Fire Island National Seashore - Plan Your Visit

Fire Island National Seashore by National Parks Service

Operating Hours Seasons

Sailors Haven and Watch Hill units are dependent on water travel, and are generally open from mid-May through mid-October each year. The Fire Island Light Station, William Floyd Estate and the Fire Island Wilderness Visitor Center (Smith Point) are accessible year-round, but operating hours vary by season.

Getting There

Plane

The closest commercial airport on Long Island is the Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP). You can also fly into LaGuardia (LGA) or Kennedy (JFK) Airports closer to New York City. Rental cars, taxis, van shuttles or trains can get you to the ferry terminal providing access to your destination in the park. From JFK, the Airtrain links directly to the LIRR at Jamaica Station.

Car

There are only two bridges to Fire Island National Seashore. The Robert Moses Causeway on the western end of Fire Island leads to parking lots at Robert Moses State Park. The William Floyd Parkway leads to Smith Point County Park on the eastern end of Fire Island, where there are also parking lots. Parking fees are charged at both lots. There are no public roads on the island itself. Park Headquarters is located in Patchogue, NY.

Bus

Bus routes operated by Suffolk County Transit provide access to the park's gateway communities, but you'll have to walk or take a taxi to get to your destination.

Public Transportation

By train: Long Island railroad stations are near three ferry terminals: Patchogue, Sayville, and Bay Shore. Contact the Long Island Railroad for train schedules. Ferries to Fire Island depart from the following locations: Patchogue, Sayville, and Bay Shore.

Many Fire Island sites can be reached by private boat from the Great South Bay, with marinas at Watch Hill, Sailors Haven and most island communities. The bay is shallow, and boaters occasionally moor offshore near park sites. When on Fire Island, water taxis can shuttle you from point to point. Bicycles, scooters and rollerskates are not permitted on boardwalks at Fire Island Lighthouse, Watch Hill, Sailors Haven and Wilderness Area.

Getting Around

There are no public roads within Fire Island National Seashore, so upon arrival, you may explore the park on foot or transfer to other park sites via water taxis. Bicycles, scooters, rollerskates are prohibited on boardwalks; wheelchairs, strollers and wagons are permitted.