New York Know
Central Park is approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers) long from north to south, extending from 59th Street to 110th Street. That is the park’s geographic span, not the distance of a particular walking or running route. Central Park is also about 0.5 mile (0.8 kilometer) wide and covers 843 acres. These dimensions are summarized in the published measurements for Central Park.
Central Park is about 2.5 miles long
Central Park runs north through Manhattan between four main boundaries:
- South: 59th Street, also called Central Park South
- North: 110th Street, also called Central Park North
- East: Fifth Avenue
- West: Central Park West
The park’s southern, northern, eastern and western limits—and its total area of 843 acres—are documented in this Central Park boundary overview.
For trip planning, the important point is that the park’s approximate 2.5-mile length is a physical dimension. It does not promise a 2.5-mile walk from one end to the other.
Your mileage will depend on the entrances you use and the places you include. A visit focused on the southern and central sections is different from a full north-to-south outing, while any detours through additional areas will add distance.
Central Park’s dimensions at a glance
The measurements below separate the park’s physical size from the distance of its full paved running loop.
| Measurement | Approximate distance or size | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| North-to-south length | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) | Geographic span from 59th Street to 110th Street |
| East-to-west width | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Geographic span from Fifth Avenue to Central Park West |
| Total area | 843 acres | Total area within the park |
| Full Park Drive loop | 6.02 miles | Mapped paved route circling the park |
The length, width and acreage are physical measurements of Central Park. The 6.02-mile figure instead refers to the full Park Drive loop shown on the Central Park Conservancy running map.
Why a walk or run may be longer than 2.5 miles
Central Park’s paths curve through the landscape, so there is no single mileage that applies to every visit. The total depends on where you enter, which paths you choose and whether you add stops or loops.
For runners and walkers using Park Drive, the complete paved circuit is approximately 6.02 miles. The same official running map identifies shorter options, including:
- Reservoir loop: 1.58 miles
- Bridle-path loop: 1.66 miles
- Several other mapped loops of varying lengths
These are defined routes rather than measurements of the park itself. The Reservoir loop circles one feature, while the full Park Drive route covers a much broader circuit. A custom sightseeing walk may overlap with either route, follow neither one or combine sections of several paths.
When planning your day, start with the entrances and areas you want to visit instead of treating the park’s geographic length as your expected mileage. Central Park spans about 2.5 miles from 59th Street to 110th Street, but an actual walk or run follows a chosen route and may cover substantially more ground. For the full Park Drive loop, plan around 6.02 miles.