Rate Gateway National Recreation Area
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Recreation Area
Operating Hours & Seasons
Jamaica Bay Unit hours
Includes Bergen Beach, Floyd Bennett Field, Fort Tilden, Frank Charles Park, Hamilton Beach, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Plumb Beach. Hours for Canarsie Pier are from 5:00 am until 2:00 am daily. Both the Ryan Center and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Monday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Tuesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Wednesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Thursday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Friday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Saturday: Sunrise – Sunset
Sandy Hook hours
Sandy Hook is open from 5 am to 9 pm from April 1 through October 30. The Visitor Center and Lighthouse Keepers Quarters are open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Monday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Tuesday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Wednesday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Thursday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Friday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Saturday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
Staten Island hours
The Staten Island unit includes Fort Wadsworth, Great Kills and Miller Field. The Fort Wadsworth visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Monday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Tuesday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Wednesday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Thursday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Friday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Saturday:5:00 AM-8:00 PM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $15.00 – Gateway Parking fees- Sandy Hook daily
Gateway has no entrance fees, but charges parking fees from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Access Pass holders and Senior Pass holders will receive a 50% discount off of parking fees. IA Military Pass holders along with their family and IA EKIP (Every Kid in a Park) Fourth Grade Pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking. - $75.00 – Gateway Parking Fees- Sandy Hook- Season
Gateway has no entrance fees, but charges parking fees at Sandy Hook from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Access Pass holders and Senior Pass holders will receive a 50% discount off of beach parking. IA Military Pass holders along with their families and IA EKIP (Every Kid in a Park) Fourth Grade Pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking. - $10.00 – Gateway Parking Fees- Jacob Riis Park daily
Gateway has no entrance fees, but charges parking fees for Jacob Riis park from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Access Pass holders and Senior Pass holders will receive a 50% discount off of beach parking. IA Military Pass holders along with their families and IA EKIP (Every Kid in a Park) Fourth Grade Pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking. - $65.00 – Gateway Parking Fees – Jamaica Bay- Season
Gateway has no entrance fees, but charges for parking at Jacob Riis Park from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Access Pass holders and Senior Pass holders will receive a 50% discount off of beach parking. IA Military Pass holders along with their families and IA EKIP (Every Kid in a Park) Fourth Grade pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking.
Entrance Passes:
- $10.00 – Golden Age Passport
Golden Age Passports are $10 lifetime passes for citizens and permanent residents who are 62 or older. They will allow a 50% discount for parking fees at both Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park. You may obtain these at any of Gateway’s visitor centers, as well as other parks throughout the country. - $0.00 – Golden Access Passes
Golden Access Passes are free, and offer lifetime access to citizens and permanent residents who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability. Golden Access Pass holders will receive a 50% discount for parking at both Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park. You can obtain these passes at any Gateway visitor center as well as at other national parks. - $0.00 – 4th Grade Passes
These are available to U.S. 4th graders and are good for the duration of their fourth grade year. You can find out more at the Every Kid in a Park website. Holders of these passes will be able to park for free at both Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park. - $0.00 – IA Military Pass Pass
This annual pass is for all active military members. Those who display this pass, along with current military ID will be able to park for free at both Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park. IA military passes are available at all Gateway visitor centers.
About
Gateway National Recreation Area: Many Places, One Park
There are three geographic units: Sandy Hook, New Jersey; Jamaica Bay and Staten Island, New York City. The NYC units include Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Fort Tilden, Riis Park in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field and Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn. Staten Island has Great Kills Park, Miller Field and Fort Wadsworth. These sites and others make up the 27,000 acres of Gateway, one national park.
Directions
Gateway is located in two states; NJ and NY, and has three units: Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook and Staten Island. You can access most of our park by car and public transportation. Please visit our website for specific directions to all of our units
Visitor Centers
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
The visitor center provides information about the Wildlife Refuge, about birds and other animals commonly seen and an Eastern National Store. Ryan Visitor Center
Floyd Bennett Field’s Ryan Visitor Center offers exhibits about the aviation history of Floyd Bennett Field, as well as an Eastern National Store. Sandy Hook Visitors Centers- Lighthouse Keepers Quarters
Discover information about the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the U.S. at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters
Weather
Gateway National Recreation Area includes several separate land areas spread throughout the New York metropolitan area. The New York area experiences four distinct seasons. Temperatures are moderate in the spring and fall, but range from the high 90’s during the summer to snow and sleet in winter.
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Nearby Businesses
