Key Takeaway:
- Jackson Heights is a Queens neighborhood known for its food, its mix of cultures and its 1920s garden apartments.
- Flushing Meadows Corona Park, with the Queens Zoo, the Queens Museum and the New York Hall of Science, is a short trip east.
- The Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street station connects the neighborhood to the 7, E and F trains and to the free Q70 bus to LaGuardia.
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood you eat your way through. Within a few blocks you can shop for saris on 74th Street, try street food on Roosevelt Avenue and walk past garden apartments built in the early twentieth century. Here is how to plan the day.
Overview of Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights began as a planned development. The Queensboro Corporation laid it out in 1916, inspired by the garden city movement, and residents started arriving after the Flushing Line subway opened in 1917. The company coined the term "garden apartment" for its buildings, many of them set around landscaped courtyards.
Most of the surviving garden city neighborhood is part of the Jackson Heights Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. A smaller part was designated a New York City historic district in 1993. Walk 37th Avenue and 82nd Street, where national chain stores occupy Tudor-style buildings inside the historic district.
Cultural Enclaves in Jackson Heights
- 74th Street. Stores and restaurants on and near 74th Street cater to the neighborhood's large community from the Indian subcontinent, with sari and jewelry shops, Indian and Bengali music and movie stores, and many restaurants.
- Northern Boulevard. From 80th Street east to Junction Boulevard, South American shops and eateries, mostly Colombian and Peruvian, line the boulevard.
- Roosevelt Avenue. Lined with mainly Hispanic retail. From 74th to 108th Streets, food carts sell street food from all over the world.
- 37th Avenue. The main commercial street, with a wide mix of shops.
Jackson Heights also has one of the largest LGBTQ communities in New York outside Manhattan, and the Queens Pride Parade was founded here.
Helicopter airport transfers near Jackson Heights for time-sensitive plans with BLADE
Jackson Heights is close to LaGuardia Airport. The MTA's LaGuardia Link Q70 is a free bus that runs nonstop between the airport and the subway lines in Jackson Heights, so it is an easy first or last stop on a trip through LGA.
For flights out of JFK or Newark, BLADE offers seats on scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan, about 5 minutes from $195 per seat. BLADE does not fly from Jackson Heights or offer scheduled service to LaGuardia. Instead, take the 7, E or F train into Manhattan and fly from one of BLADE's lounges: BLADE Lounge West at the West 30th Street Heliport, BLADE Lounge East at the East 34th Street Heliport, or BLADE Downtown at the Wall St. Heliport.
Best time to visit Jackson Heights for food, festivals, and neighborhood walks
Go hungry and go on foot, and plan on a few hours. Come in daylight if you want to see the garden apartment courtyards and the historic district. Check local listings for the date of the Queens Pride Parade if you want to plan around it.
Top attractions and activities in Jackson Heights:
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
East of Jackson Heights, Flushing Meadows Corona Park hosted the 1939-40 and 1964-65 World's Fairs. Surviving fair structures include the Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion, the New York Hall of Science and the New York City Building, now home to the Queens Museum. Meadow Lake and its boathouse also date from the 1939 fair.
Queens Zoo
The Queens Zoo is an 11-acre zoo in nearby Flushing Meadows Corona Park, not in Jackson Heights itself. It opened in 1968. The zoo's daily schedule lists opening at 10 a.m., sea lion feedings during the day and closing at 5 p.m. Check the zoo's website before you go, since times can change.
New York Hall Of Science
The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is a science and technology museum at 47-01 111th Street, established in 1964. General hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. NYSCI recommends buying tickets in advance.
In season, the Queens Night Market runs on Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight behind NYSCI, with over 100 independent vendors selling food, art and merchandise. The 2026 season runs from April 18 to August 22 and from September 19 to October 31. Take the 7 train to 111th Street and walk south.
Queens Museum
The Queens Museum is in the New York City Building in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It is open Wednesday to Sunday and offers pay-what-you-wish admission.
How to plan a half-day or full-day itinerary in Jackson Heights
- Half day. Arrive at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street. Walk 74th Street, then Roosevelt Avenue for street food. Finish with a loop through the historic district along 37th Avenue.
- Full day. Add Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Take the 7 train east to 111th Street for NYSCI, the Queens Museum, the Unisphere and the Queens Zoo. On a Saturday in season, stay for the Queens Night Market.
Exploring Jackson Heights beyond the food crawl:
Jackson Heights Food Crawl
A food crawl works best in small bites. Start on 74th Street for South Asian food, move along Roosevelt Avenue for street food from the carts, and finish on Northern Boulevard for Colombian and Peruvian bakeries and restaurants. Restaurants change often, so check recent listings for the places you want to try.
Date Night in Jackson Heights
Pair dinner on 37th Avenue or 74th Street with an evening at the Queens Night Market in season,, or an evening walk to the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near Nyc'S Jackson Heights
What are some fun things to do near NYC's Jackson Heights?
Eat your way along 74th Street, Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard, walk the Jackson Heights Historic District, and spend time in Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the Queens Zoo, the Queens Museum and the New York Hall of Science.
Is the Queens Zoo in Jackson Heights?
No. The Queens Zoo is in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a short trip east of Jackson Heights.
Can I find any street art or architecture attractions near Jackson Heights?
The garden apartments of the Jackson Heights Historic District are the neighborhood's main architectural draw. In Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the Unisphere and the New York State Pavilion remain from the 1964-65 World's Fair.
How do I get from Jackson Heights to the airport?
For LaGuardia, the free Q70 bus runs nonstop from Jackson Heights. For JFK or Newark, BLADE offers scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat.