This realistic Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Guide helps you plan your next adventure along the river.

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is an 18.5-mi (30-km) path between Bayonne and Fort Lee, New Jersey. Visitors come to the walkway to enjoy waterfront parks and New York City skyline views.

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Sights & Places of Interest

The Hudson River shores near New York City have long been the land of piers, yards, and industrial sites. But recent residential development on both shores of the river is bringing change to its waterfront.

There is an ambitious project under way on the western river shore in New Jersey. Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy is trying to connect its nine waterfront towns with a continuous walkway.

About 80% of this walkway is ready for visitors to enjoy. There are still a few gaps in this path. The biggest of them are in Bayonne and Jersey City.

A section of the Walkway between Jersey City, Hoboken, and Weehawken attracts most visitors. Easy access to the path and great views of New York City skyline are the key reasons for its popularity.

This Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Guide follows a path from Liberty State Park to Maxwell Place Park. The stops along this path range from small parks to the global landmarks.

1. Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is a great starting point for a walk on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. There are other sections of the Walkway south of the state park. But there are not yet connected to its main part.

You would need to walk around Port Jersey along State Highway NJ-440. This is far from a pleasant experience. Until the Walkway closes this gap, you are better off starting in Liberty State Park.

There is plenty of parking in this park. You could park there for just $7 a day. This is a steal of a deal if you drive to the Walkway.

Liberty State Park is a green oasis in Jersey City. You could see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the Liberty Walk. A ferry to these islands also starts in this park if you have a reservation.

Stop by the “Empty Sky” 9/11 Memorial to honor the memory of the victims. And enjoy great views of Lower Manhattan skyline from a viewpoint.

2. Morris Canal Park

There is one major downside of Liberty State Park. The Morris Canal Basin separates it from the rest of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in the north.

A footbridge is all the way at Jersey Avenue. It means that you need to walk around the basin to get to the other side. This 1.7-mi (2.7-km) walk takes around 40 minutes and brings you inland.

There is a ferry that connects Liberty Landing Marina with Warren Street. This ferry crossing costs $2 per person. But it takes just 4 minutes and saves you from a not so scenic walk.

Still, you need to align your visit with the ferry schedule. The schedule differs by season. There is no weekend service in the winter.

There is no point in being at the stop too early. Do not count on rain or wind cover since there is no terminal to speak of.

But you have to be there a bit before the ferry parts. Otherwise, you might have to wait another hour for the next ferry if you miss it.

3. Holland Tunnel

The section of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in Jersey City is not very picturesque. World Trade Center skyline views will continue to be breathtaking. Yet, they will be quite similar to Liberty State Park.

You will pass the Colgate Clock and the Jersey City 9-11 Memorial. But there are few waterfront parks in Jersey City. You will be walking along office and apartment buildings, restaurants, and piers.

Things will change once you notice a large offshore rectangular building. It is a ventilation shaft of the Holland Tunnel. This tunnel is the main road that connects Jersey City with Lower Manhattan.

4. Water’s Soul by Jaume Plensa

Your journey on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway will become more interesting as soon as you pass the Holland Tunnel. You are certain to notice a large white head sculpture.

It is Water’s Soul sculpture by Jaume Plensa. It dates back to 2021. The sculpture became a new point of interest in Jersey City and on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

You could spend a few minutes admiring the sculpture. If you wait long enough, you could even spot planes that take off and land at nearby Newark Liberty airport.

5. Newport Sand Beach

Water’s Soul sculpture is in Newport Green Park. This park and pier were redesigned by the developers of the whole residential district close by.

The park has a small sand beach. It is hardly a good idea to swim in the Hudson River due to its pollution over a few centuries. Still, it is encouraging to see improvements to the waterfront areas.

Old wooden piles from another pier next door are a far less beautiful sight. This area will also see new development sooner or later.

6. Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway will bring you to Hoboken station next. It is a major transfer hub. You could board a regular train, a light rail train, or a ferry.

They could bring you to most parts of North Jersey, Manhattan, and beyond. As a result, Hoboken is a very busy place. You would not want to be there during the rush hour on a weekday.

But you could enjoy this area on a weekend. In fact, there is a beautiful building that is waiting to be discovered. It is the terminal building that dates back to 1907.

