13 Sights You'll See Along the United Airlines NYC Half Course

Are you running the United Airlines NYC Half on March 16? You’re in for a treat with a spectacular course—including the first-ever crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge in a New York Road Runners race!

The United Airlines NYC Half takes in the vibrant streets of New York City from Brooklyn to Central Park, with unique views of NYC landmarks. Check out 13 things you'll see along 13.1 miles!

View the course map on the race page. 

1. Brooklyn Museum

The United Airlines NYC Half starts on Washington Avenue. As you pass through security at the pre-start you'll see this iconic art museum, the second-largest in New York and home to over 500,000 objects. 

2. Prospect Park

Brooklyn's Prospect Park will challenge you—and 25,000 fellow runners—with a run up historic Battle Pass Hill.

3. Grand Army Plaza

The course exits Prospect Park and loops around Grand Army Plaza, featuring the 80-feet-tall Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch, completed in 1892 and honoring the Union forces in the American Civil War.

4. Barclays Center

You'll pass this 19,000-seat arena, home of the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty, as you head down Flatbush Avenue.

5. Brooklyn Bridge

New this year—and in effect for the foreseeable future—the route will cross the East River from Brooklyn into Manhattan via the bridge’s Manhattan-bound roadway.

This is an NYRR first; none of our races have ever run across the Brooklyn Bridge! With the new course, you’ll turn left off Flatbush Avenue onto Tillary Street, right onto Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, and then take the exit ramp to the right off the bridge to join the FDR Drive.

6. FDR Drive

You’ll run in the northbound lanes of this thoroughfare—closed to traffic on race morning—for about 4 miles.

7. United Nations

Standing just north of your turn onto East 42nd Street, the U.N. serves as the headquarters of the world's largest intergovernmental organization.

8. Chrysler Building

This iconic 77-story structure was the world's tallest for just under a year before the Empire State Building was completed in 1931.

9. Grand Central Terminal

Serving some 67 million visitors a year with 44 boarding platforms—plus numerous subway lines—Grand Central is one of the largest stations on the planet.

10. New York Public Library

As the main branch of the New York Public Library system, the Mid-Manhattan location houses an estimated 2.5 million books. Just behind it is Bryant Park.

11. Times Square

Turning from West 42nd Street onto Seventh Avenue, you'll experience the crossroads of the world in all its brightly lit glory. Remember to cheer on the Rising NYRR kids running alongside you in the Times Square Kids Run at the United Airlines NYC Half.

12. Carnegie Hall

You'll pass this renowned concert space on Seventh Avenue at West 57th Street as you approach Central Park.

13. Central Park

You’ll turn right onto Central Park South, then left at Grand Army Plaza into the park, where you’ll cross the 72nd Street Transverse and finish on West Drive. Congratulations—you did it!