2011 4th of July Fireworks in New York City: Where to Watch

NYC Fireworks for Independence Day 2011

The annual 4th of July fireworks in New York City will actually best be seen from New Jersey. The NYC fireworks will start at 9pm local time.

For the third year in a row, the Independence Day fireworks (sponsored by Macy's, no stranger to floating giant things over Manhattan) will take place over the Hudson River, fired from barges placed near West Midtown and Chelsea. 

• Macy's Independence Day Fireworks (The Graphic Shows the Fireworks in the Wrong Place)
  

So, if you live in Brooklyn or Queens, your view of the 4th of July fireworks will not be as good as those found in Hoboken or Jersey City. That's gotta hurt. DeWitt Clinton Park (11th Ave at W 52nd St) will be a great place to watch, if you get there very early. 

Watch the NYC Fireworks: Call a Friend with Roof Access

Battery Park and Riverside Park will pretty much be blind spots.

Otherwise, call up a friend with roof access or a west-facing balcony on a high floor. Otherwise, take the PATH into Jersey. It's all about public transit, since traffic will absolutely suck. Check the MTA for inevitable service disruptions.

If you're not in the city and you want to watch the New York 4th of July fireworks, they'll be televised on NBC; coverage starts at 9pm. Of course, it will be more fun to watch your local fireworks live than distant fireworks on TV.

Party safe on 4th of July: don't drink and drive.