Walking the famous Brooklyn Bridge should be on your to-do list whenever you visit New York City. However, knowing how long to walk Brooklyn Bridge is important. It will help prepare your mind for the adventure.
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is an activity you’ll enjoy. Firstly, you’ll get a clear view of Manhattan’s beautiful skylines. Another reason to embark on this trip is that you’ll discover Brooklyn in another way.
Here, we’ll discuss how long it will take you to cross this famous bridge and respond to other questions related to this topic. Continue reading for more information.
How Long To Walk Brooklyn Bridge
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge is just 1.3 miles long, and it’s one way. It will take you around 20 minutes to 1 hour to cross this bridge.
Your pace will determine how fast you can cross the bridge. So, assuming you were walking at a leisurely pace (not in a rush) where you can view the skylines and take photos. In this case, crossing this bridge will take at least 1 hour (60 minutes).
On the other hand, if you were walking at a brisk pace, it shouldn’t take you more than 20 – 30 minutes to walk across the bridge.
A Handy Tip: You can briskly walk 3.5 to 4 miles per hour. Nevertheless, this isn’t the kind of walking pace you would want to cross the Brooklyn Bridge with. You won’t take quality photos or enjoy the views when you cross the bridge at such a pace.
Is The Brooklyn Bridge Walkable?
Yes, the Brooklyn Bridge is walkable. It is a functioning transportation infrastructure in New York City, and has been since the 80s.
You can move across this bridge in diverse ways. You can walk, drive, or bike; the choice is yours.
A Handy Tip: You can walk the Brooklyn Bridge any time of the day. It is open 24 hours, and 7 days a week. In addition, access to the bridge is free. You don’t have to pay a penny.
What Time Is Best To Walk Brooklyn Bridge?
You can cross the bridge anytime you want. However, the best time is when fewer people are on the bridge. No one will obstruct your movement, and you can take as many photos as you want without impeding other people’s movements or views.
So, if you’re looking to walk the bridge when there are fewer people around, the best time to embark on the journey is early in the morning or at night. Start the trip before 8:00 a.m.
Walking the bridge at sunrise:
If you want to walk the bridge at sunrise, consider arriving before sunrise. In this case, you should be there early (6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.).
Watching the sunrise from the Brooklyn side and beaming its rays on Manhattan’s buildings creates an adorable scene.
A Handy Tip: Prepare for winter when crossing the bridge during winter periods. Wrap yourself up warm. Why? It can get windy and cold as you cross the bridge. So, prepare yourself.
Walking the bridge at sunset:
You can walk the bridge at sunset. Feel the sun’s heat on your skin, and take memorable photos. Sunset is a great time to walk the bridge, as the brightness will allow you to see everything clearly and pay attention to what other persons on the bridge are doing.
The bridge is going to be busier during sunset. So, prepare your mind to encounter some foot traffic. But that won’t stop you from having fun and taking great pictures.
A Handy Tip: Arrive before sunset so that you can play with the sun’s rays, take various pictures, and capture the beautiful skylines.
Don’t arrive after sunset. Why? The sun’s rays would have gone behind the building skyline by then, and plunge it into darkness.
Note that you can take more quality pictures when the sun shines on the buildings, not behind them.
So, you can walk the bridge any time you want. You can walk at sunrise or sunset. However, ensure you arrive before sunrise (if you plan to walk the bridge in the morning) to capture the gorgeous morning sun while catching a glimpse of lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
Furthermore, consider the weather before stepping out. It can get really hot in summer, and when the sun sets. Remember, there is no shade to hide under.
In the winter period, you need to prepare yourself for the cold. It can get really cold and gusty in winter, and there is no place to warm up.
Can You Walk Brooklyn Bridge At Night?
Yes, you can walk the bridge at night. However, doing it during the day is also a must. Why? The vibe and view differ in both periods.
Walking the bridge day and night is ideal to experience the varied colors and sensations of the various panoramas.
Another reason to consider doing it at night is pedestrian traffic. The traffic is usually light at night, allowing you to experience New York City for yourself.
A Handy Tip: Walking the Brooklyn Bridge at night is okay. However, ensure you don’t walk alone on the bridge at night. Avoid crossing the bridge alone once it is past 11 p.m. in the night.
Brooklyn Bridge Must-Know Fun Facts
This bridge has some impressive facts worth sharing. Check them out below.
- John Augustus Roebling designed the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
- The Brooklyn Bridge took 14 years to build – from 1869 to 1883.
- Building the bridge cost approximately $15 million, and over 600 workers were employed to construct it.
- The bridge rises 276.5 ft above NYC’s East River and measures 5,989 feet long.
- Upon its completion, the bridge was once the world’s longest steel-cable suspension bridge, an honor it held until Scotland finished their Firth of Forth cantilever bridge in 1890.
- Roebling died while surveying land he wanted to use for the bridge then his son took over. Roebling’s son, Washington, continued the project but suffered a decompression sickness that crippled him. The incident happened in 1872. His wife Emily decided to continue with the project. Emily supervised the bridge’s construction.
- Emily Warren Roebling was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge upon its completion. She supervised the construction of the bridge following her father-in-law’s death and her husband’s crippling decompression sickness.
- A total of 20 workers died during the bridge’s construction. Many more suffered decompression illnesses.
- During cold periods, the bridge’s cable contracts and could rise three inches high.
- The bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in New York City. The other bridges are the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, completed in 1903 and 1909 respectively.
- This bridge carried rail transportation and horse-drawn carriages. There were no cars. The bridge now boasts six traffic lines, with the upper span available for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- The bridge is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. In addition, it is free.
- The bridge is designated as a National Historic Landmark, a New York City Landmark, and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Conclusion
How long to walk Brooklyn Bridge? You can walk this 1.3-mile-long bridge in 1 hour at a leisurely pace. In this case, you will be strolling, taking pictures, and capturing every moment with your eyes.
You can also walk this bridge briskly within 20 to 30 minutes. However, you may not take quality pictures or capture enough photos from Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
A brisk pace should be encouraged if you only want to cross the bridge and don’t intend to view or capture the building skylines. But if you hope to view the skylines in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, we advise that you walk at a much slower pace.
You can walk the bridge at sunrise or sunset. However, whatever is the case; ensure you arrive before the lights or sets. You also need to know that you can walk the bridge at night. But ensure you’re not alone on the bridge, and don’t go there once it’s past 11 p.m.
