard Beach open year-round? | No, it operates from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor Day. |
| Are dogs allowed at Pelham Bay Park? | Yes, on a leash, except in playgrounds, athletic fields, and Orchard Beach. |
| Can you swim anywhere along Orchard Beach? | No, only Sections 5 through 10 are currently open for swimming. |
Things to do near Pelham Bay Park
The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, within the park itself, is a short walk from the main entrance.
City Island, a nautical-themed neighbourhood with seafood restaurants, is about 10 minutes away.
Co-op City, one of the largest residential developments in the country, is about 15 minutes away.
The Hutchinson River, running along the park’s western edge, offers further walking paths.
Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Courses, within the park, are open to the public.
What to visit tomorrow
Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, another large park with trails and the historic Van Cortlandt House, is about 30 minutes away.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, a major bird-watching site, is about 1 hour away.
Marine Park in Brooklyn, a large waterfront park with trails, is about 1 hour away.
Alley Pond Park in Queens, with woodlands and a nature centre, is about 45 minutes away.
Prospect Park in Brooklyn, an Olmsted-designed park with a lake and zoo, is about 1 hour away.
More New York City travel
Other New York City travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- New York art museum guides: The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Frick Collection.
- Guides to NYC’s wildlife attractions: Queens Zoo, New York Aquarium and Prospect Park Zoo.
- New York City’s other parks: Roberto Clemente State Park, Riverbank State Park, Fort Tryon Park.
- Upper Manhattan attractions: The General Grant National Memorial and the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.
- Bronx attraction guides: New York Botanical Gardens, Van Cortlandt House Museum.
