Explore detailed info of Gateway National Recreation Area, or check out our expanded coverage of the Gateway National Recreation Area area, including Gateway National Recreation Area lodging, recreational activities, and more.
Contact Info
Staten Island, NY 10305
- Phone:
- 718-354-4606
Basics
- Type:
- Other
Description
Gateway provides abundant recreational and learning opportunities, from swimming, boating and fishing to team sports, bicycling and nature study. The nation's oldest operating lighthouse, forts that defended America, and sites that trace aviation's early days tell significant stories. The living world can be explored in a wildlife refuge, holly forest, ocean dunes and coastal uplands.
Hours + Fees
Hours:
Gateway National Recreation Area is open year round from sunrise to sunset.
Jamaica Bay
William Fitz Ryan Visitor Center and Floyd Bennett Field: Open daily, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station: Open daily 8:30am - 5:00pm
Fort Tilden Visitor Contact Station (Bldg. 1)Open Spring - Summer from 9:00am - 4:00pm
Fall - Winter 10:00am - 2:00pm
Staten Island
Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center: Wednesday - Sunday 10:00am -5:00pm
Great Kills Park Ranger Station: Friday - Monday 9:00am - 4:30pm
Miller Field Ranger Station: Wednesday - Sunday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook is open daily from sunrise to sunset
Sandy Hook Visitor Center: Open daily 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fort Hancock Museum
The former post guardhouse contains exhibits on Fort Hancock and a bookstore.
Weekends 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Daily in July and August
History House
This 1898 lieutenant's residence along "Officers Row" is furnished to the 1940's.
Weekends 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Sandy Hook Lighthouse
Sandy Hook Lighthouse Tours are first-come, first-served. Visitors must be at least 48 inches tall to climb the tower. Tours are given on weekends from Noon to 4:30pm from April to early December. From April to October, tours are also given on weekdays from 1:30 - 4:30pm. Tours are given by volunteers of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society.
Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters
The Lighthouse Keepers Quarters has exhibits on New Jersey Lighthouses. It is open daily, 1:00 - 5:00pm, from April through October, and on weekends, 1:00 - 4:30 pm year around.
Battery Potter
Tour Sandy Hook's oldest gun battery.
Weekends April - October 1:00pm-4:00pm
NJ Audubon Society's Sandy Hook Bird Observatory
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Driving Directions to Jamaica Bay
Floyd Bennett Field
From the North, East, and West
Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11S (Flatbush Avenue). Follow Flatbush Avenue south to the last traffic light before the Marine Parkway Bridge toll plaza. Turn left at the light, into the park.
Alternate, and from the South
Take Woodhaven Boulevard to Cross Bay Boulevard. Go west on Beach Channel Drive to the Marine Parkway Bridge (towards Brooklyn). Turn right at the first traffic light after the toll plaza into the park.
Jacob Riis Park/Fort Tilden
From the North, East, and West
Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11S (Flatbush Avenue). Follow Flatbush Avenue south to the Marine Parkway Bridge toll plaza. Cross the bridge, and follow signs to park parking lot.
Alternate, and from the South
Go west on Beach Channel Drive. Follow the signs to the park.
Getting to Canarsie Pier
Belt Parkway to Exit 13, Rockaway Parkway.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
From North, East, and West
Belt Parkway to Exit 17 S, Cross Bay Boulevard. Proceed south on Cross Bay Boulevard across the Joseph Addabbo - North Channel Bridge. The Visitor Contact Station is approximately 1.5 miles past the bridge on the right.
Alternate, and from the South:
Beach Channel Drive to the Cross Bay - Veterans Memorial Bridge. Cross the bridge toward Broad Channel. Follow Cross Bay Boulevard through Broad Channel, about 1 mile. Turn left at traffic light into the Visitor Contact Station parking lot.
Driving Directions to Staten Island Sites
World War Veterans Park at Miller Field
Verrazano Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn or the Goethals or Bayonne Bridges from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Route 278). Take the Hylan Boulevard exit. Proceed south on Hylan Boulevard. Turn left on New Dorp Lane for Miller Field.
Great Kills Park
Verrazano Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn or the Goethals or Bayonne Bridges from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Route 278). Take the Hylan Boulevard exit. Proceed south on Hylan Boulevard. Turn left at the entrance to Great Kills Park.
Fort Wadsworth
From East:
Take Verrazano - Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn. After toll, take the Bay Street exit to the park entrance.
From West:
Goethals or Bayonne Bridges from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Route 278). Staten Island Expressway (Route 278) east to the Bay Street exit. Turn left at the light and follow this road to Bay Street and the park entrance.
Driving Directions to Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
From North Jersey and New York
South on the New Jersey Turnpike. Exit 11 onto the Garden State Parkway (South). Exit 117 (Keyport/Hazlet). After toll, bear left and follow Route 36 East. 12 miles to park entrance (after crossing the Highlands Bridge)
From South Jersey
North on Garden State Parkway - Exit 105 (Eatontown), bear left for Route 36 East. Continue on Route 36 East, pass Monmouth Mall and across Route 35 through Eatontown and Long Branch (Route 36 is called Joline Avenue here). Continue on Route 36, which turns left and follows north along ocean. (Route 36 is called Ocean Blvd. Here.) North for six miles through the towns of Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright to park.
From Philadelphia & Camden, NJ
Take New Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 7A (Shore Points) onto I-195. Go East on I-195, to Garden State Parkway north. GSP north to Exit 105 (Eatontown). Then follow “From South Jersey” directions above.