You should go to the waiting room of the terminal even if you do not have a train to catch. This room has been restored to its original beauty in the 1990s.

It is a spacious hall with marble floors, wooden benches, and forged light fixtures. The waiting room also makes great use of natural light.

You should come to Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal just to see its beautiful ceiling. It looks as if it came from the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee.

This waiting room could rival some of the house museums. You might even see some similarities with Grand Central Terminal in NYC and the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park.

Sadly, not all parts of the terminal building are in a good condition. You will notice peeling plaster from the ceiling in the hallways that surround the waiting room.

7. Pier A Park

When you finish admiring the beautiful terminal building, get ready to continue your journey. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway will bring you to Hoboken next.

Hoboken waterfront is a few decades ahead of Jersey City. You will still be walking along the high-rise buildings. Yet, the path goes through nice parks for most of the time.

Pier A Park is the first of them. It is a large park with a lawn. You could take another look at Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal. This time Water’s Soul sculpture will be in a distance.

8. Pier C Park

The whole path between Pier A Park and Pier C Park has tall London Plane trees. This Platanus tree alley gives shade in the summer. It also protects from the wind in the winter.

The fruit of this tree are small balls with hair on a long stem. They look a bit like chestnuts from the outside. But they are quite different from the inside.

There is more to Pier C Park than the London Plane trees. This park has a bridge and a playground. In a way, this small park is somewhat similar to a South Pond walkway in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois.

Lots of greenery brings Canada Geese to this park. You could count on seeing at least a couple of birds during your visit to Pier C Park. These geese are not afraid of people. So, you could get quite close.

9. Stevens Institute of Technology

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway has another gap at Union Dry Dock Yard. You could take a walk on Frank Sinatra Drive to Maxwell Place Park. This is the fastest way to continue your journey.

But you might want to take a small detour to Stevens Institute of Technology. This university is on a bluff some 80 ft (25 m) above the waterfront level.

Higher elevation often means better views. But it also involves climbing a few stairs to the viewpoint. In this case, it is a fair trade-off.

You will get to enjoy nice buildings and sculptures on campus as you are climbing up. Take a look at the Torch Bearers sculpture. This 16-ft (5-m) work of art is on the Library Lawn.

Turn right at the Torch Bearers sculpture. And then take a path to the right from the entrance to the University Center Complex. You will arrive at a viewpoint shortly.

You will know that you are close as soon as you see a cannon. This cannon is in a much more polished shape than the ones at Fort Nonsense and Fort Lee.

10. Castle Point Lookout

You will arrive at the Castle Point Lookout at last. This viewpoint is great to see Manhattan, Hoboken, and Jersey City. The wide Hudson River will be in the center.

You will see nearly all the sights you have already visited on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. The Holland Tunnel, Water’s Soul, Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal, Pier A and C Parks will be on full display.

You would have covered almost 4 miles (6 km) from Liberty State Park to the Castle Point Lookout. As a result, you could now see the sights beyond Lower Manhattan.

It is a good idea to admire the landmarks of Midtown Manhattan as you catch your breath after the climb. There are plenty of things to see in this neighborhood.

Little Island park is right across the Hudson River from this viewpoint. You could enjoy concrete flower beds of different heights.

The Empire State Building is a bit further away. This iconic landmark has been a key part of New York City skyline since 1931.

Newer buildings dominate the Midtown view now. You will certainly notice a tall skyscraper around 30st Street. It is 30 Hudson Yards that opened in 2019. This building is 1,296 ft (395 m) tall.

This height is enough to make it the 8th tallest building in the United States. 30 Hudson Yards is taller than the Empire State Building. But there are five taller towers in New York City alone.

Still, 30 Hudson Yards building has some unique elements. You will notice a large horizontal platform if you look closer. This is the Edge. It is the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere.

Adult admission to the viewpoint costs $36. And for another $185 per person you could climb an outdoor staircase to the top of this building.

11. Maxwell Place Park

The Castle Point Lookout is a good endpoint if you would like to finish your exploration for the day. You could walk 0.9 miles (1.5 km) to Ninth Street/Congress Street light rail station.

