Pay for the Day: Best Private New York City Swimming Pools

There are plenty of free swimming pools in NYC, but if the idea of putting your kids in a public pool makes your skin crawl, then you need another option. Ideally, you have wisely cultivated a friend with access to a free pool in their building, but for those of us who are mooch-challenged, don't worry. It's not commonly known, but there are plenty of private pools in New York that you can pay to swim in just for one day, or even have a moderate membership fee.

You can check the websites of each swimming pool for their varying hours, which change by season, but I strongly recommend that you call before you go because many of them close randomly for events or may have changed their policy.
 

Stuyvesant High School Community Center
345 Chambers St. 
212-312-4800

The Stuyvesant Community Center pool is a nice indoor pool with a great view and family swim times which are usually not crowded during the week. A six-month membership is only $200 for adults plus $70 for each kid, but you can also pay just $12 for the day ($10 for kids). Either way you get access to all the facilities including a gym, basketball, handball and volleyball courts.

Pros: Cheap and no crowded

Cons: Erratic hours and seem to close at whim (make sure to call ahead).

Asphalt Green
555 E. 90th St. 
212-369-8890

Asphalt Green is a beautiful indoor Olympic-sized pool with excellent kid programs. Membership is $1000/year, but drop-in rates are $25 $35 day for adults and $8 $10 for kids. Drop-ins are not allowed weekdays between 3pm and 8pm.

Pros: Nice, big pool

Cons: Closed in the afternoons.

Manhattan Plaza Health Club
482 West 43rd St.
212-563-7001

If you are in the mood for a little luxury, try this hotel rooftop pool with a retractable glass roof. The lap pool has a separate area for kids. Day passes are $25 and include the use of the gym, saunas and whirlpool.

Pros: Fancy schmancy

Cons: you're paying for it.

New York Marriott Hotel at the World Financial Center
85 West St.
212-385-4900

This Financial Center hotel has both an indoor pool and children's pool. The pool is complimentary for hotel guests and $20 for non-guests.

Pros: Separate kids pool

Cons: Dunno

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams Street
(718) 246-7000

$25 gets you in to the large llap pool at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. For $7, kids can swim during family swim times.

Pros: Cheap for kids during family swim  times

Cons: It's in Brooklyn (just kidding, that's a pro too)

Millennium UN Plaza Hotel
One United Nations Plaza (44th St between 1st and 2nd aves)
(212) 758-1234

Forty bucks is all you need to enjoy a day pass to the pool and other lovely amenities of this fancy hotel. Looking to pamper yourself and the kids for more than a day? A monthly membership is $150.

Pros: You can swim for world peace.

Cons: It makes the other expensive pools seem cheap.

Rather go for free? Check out our post on the best free swimming pools in NYC.

Where do you swim? Tell us about your favorite private or public swimming pool.

Find more summer ideas in our summer guide.