Outdoors · New York City
The Bronx has Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach
Pelham Bay Park covers nearly 2,800 acres — more than three times Central Park — and holds Orchard Beach, a mile-long crescent of sand on Long Island Sound that locals call the Bronx Riviera.
Published June 21, 2026 · Last verified June 21, 2026
When folks picture the Bronx, they don’t always picture salt marsh, forest trails, and a sandy beach — but it’s all here in Pelham Bay Park. At about 2,700 to 2,800 acres, it is more than three times the size of Manhattan’s Central Park. NY State’s environmental agency describes it as nearly 3,000 acres of forest, marshland, and rocky coastline.
The star is Orchard Beach, a mile-long crescent of sand curving along Long Island Sound. It opened in 1936 under parks commissioner Robert Moses, who had white sand trucked in to build it. People nicknamed it the “Riviera of New York,” and it is still the Bronx’s public beach. On a hot summer weekend it can draw huge crowds.
There’s plenty here beyond the beach: hiking and bridle trails, lookouts for egrets, hawks, and deer, and the historic Bartow-Pell Mansion nearby. That mix is the charm: one subway ride can put you near marsh birds, mansion grounds, and beach umbrellas. Beach season, hours, and parking change year to year, so check the current details on NYC Parks before you go.
Where to see it
Pelham Bay Park sits in the northeast Bronx along Long Island Sound. Take the 6 train to Pelham Bay Park station; in summer the Bx12 bus runs to Orchard Beach. By car, use the Hutchinson River Parkway or Bruckner Expressway. Check NYC Parks for current beach season dates, swimming hours, and parking fees.