New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the city’s grand traditions. Its origins are usually traced to 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the British army marched in the colonial city, which makes it older than the United States itself. Today the parade travels up Fifth Avenue through Midtown, drawing marchers, bands and spectators from across the region.
What parade day means for Midtown
Fifth Avenue is one of Manhattan’s main north-south corridors. When it closes for the parade, traffic shifts to neighboring avenues, and many cross streets are blocked at the route. Midtown, which is congested on an ordinary day, becomes even slower. Street parking near the route is effectively unavailable, and temporary restrictions are common in surrounding blocks.
The New York City Police Department and the city announce closures for major parades. Check nyc.gov and official city channels before your trip for the route and timing.
Transit is the natural choice
Midtown is one of the most transit-rich places in the country. Several subway lines run near Fifth Avenue, and Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station are within walking distance of the route. Commuter rail riders from Long Island, New Jersey and the northern suburbs can arrive directly into Midtown without touching a car.
Some subway entrances near the route can be crowded or managed by police during the parade. Walking a few blocks to a less busy station before and after the event often saves time.
If you are driving into the city
- Consider parking outside Manhattan, near a subway or commuter rail station, and riding in.
- If you park in Manhattan, choose a garage well away from Fifth Avenue, ideally east or west of the route with easy access to a highway or bridge.
- Reserve a garage space in advance and confirm the entrance location, since some streets may be closed near your garage.
- Keep in mind that Manhattan has a congestion pricing zone in its central business district, which adds a toll for vehicles entering. Check the MTA’s official information for current details.
Plan your viewing spot and your exit
Spectators line Fifth Avenue for many blocks. Choosing a viewing area near a subway line you plan to use for the trip home makes the end of the day much simpler. Agree on a meeting point with your group, because cell service can be spotty in dense crowds.
Respect the day
Like other big St. Patrick’s celebrations, the day can be lively. Plan your ride home before you go, use transit or a taxi rather than driving after drinking, and keep an eye on the weather, which in mid-March can turn cold and windy along Fifth Avenue.
The parade is a chance to see New York at its most traditional, with pipe bands, county associations and marching units filling one of the world’s most famous avenues. Leave the car outside Midtown, and you will spend the day enjoying the music instead of watching a dashboard clock.
A Parade Day Plan That Works
For visitors coming from outside Manhattan, the best parade day usually starts with a decision about where the car will spend the day. Here is a straightforward approach.
- Check the official route and timing. Look up the start time, the stretch of Fifth Avenue the parade covers and the closures the city announces.
- Choose your viewing stretch. Pick a section of the route and identify the subway lines and stations closest to it.
- Decide where to leave the car. Options include a garage near a commuter rail station in the suburbs, a garage near a subway station in an outer borough or a reserved garage in Manhattan well away from Fifth Avenue.
- Arrive early. The best viewing spots go first, and trains are calmer before the crowds build.
- Set a meeting point. Choose a specific corner or landmark a block or two off the route, where a separated group can find each other without fighting the crowd.
- Plan the walk out. After the parade, walk east or west to a station a few avenues away, where lines are often shorter.
A Worked Example From New Jersey
Consider a family driving in from northern New Jersey. Instead of taking the car across the Hudson and into Midtown, they drive to a commuter rail station near home, park there and ride a train into Penn Station. From there, they walk east to Fifth Avenue and find a viewing spot. After the parade, they skip the crowded station closest to the route, walk a few blocks for lunch and then return to Penn Station for the ride home. The car never enters Manhattan, so the family never deals with garages, congestion tolls or closed cross streets.
A family from Long Island or the northern suburbs could follow the same pattern, arriving at Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal instead.
Common Mistakes on Parade Day
Trying to cross Fifth Avenue by car
With cross streets blocked at the route, getting from the East Side to the West Side by car can take a long time. If your destination is across the route, plan to walk.
Parking close to the route
Garages near Fifth Avenue may be hard to reach and hard to leave, and their entrances may sit on closed streets. A garage several avenues away is often the better choice.
Forgetting the weather
The tall buildings along Fifth Avenue can channel wind, and shade from the towers keeps the street cool. Dress for standing still in cold air for a while.
Expecting to reach the same subway entrance you used in the morning
Crowd control can close or limit some station entrances. Have a second station in mind for the trip home.
Questions Readers Ask
Is the parade crowded all along the route?
Crowds are generally heaviest in the busiest parts of Midtown. Sections farther along the route can offer a bit more room, though conditions vary year to year.
Do I need a car at all once I am in the city?
For most visitors, no. Subways, buses, taxis and walking cover almost everything you might want to do in Manhattan on parade day.
Can I bring young children?
Many families do. Choose a spot with room to step back, bring snacks and warm layers and make sure children know what to do if they become separated, such as finding a police officer.
What should I do if my train is packed?
Let it pass. Another train is usually not far behind, and stepping onto the next one is often easier than squeezing onto a crowded car.
