Plan Ahead For your Visit

Gateway National Recreation Area is open. UPDATED March 4, 2026

Hours of Operation

Sandy Hook: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Canarsie Pier and Jacob Riis Park: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
All Other Jamaica Bay Sites: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Staten Island Units: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Jacob Riis Park Beach Information

Due to extremely hazardous conditions Gateway National Recreation Area has restricted access to sections of Jacob Riis Park. Significant erosion has occurred along the eastern shoreline of the beach at Jacob Riis Park. Access restrictions established in 2024 will continue at Bays 1 and 4 due to these unsafe conditions from beach erosion. Bays 1 and 4 will remain closed to access and swimming.

Gateway National Recreation Area Lifeguard Status

Which beaches are lifeguarded?

Lifeguard operations have ended for the 2025 summerseason. 2026 information will be posted in May

Beach Parking:

Beach Parking Fees have ended for the 2025 summer season.

Beach parking fees are collected at Jacob Riis Park and Sandy Hook between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. Parking is $20 per vehicle per day, or $100 per vehicle per season. Parking fees are in effect from 8 am to 6 pm. Gateway National Recreation Area is a cashless park. Credit and debit cards or contactless payments only will be accepted at both sites.
Online sales of Sandy Hook seasonal and daily parking permits are available through recreation.gov. You can also buy seasonal or daily permits in person at he entrance booth.

Advance online sales of daily parking permits are available through recreation.gov for both Jacob Riis Park and Sandy Hook. Advance on-line purchase of the daily parking fee, also known as timed entry permit on recreation.gov, doesn’t guarantee parking in any specific parking spot. Once the visitor enters the parking lot with their recreation.gov confirmation, they may stay as long as they want. The Sandy Hook parking lots close at 9 p.m. The Jacob Riis parking lot closes at 10 p.m.
Visitors arriving prior to 8 a.m. can park in a designated fee lot free until 8 a.m. Once the fee is effective at 8 a.m., visitors staying in the park would need to pay the required fee or park in a non-free area.

Visitor Centers

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center: Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Phone number is [phone].
Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center: Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Phone number is [phone].
Sandy Hook: Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Phone number is [phone].
Ranger program are also available. Visit our event calendar for more information and to see if you need to make a reservation. Reservations are required for many ranger programs.

Camping

Sandy Hook Campground has ended operations for the 2025 summer season.

Permit Updates:

Please see information about 2026 permits here: 2026 permits - Gateway National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

Pets

Dogs are prohibited on Jamaica Bay and Sandy Hook ocean beaches from from March 15 - September 15. Service dogs with proper identification are permitted. Dogs are prohibited at all times at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Dogs must be on leashes at all times. More information can be found on our pets page.

Picnicking

Picnicking is allowed first come-first serve at Jacob Riis Park and Canarsie Pier. Barbecuing and open flames are only allowed in the designated picnic areas.
Permits for group picnicking are available for Fort Tilden and Miller Field. Please call [phone] for Miller Field picnic permits. Fort Tilden picnic permits are avaiable online through Recreation.gov.

Sports League Permits (Fort Tilden, Frank Charles Park, Miller Field)

Please contact the Jamaica Bay Unit, Permit Office [phone] or the Staten Island, Miller Field Permit Office [phone] for updated information for sports league permits.