If you live in or around New York City, you know there’s no place like it. New York City and its surrounding areas truly have something for everyone. You can’t match the sights, the culture, and the atmosphere of America’s biggest metropolis. If you are a drone lover in this area, you might be aware that unfortunately, it’s not legal to capture many of the sights in New York City on your drone.
The New York City drone laws are quite strict, making it hard for people to know where they’re allowed to fly these fun and useful pieces of technology. That’s why we’ve made this list, to help you know the best places near New York City where you are legally allowed to fly your drone.
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Video Credit: Griffin Hammond
Some of these places will require FAA authorization through LAANC. To learn more about how to get that clearance and where you can fly, there are apps like Aloft and Airmap that help New York drone owners know where and how to fly.
Without further ado, for those wondering where to fly a drone in NYC, we’ve got some exciting and fun answers for you below.
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1. LaTourette Park Model Airfield
LaTourette Park Model Airfield is a large, open park on Staten Island. Although the park is within New York City limits, it’s a designated model aircraft flying field. This makes it a great spot to fly a drone in New York because it is one of a few large open spaces within the city where you can legally fly your drone.
For those who are flying in LaTourette Park Model Airfield, they can expect to see lots of green, with a golf course nearby, as well as hiking trails. Flying high enough will present a great view of the city skyline, and the trees surrounding the park.
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2. Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn
Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn is located near Coney Island and is one of only five parks in the entire city where flying a drone is specifically allowed. The park, originally a landfill which spans 86 acres, was created in 1934 and has several different disconnected sections of the park. In 2000, the Parks Department made it into a recreational park, and in 2002 designated it as an approved Model Aircraft Field.
The Seaview Rotary Wings Helicopter Club (SRW) has worked closely with the Parks Department to secure the space for flying, including cleaning it up and maintaining the grounds. You will need to become a member of the SRW to fly in the park but are sure to make some new friends while you are there.
Video Credit: DroneFanatic
3. Newark
Newark is New Jersey’s largest city and is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from New York City. There are a ton of great sights to capture in this city.
Flying around Newark, you can capture footage of some of the many landmarks of New Jersey’s most happening metropolis. With parks, access to Newark Bay, and exciting buildings like the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, there are tons of sights your drone can scout out in Newark.
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4. Tarrytown
Tarrytown is a village located along the Hudson River in Westchester County. It is accessible from New York City via public transportation, and there are a lot of sights for a New York drone pilot to see in this relatively small town.
There are many great aspects to Tarrytown that are best viewed through a drone’s aerial views. For one, the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson makes for a spectacular drone flyover for a New York drone videographer. As well, there’s tons of greenery in Tarrytown and a quaint small-town atmosphere that a drone can perfectly display.
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5. Marine Park, Brooklyn
Marine Park is located between Sea and Lois avenues and is Brooklyn’s largest park with 530 total acres. The park grounds are located on the southern corner of the Marine Park neighborhood in Brooklyn and are one of the few parks that expressively permits drones in their model aircraft field.
The model aircraft field is managed by the Radio Control Society of Marine Park and you can contact them for the most up to date information about the field. Marine Park is located in a Class B airspace due to its proximity to LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) so LAANC approval is required to fly at Marine Park but auto approval up to 400ft AGL is available.
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6. New Rochelle
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County that was founded in 1688. For those looking for places to fly a drone near NYC, New Rochelle is an extremely enticing option. Located right on the waterfront and with an abundance of parks nearby, New Rochelle offers a lot of natural splendor.
New Rochelle has Davenport and Hudson Park, two well-known parks that are a great spot for anyone looking to capture some great images. With two parks that offer scenic views, a picturesque waterfront, and an appealing city, New Rochelle has it all.
Video Credit: Drone Diet
7. Glen Cove
Glen Cove is a small city on the North shore of Long Island. While once an even bigger hotspot in the 20th century, Glen Cove continues to be an attractive tourist destination, and it is easily accessible from New York City. There are tons of parks and reserves near this city, and of course, some great waterfront views.
While flying a drone in New York City itself is prohibited, out in Glen Cove, you can legally capture tons of footage of one of the New York area’s hidden gems. With areas like Prybil Beach, some incredibly scenic parks, and much more, Glen Cove is a great spot for some aerial photography.
Capture the Moment
While New York City drone laws are strict, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of incredible spots to head out and capture footage for the drone photography lover. New York City and its surrounding areas are special places, and nothing can capture the heart of these places like some aerial footage can.
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Visit our website to learn more about drones, where to fly them, and what they might be able to do for your business.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
