HomeNew YorkHollis Hills › Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

4.7 ★★★★★ 96 Google reviews · Running trail in Hollis Hills, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Vanderbilt Motor Parkway's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedShadedDog-friendlyQuiet

What runners say about Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (96 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏃 great for running 4 mentions

“This paved trail connects Alleypond Park, Cunningham Park, Kissena Corridor Park, great trail for running!”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“A tranquil and fun filled trail amongst tall shady trees perfect for cross country running.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Peaceful and relaxing, a good place to clear your mind.”

Great place to walk, run or bike with an immense amount of history as the first highway in the world.

★★★★★ — Eric , Dec 2021

This is part of the Greenway so only bikes and people walking. This section goes from alley pond park to Cunningham park without any breaks on to the street. It goes through residential neighborhoods but it's not very noticeable because of all the trees. One point even goes under the highway.

★★★★★ — Gloria , Aug 2018

It's shady, clean, lots of trees, people walking and cyclist. Its not overcrowded at all, there are people every 20-30 yards, so you feel safe. You never know that you are still in NYC. One of the most serene trails you can walk on in NYC.

★★★★★ — Benny , Oct 2017

Pretty well maintained paved path for walkers, runners, and cyclists on the historic right-of-way of the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway. Fully separated from the roads around it, so no cars or intersections to go through!

★★★★★ — Misha , Sep 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 96 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“A tranquil and fun filled trail amongst tall shady trees perfect for cross country running.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Peaceful and relaxing, a good place to clear your mind.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Pretty well maintained paved path for walkers, runners, and cyclists on the historic right-of-way of the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“You will find people leisurely walking their dogs, bicycle riding and running.”

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Plan your run at Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitenycgovparks.org
  • Phone(212) 639-9675
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–9 PM
Saturday 6 AM–9 PM
Sunday 6 AM–9 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

Long Island Motor Pkwy, Hollis Hills, NY 11364

Get directions

Running trails near Hollis Hills

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Cunningham Mountain Biking Trails

4.8 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Queens, NY

Dog-friendly

under a mile away

Cunningham Park Southeast Preserve Trail - Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Queens Village, NY

Paved

under a mile away

Vanderbilt Parkway

4.9 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Fresh Meadows, NY

1.1 miles away

Alley Pond Park Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews

Little Neck, NY

Natural surface

1.4 miles away

Udall's Cove Park Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 124 reviews

Douglaston, NY

Scenic

This tranquil, marshy nature preserve area offers many wildlife viewing opportunities.

2.5 miles away

Kissena Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 4,417 reviews

Fresh Meadows, NY

ScenicDog-friendly

Neighborhood park with trails, a lake, dozens of exotic tree species, sports facilities & fishing.

2.9 miles away

All running trails in Hollis Hills, NY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.