Fire Island National Seashore - Directions (U.S. National Park Service)

You can get to Fire Island National Seashore from a number of entry points and by various modes of transportation. Remember to allow enough time for Long Island traffic conditions. Always be aware of current seasonal ferry schedules if you plan to come or go by water.

See Park Maps and Traffic and Travel Tips if you're planning to come by car.

Getting To Long Island and Portals to Fire Island

By 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.

By Train
Long Island Railroad (LIRR) stations are near the three mainland ferry terminals for Fire Island. From Penn Station in New York City, you may take the Montauk Branch of the LIRR to get to Bay Shore, Sayville, and Patchogue. You may easily walk from the Patchogue station to the Watch Hill ferry terminal, but a taxi or van may be welcomed for the longer distance between the other trains and ferries. Contact the LIRR for train schedules.

Ferries to Fire Island depart from the following locations: Patchogue, Sayville, and Bay Shore. Special beach get-away packages are available for Watch Hill and Sailors Haven during the summer.

By Bus
Bus routes operated by Suffolk County Transit provide access to the park's gateway communities of Mastic Beach and Smith Point County Park, Patchogue, Sayville and Bay Shore, New York. You may have to walk or take a taxi to get from the bus stop to the ferry terminal providing access to your destination in the park.

See more at Public Transportation.

By Bicycle
Long Island bicycle routes are being developed and improved, but all portals to Fire Island National Seashore are not currently accessible by bike.

See Bicycling Information.

By Private Boat
Fire Island can be reached by some private vessels. The Great South Bay is fairly shallow. Marinas are located on the bay side of Fire Island, between Moriches Inlet and Fire Island Inlet.

See Things To Do: Boating

Getting To Fire Island

By Public Ferry
Most people get onto Fire Island and Fire Island National Seashore facilities by boat. Ferries to Fire Island are passenger ferries only and depart from the following locations:

Patchogue (Davis Park Ferry) to Watch Hill (and to community of Davis Park from terminal at Sandspit Park)

Sayville (Sayville Ferry Service) to Sailors Haven (and to communities of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines)

Bay Shore (Fire Island Ferries) to westernmost Fire Island Communities

Ferries operate on a full schedule during July and August, with fewer ferries in spring and fall. The ferry terminals on Long Island can be reached by car, bus, train, taxi or shuttle van.

By Car
There are two bridges to Fire Island. You may get to two of Fire Island National Seashore's island-based facilities by car.

The Robert Moses Causeway on the western end of Fire Island leads to parking lots at Robert Moses State Park. From parking lot Field 5, you may walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse.

The William Floyd Parkway leads to Smith Point County Park on the eastern end of Fire Island, where there is also a parking lot. From there, you may walk to the Wilderness Visitor Center and the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness.

Parking fees are charged at both of these lots. There are no public roads on Fire Island.

By Private Boat
Many Fire Island sites can be reached by private boat from the Great South Bay, with marinas at Watch Hill, Sailors Haven and some 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 at some locations.

See Things To Do: Boating

On Fire Island
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. Fire Island Water Taxi is authorized to provide lateral ferry service between communities and other destination points on Fire Island.

Bicycles, scooters, rollerskates, rollerblades and "razors" are prohibited on all park boardwalks. Wheelchairs, strollers and wagons are permitted, but all trails and facilities are not fully accessible at this time.

Fire Island National Seashore Mainland Facilities

Park Headquarters is located on Long Island, New York, in the Village of Patchogue.

Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal is located in the Village of Patchogue near the Long Island Railroad Station.

The William Floyd Estate is also located on Long Island in Mastic Beach.