New York
Manhattan’s building canyons cast the densest urban shade on Earth. Our model knows the difference between a 6-story walk-up and a 60-story tower — and which sidewalk to be on at each time of day.
Stay Cool routes around shade in New York, NY. The app picks the cooler side of every street using real building heights and live sun position — peak summer UV here is 9, average July high is 84°F, and tree canopy covers 22% of the city. Below: the most reliably-shaded walking routes we've found, plus deeper neighborhood field notes when available.
Highlights · 3
- 01Bryant Park to Washington Square
Manhattan’s most reliably shaded mid-afternoon walk. 5th Avenue does the work.
Shade82%Walk14 minBest at2 pm - 02Grand Central to Lever House
Cuts diagonally through the Midtown East canyon — building shadows do the routing for you.
Shade88%Walk7 minBest at12:30 pm - 03Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO
Mostly sunny on the bridge, full canopy under the bridge. Knows when to switch.
Shade64%Walk13 minBest at11 am
More from New York
- Neighborhood guideThe shadiest brunch walks in the West Village
- Neighborhood guideSix benches in Tudor City.
- Neighborhood guideThe park-side sidewalk.
- Neighborhood guideThe bridge’s long stripe.
- Neighborhood guideMuseum Mile, on the cool side.
- Neighborhood guideWilliamsburg, where the trees finally win.
- Neighborhood guideLIC, in the gantry shadows.
- Neighborhood guideInwood, all the way north.
- Neighborhood guideChinatown, in the awnings.
- Neighborhood guideThe East Village, around Tompkins.
- Neighborhood guideSoHo, in the cast-iron shadow.
- Neighborhood guideWall Street canyons.
- Neighborhood guideProspect Park’s canopy ring.
- Neighborhood guideGreenwich Village mews and alleys.
- Neighborhood guideAstoria, under the el.
- Neighborhood guideArthur Avenue, in the awning canopy.
- Neighborhood guidePark Slope on 7th, slowly.
- Neighborhood guideRoosevelt Island, both sides.