There’s nothing better than witnessing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on a crisp November morning. Watching giant balloons in the shapes of Snoopy, Bluey, and Grogu (Baby Yoda) float through the streets of New York City and fill the sky is an iconic vacation experience on many families’ travel bucket lists.
Assuming you don’t live in New York or nearby areas, watching the parade may require forgoing (or postponing) a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home. However, all the effort may be worth it when you see your kids giddy with excitement as their favorite cartoon characters drift by to the tunes of a costumed marching band and giant floats carrying entertainers glide through the streets.
But please note that more than 3.5 million people attend the parade in person each year. It’s important to strategize your visit so you don’t stray too far from the curb to catch a glimpse of the street.
Having attended the event ourselves, we can safely say that there are a few things to keep in mind when planning to attend the parade. Here are our top tips for watching the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2025.
Inflate the balloon the day before
If you want to see the balloons in the annual parade up close, you won’t want to miss the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation. During this event, you’ll see balloons come to life as they are filled with helium.
The inflating took place the day before the parade, starting at 1 p.m. near the American Museum of Natural History near 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side. The parade lasts until 6pm, so you have a few hours to get a sneak peek of what to expect during the parade. (Tip: This line opens at noon.)
During the afternoon, 32 balloons will transition from a flat state to a fully inflated state. There will be four new featured character balloons launching this year – Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Shrek’s Onion Wagon and Nintendo’s Mario – so keep an eye out.
Unsurprisingly, the preparation was a hit. In the evening, when the balloons are fully inflated, people line up. The earlier you arrive, the fewer crowds there will be as you walk along organized trails to see the balloons. But know that inflating a giant four-story balloon takes time. So you might want to try your luck by arriving around 3pm, when most of the balloons have started to take shape.
Please allow extra time to reach the event by public transportation; the 72nd Street subway station tends to get very crowded as the afternoon goes on. You can also hail a cab or use a ride-hailing service, though you’ll need to get off a block or two north of the closed area to avoid delays. Once in line, you will head north and can exit west along any block from West 82nd Street to West 86th Street.
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TPG Tips: The closest subway stations to the entry point are Stations B and C at 72nd Street and Central Park West. Consider taking the 1, 2 or 3 train to Broadway and 72nd Street. A few blocks to the west but easy to walk – just follow the crowds.
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Lines formed early on the parade route
One time we watched the parade, we took up positions around 55th Street and Sixth Avenue, just a few blocks before the parade turned from the Upper West Side to Macy’s. Although the parade started at 8:30am, we arrived before 7am, too late to find a spot directly on the roadside.
Still, we managed to get a seat in the second row, which was more than adequate, especially since the person in front of us was happy to let all the little kids line up in front to get a good view.
If you don’t want to rely on luck and want to snag yourself a coveted front-row seat, based on conversations with some of the parade pros around us, 6 a.m. is the magic time to get curbside seats on this part of the route.
Other parts of the route may require earlier wake-up calls, so if you have a specific spot in mind, plan accordingly. For example, we were told that prime seats at the covered bus stops started filling up around 4am
If you have deep pockets and want to avoid the outdoors, you can pay for a parade brunch and enjoy the scenery along the parade route. Be sure to book well in advance as they tend to fill up quickly. Or, of course, you can book a room with a direct view of the parade route.
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For those arriving later in the morning, you can stand in the gated alley leading to the parade. You might get 10-15 people back, but you’ll still see most of the action.
Bring something to keep you occupied – and warm
The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Central Park West at 77th Street. Because the route is 2 1/2 miles long, it can take the lead marcher nearly an hour to reach Macy’s. This means you’ll have some free time before you start watching the spectacle.
Because you may find yourself waiting several hours for the parade to show up, you’ll want to bring something to keep your kids occupied, such as snacks, breakfast, and portable games. A spare charger is also a good idea.
My family opted to have breakfast on the street and then color and watch some Netflix on their phones. We sat as much as possible before the parade arrived, which I highly recommend you do – at least with your children – to maintain the ability to stand when the balloons appear.
You can bring camping chairs, buckets, or anything else you want to sit on in the parade, although these items don’t add much to the parade itself since everyone seems to be standing. At the very least, though, you’ll probably want some hotel towels or blankets to sit on instead of on the hard, cold, gum-covered sidewalks of New York City.
Don’t forget to dress appropriately (if rain is expected, consider: jacket, hat, gloves and umbrella) as the weather can change quickly in late autumn.
live in the moment
While we all attend the parade with the TV screen version of the annual event playing in our heads, know that the in-person festivities are a little different.
Just like at home, excitement builds as the parade start time approaches, and soon after, cheers erupt as the parade comes into view. The first thing we see is the Joker rollerblading with a bundle of balloons. Soon after, NYPD motorcycles, horses, marching bands, cheerleaders, floats and, of course, giant character balloons arrived.
However, you may not realize just how interactive the experience can be when watching at home. Being so close to the front row meant Summer’s daughter had to be part of the parade. In addition to high-fiving the clown and getting confetti in her hair, she also enjoyed a face-to-face encounter with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Not everything you see on TV happens on the parade route, either. Some performances, including those by the Radio City Rockettes and various cabaret groups, only take place in front of Macy’s Herald Square (where the cameras are located). Therefore, you need to manage your expectations. Don’t worry about what you missed. Instead, focus on what’s happening in front of you: the floats, the balloons, and the festivities.
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Book a hotel near the parade route
The parade covers so much of the city that there’s no one best hotel to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While some hotels are actually located on the parade route, it’s not as simple as booking a room at one of the hotels and watching the festivities from your window.
Sure, some windows in hotels adjacent to the route offer great views, but hotels are savvy so these rooms are often sold as part of higher-priced parade packages. Therefore, you’ll pay more and typically need to meet minimum accommodation requirements to watch the parade in an actual hotel room.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money to watch all the action from your room, ask your hotel if it offers special viewing areas for guests. Typically, hotels along the parade route have spaces outside where patrons can watch the parade as it proceeds.
Some properties along the parade route include:
If you can’t find a room at a hotel on the parade route or want to save some money, consider staying a block or further away from the route.
We stayed at the St. Regis New York and the Park Hyatt New York the morning of the parade and loved both locations. Both were a short walk from the parade and we were so grateful when the parade was over. The Park Hyatt also offers families the added benefit of an indoor swim after the parade!
Pro Tips: Hotel points are a great way to stay at great hotels near the parade route and keep cash.
Some points-friendly hotels within walking distance of the parade route include:
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bottom line
When we’ve attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the past, we always leave thinking the event is amazing. The balloons were flying high, the weather was great for late November, and the people around us were great. At one point it even started snowing before Santa reached the finish line, a truly memorable moment on an already special day.
Since New York City is an incredible vacation destination, there are all kinds of other ways to celebrate the holiday after the parade kicks off the holiday season.
Be sure to see Santa in person at Santaland on the eighth floor of Macy’s on 34th Street (reservations required). Located under the Big Roof at Lincoln Center, the Big Apple Circus is definitely a place for family entertainment. Plus, when you’re not busy skating at Rockefeller Center or watching performances of Christmas classics like “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol,” you can visit some of the holiday markets throughout the city.
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