38Challenging
San Francisco
United States
Americas
San Francisco's extreme hills make it one of the toughest US cities for strollers — flat areas exist but you have to find them.
Best stroller: Rugged
United States
New York City
55/100Doable with Planning🏆 High confidence (verified)
NYC is challenging — street level is fine, but the subway will break you.
✅
Bring your stroller
This city is stroller-friendly. Compact strollers work best.
Key Factors
- •Generally manageable
- •Compact stroller recommended
Watch Out For
⚠️Most subway stations
📋 The Bottom Line
New York's sidewalks are wide and mostly flat, making street-level strolling manageable. The challenge is the subway: only about 25% of stations have elevators, and they're often broken. Plan to walk, use buses, or take cabs. Once you adapt, NYC has incredible family activities. New Yorkers are busy but will help if you clearly need it.
Quick Facts
Overall Score55/100
Best StrollerCompact
Biggest ChallengeMost subway stations
Data Quality🏆 High confidence (verified)
Gear Recommendations
- 🎒Lightweight, easy-fold stroller essential
- 🎒Must be liftable for subway stairs
- 🎒Compact fold critical for taxis and buses
- 🎒Check MTA website for elevator status before trips
Score Breakdown
Terrain20%
7/10Slopes20%
8/10Transit12%
4/10Elevators12%
4/10Facilities12%
6/10Crowding12%
3/10Friendliness12%
5/10Neighborhood Guide
🟢 Where It's Easy ✓
- •Central Park - Flat paths, playgrounds, magical
- •High Line - Elevated, smooth, unique views
- •Hudson River Greenway - Miles of flat waterfront
- •Brooklyn Bridge Park - Playgrounds, views, space
- •Roosevelt Island - Quiet, flat, tram accessible
🟡 Where You'll Struggle ⚠
- •Most subway stations - Stairs only, no elevators
- •Times Square - Sensory overload, no space
- •Midtown sidewalks - Crowded, fast-paced
- •Chinatown/Little Italy - Narrow, bustling
- •Penn Station - Confusing, crowded, hot
🎒 When to Bring the Carrier 👶
- •Subway system (unless you map elevator stations)
- •Times Square (overwhelming crowds)
- •Midtown at rush hour (sidewalk gridlock)
- •Chinatown (narrow, crowded)
Parent Wisdom
❌ What Parents Wish They'd Known
- ✕Assuming subway elevators work (check online first)
- ✕Times Square with a stroller (just don't)
- ✕Rush hour subway attempts (nightmare)
- ✕Forgetting buses exist (they're accessible!)
- ✕Not bringing an umbrella stroller for flexibility
⭐ Parent-Recommended Spots
- ★American Museum of Natural History - Stroller-friendly, mind-blowing
- ★Central Park Zoo - Compact, accessible, magical
- ★Children's Museum of Manhattan - Designed for little ones
- ★Brooklyn Children's Museum - Outstanding, fully accessible
- ★Coney Island - Boardwalk, beach, aquarium
Similar Destinations
Other cities you might want to explore
68Stroller-Friendly
Chicago
United States
Americas
Chicago is flat and great for strollers — the lakefront trail is paradise, but winters are brutal.
Best stroller: Compact
66Stroller-Friendly
Paris
France
Europe
Paris is stroller-friendly above ground — metro is the challenge, use buses instead.
Best stroller: Compact
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