A train would bring you back to Liberty State Park in 20 minutes. Still, there are options if you do not like the idea of walking some 15 blocks through Hoboken.

In this case, return to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. You could continue your walk via Maxwell Place Park to the next light rail station. This park is next to Lincoln Harbor Station.

It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the viewpoint. Yet, the walk continues along the Hudson River. So, you could admire the waterfront views for a little longer.

Of course, you do not have to end your exploration there either. The Walkway continues all the way to Ross Dock Picnic Area. This is past Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge.

Continue with this Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway goes along the river shore in Hudson and Bergen Counties. The end points are Dennis P. Collins Park and Ross Dock Picnic Area.

But you do not have to start you walk at the endpoints. Instead, you could choose to explore any section of the Walkway. This is a great thing about the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

A part of the Walkway to explore depends a lot on your transport mode. It is nearly impossible to find parking at some of the sections. But a car is the easiest way to reach other parts of the Walkway.

Jersey City and Hoboken sections are best if you arrive by public transport. Both cities have train and light rail lines. You could get there from a lot of places in New Jersey and New York.

The sections in Union City and Edgewater work fine if you arrive on a ferry from New York City. You will likely depart from Midtown / W. 39th St. ferry terminal.

If you are driving to the Walkway, you should park in Liberty State Park or Fort Lee. The former charges daily parking fees of $7 per day. The latter is $1.5 or $2.5 per hour depending on the day of the week.

Out-of-state visitors should try flying into Newark Liberty (EWR) airport. It is the closest hub to the Walkway. You could reach Hoboken from there in 20 minutes by car or 60 minutes by public transport.

Other NYC area airports are further away. You would travel for at least 1.5 hours from either LaGuardia (LGA) or JFK. More connections are necessary to reach Manhattan and cross the Hudson River.

Where to Stay near Walkway

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is right next to the major cities of New Jersey and New York. You should have no issues finding a place to stay quite close to the Walkway.

Jersey City, Weehawken, Edgewater, and Fort Lee are the cities with the most nearby places to stay. You could reach the Walkway from most of the places to stay in these cities on foot.

Take a look at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jersey City – Holland Tunnel, an IHG Hotel. This hotel is a couple of blocks from Water’s Soul Sculpture.

Check out Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott Weehawken. Both of them are right on the Walkway. Yet, you might be paying a sizable premium for this location.

There are a few places to stay further north. Consider staying at Homewood Suites by Hilton Edgewater-NYC Area or Comfort Inn Edgewater on Hudson River. These places to stay are a little more affordable.

Do not overlook Hyatt Place Fort Lee/George Washington Bridge. Reaching this hotel on foot is more challenging than a few other places along the Walkway. Yet, this hotel might be worth the extra walk.

You could also look into staying in New York City. Take public transport to the Walkway in this case. It might still be easier than finding parking close by.

Check out Hotel Mulberry, The Flat NYC, and Pod Times Square. These places to stay might be small but they are a steal in Manhattan.

If you drive to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, you should stay further away from the waterfront. This way, you could save by booking a place with free parking.

Take a look at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Paramus and Hilton Garden Inn Springfield. Both hotels are a short drive from the Walkway.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is open 24 hours a day. The Walkway is free to explore. No need for a county, state, or national park pass to visit the parks along this path. Still, there are some costs.

You need to budget for parking or public transport to get to the Walkway. These fees could add up if you do not research parking beforehand. The same is true if you travel from afar in New Jersey or New York.

Use the public transport network to your advantage. Trains, trams, buses, and ferries could bring you to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. Sometimes, you need to take a non obvious option to reach it.

Takeaways: Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is a nice destination in New Jersey. This long multi-use path connects Bayonne with Fort Lee. Few people walk the whole 18.5-mi (30-km) path.

Still, you could see a lot even if you explore a section of this Walkway. Liberty State Park is a great spot to see the Statue of Liberty. The Castle Point Lookout is perfect for New York City skyline views.

Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal is a Gilded Age masterpiece. The Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, and George Washington Bridge are engineering wonders. And Water’s Soul sculpture is a work of modern art.

This Walkway is a living example of a waterfront redesign. A walkway that connects different parks is a much better use of this area than industrial docks and piers.

Take a look at this Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!