Biking in New Haven: The Ultimate Guide (Best Routes + Tips!)

Biking Through New Haven

If you’re biking through the city to get to school, work, or appointments, you may not always want to be following paths that are near traffic. It makes some people uncomfortable which is why they opt for routes that stand alone or are separated from traffic. Another thing to consider is that some routes have no dedicated bike space, so you may want to recalculate your route to find a more bike-friendly trail . Over the past few years, the city of New Haven has constructed miles of bike lanes and cycle tracks with more on the horizon. 

Some stand-alone paths or ones that are separated from traffic include:

• Long Wharf Drive
• Hobart St. (Near Edgewood Park)

Many streets around the Elm City have bike lanes that create enough comfort for people to bike in New Haven. These include:

• Elm St.
• Webster St.
• Howard Ave.
• Church St. 
• South Orange St.
• Cedar St.
• South Frontage Rd.
• College St.

While New Haven has plenty of bike-friendly routes, some areas have no dedicated bike space. This is not to say that you can’t bike there, but it may be a little tricky with traffic, so you should take extra caution.

Areas with no dedicated bike space in New Haven include:

• Sherman Ave.
• Olive St.
• Marginal Dr.
• Orange Ave.
• Davenport Ave.

You can always check out the New Haven Bike Routes Map to see what areas may have been updated and may include more bike-friendly paths in the future.

Bikes Trails in and Around New Haven

While there are plenty of bike-friendly routes to get you from point-A to point B in New Haven, there are also a couple of bike trails where you can go for fun and more exercise. 

East Rock Park

Known for its beautiful views of New Haven, take a challenging bike ride to the top of East Rock. Once you get to the top, you’ll be able to see the entire Elm City! East Rock Park is closed from sunset to sunrise, so keep that in mind as you plan your visit.

Farmington Canal Trail

The Farmington Canal Trail runs from Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven to Southwick, MA. Talk about a long bike ride! The trail is part of the larger East Coast Greenway Initiative. Since the path is so long, you can decide what part of the route you want to include in your trip.