Row boats from the Boathouse at 72nd Street, four to a boat, first come and first served. Venetian gondolas when they’re running — here’s what each one costs and how to get on one.
Row boats
People per boat
Per hour
Daily in season
Row boats are first come, first served. There is no reservation system and nothing to book in advance — you walk to the dock at the Boathouse, pay, and go out on the Lake.
The catch: no reservations cuts both ways. On a warm Saturday afternoon in May the queue at the dock is long and moves at the speed of people coming back in. Two things fix it — arrive in the morning rather than the afternoon, and pick a weekday if you can, when it’s five dollars an hour cheaper as well. The last boat also leaves a full hour before dusk, which catches out anyone who turns up for a sunset row.
Everything launches from the same dock on the east side of the Lake. They’re not interchangeable — the price, the booking and who can go are different for each.
A fleet of more than a hundred boats, each seating four, taken out by the hour from the Boathouse dock. Life jackets come with every boat. Cheaper Monday to Thursday, and considerably quieter then too.
Where
Conditions
An authentic gondola with an expert gondolier doing the work — the Lake as Olmsted and Vaux designed it to be seen. Runs May to November, weather permitting, and unlike the row boats it has to be reserved.
Where
Conditions
Formerly the Loeb Boathouse, renovated in 2023 under new management. It’s where the boats launch, where you pay, and where you eat afterwards — plus the only cash machine anywhere near this part of the Lake.
Where
Conditions
Everything on the Lake, drawn to its dock. Filled for row boats, hollow for the gondola.
Three different answers depending on who you’re taking out. Pick the one that matches your day.
Choose the closest match.
Walk to the Boathouse dock at E. 72nd Street and join the queue — there is nothing to book. Four people to a boat, life jackets included, and it’s $25 an hour Monday to Thursday against $30 Friday to Sunday. Go in the morning to skip the wait. See the full park map to find the dock.
An authentic Venetian gondola with an expert gondolier, half an hour on the Lake and no rowing required. Reservations are essential, the season runs May to November, and it is currently suspended until further notice — so confirm before you plan the day around it. A waterside picnic afterwards is the natural pairing.
Children have to be at least three feet tall to board, and anyone twelve or under needs an adult with them. Below that height they will be turned away at the dock, so measure rather than guess before you cross the park. Life jackets are provided for everyone, four to a boat, and the calmest water is early in the morning.
Row boats run from early April through the autumn, weather permitting. The gondola season is May to November and is currently suspended until further notice, so confirm it’s running before you build a day around it.
The dock opens at 10am and the queue builds through the afternoon on warm weekends. Monday to Thursday is both quieter and five dollars an hour cheaper, which makes a weekday morning the best row you can have here.
Payment is by credit card or Apple Pay only. There is a cash machine at the Boathouse if you get caught out, but it charges, so it’s worth sorting before you walk over.
Boating runs to 7:00 PM or dusk, whichever comes first, and the last boat leaves the dock a full hour before dusk. If you’re after golden hour on the water, aim for late afternoon rather than sunset itself.
An hour on the Lake is an hour, and the shore around it is some of the best picnic ground in the park. A bag ready to collect before you row, or a full setup waiting for you when you come back in — it turns a boat ride into an afternoon.
What each boat costs, who can go and whether you can book it. Worth reading before you cross the park.
Card only, and no cash at the dock. Payment is by credit card or Apple Pay. There’s a cash machine at the Boathouse if you’re stuck, but it charges a fee — sort your payment before you walk over rather than at the front of the queue.
No, and you can’t. Row boats are strictly first come, first served with no reservation system at all. Turn up at the Boathouse dock and join the queue. The gondola is the opposite — that one has to be reserved.
$25 an hour Monday to Thursday and $30 an hour Friday to Sunday, per boat rather than per person. The gondola is $50 per half hour. Payment is by credit card or Apple Pay only — no cash is accepted at the dock.
Up to four people per row boat, and the price is for the boat rather than a head. Four adults sharing a weekday boat works out at just over six dollars each for the hour.
Yes, with every boat, at no extra charge. Take one whether or not you plan to wear it — the Lake is shallow but it is still open water.
Children must be at least three feet tall to go out, and anyone aged twelve or under has to be accompanied by an adult. Below that height they can’t board, so it’s worth measuring rather than guessing before you cross the park.
No. Pets aren’t permitted on the row boats or the gondola, with no exception for small dogs. Plan someone to stay ashore with them, or leave them at home.
Row boats run from early April into the autumn, weather permitting. Hours are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM or dusk, whichever is earlier, and the last boat leaves the dock an hour before dusk. The gondola season is May to November.
Gondola rides are temporarily suspended until further notice. The row boats are unaffected and running as normal. Check before you travel if the gondola is the reason you’re coming — it’s the one thing here worth a phone call first.
The Ramble, beside the Lake · free
The drives, from the 72nd cut · hourly
The drives & the Reservoir · free
Tell us the date, how many of you there are and whether it’s an occasion. We’ll tell you when to turn up at the dock and whether a picnic is worth adding.
