Fire Island National Seashore Custom Search Pristine ocean shores, an ancient maritime forest, legacies of lighthouse keepers, and the historic estate of William Floyd are just a few of the recreational, natural, and cultural resources of Fire Island National Seashore. Plan your visit soon. Located only one hour east of New York City, this park offers visitors many types of relaxation and educational opportunities. Whether you prefer backpacking or birdwatching, sunbathing or a school group tour, many adventures await you at Fire Island! Fire Island National Seashore was established 'for the purpose of conserving and preserving for the use of future generations certain relatively unspoiled and undeveloped beaches, dunes, and other natural features ... which posess high values to the Nation as examples of unspoiled areas of great natural beauty in close proximity to large concentrations of urban population.'    CONTACTS Email - fiis_interpretation@nps.gov Fax- 631-289-4898 Write to Fire Island National Seashore 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY 11772 Phone Park Headquarters - 631/289-4810 William Floyd Estate - 631-399-2030 Fire Island Lighthouse - 631-321-7028 Wilderness Visitor Center - 631-281-3010 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Sailors Haven and Watch Hill units are dependent on water travel, and are open from May 15 through October 15 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. Call park headquarters (631-289-4810) for specifics. Getting There PLANE - You can fly into LaGuardia or Kennedy Airports in New York City or Islip Macarthur Airport on Long Island, then use a rental car, taxi, or train to your destination. 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. 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. Weather & Climate Temperate climate. Fire Island may have slightly cooler (in summer) or warmer (in winter) temperatures than the mainland of Long Island. Layered clothing is recommended. Accessibility In each area of the park, sections of trail are wheelchair accessible and other sections are not. As boardwalk is replaced, we build it to standards for universal accessibility. It is best to call the specific site for particulars. We have available at our island sites the use of a special wheelchair, which enables beach travel. Use of the wheelchair must be reserved in advance. Phone the site you are visiting a few days ahead of your visit, if possible. At the William Floyd Estate and the Fire Island lighthouse, only the first floor is accessible to wheelchairs. At both these sites, exhibits are concentrated on the first floors. At the William Floyd Estate, a photograph album depicts the rooms on the second floor for those unable to reach it physically. At the Fire island Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters, a filmed version of the Lighthouse tower tour is available to view. With advance notice, individualized programs may be arranged for groups or individuals with special educational needs or mental challenges. Call park headquarters for information and scheduling. Getting Around There are no public roads on Fire Island so, upon arrival, you may explore the park on foot or transfer to other park sites via water taxis. FEES/PERMITS Entrance Fee NO ENTRANCE FEES AT FIRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE Free! Special Use Permits SPECIAL USE PERMITS CAMPING Watch Hill Campground Campground will be open May 15 - October 15, 2002 26 tent sites and one group campsite available. Reservations accepted until April 1 and alloted on a lottery system. Within walking distance of marina, concessions, ocean beach, bathhouses, nature trails, and wilderness area. NEW for 2002! Watch Hill campground will be run by a concessionaire. For More Information on this campground please call 631-597-6633 LODGING Lodging at Fire Island National Seashore Camping is available seasonally at Watch Hill Campground. Rental housing units are available in Fire Island communities through commercial real estate agencies. Access to these communities is by ferry or private boats. FACILITIES WILLIAM FLOYD ESTATE Phone - (631) 399-2030 Location - The estate is located across in Mastic Beach on Long Island, across the bay from the eastern end of Fire Island National Seashore. Special Programs - Special programs for fourth grade school groups. Please call for reservations. Exhibits - Exhibits are available throughout the house, including historical photographs of the William Floyd Estate and the Floyd family. Available Facilities - The William Floyd Estate is a separate unit of Fire Island National Seashore. William Floyd was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Guided house tours, self-guiding tours and other interpretive programs (seasonal) are available, including access to grounds and trails. Estate includes 12 outbuildings and a cemetery. Visitor Centers FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE Phone - (631) 661-4876 Location - Western end of Fire Island adjacent to Robert Moses State Park. Parking is at Robert Moses State Park. Closures - Officially closed till April 6, 2002. However, the lighthouse will be open on occasional weekends if volunteer staffing and good weather permit. CALL before coming! Special Programs - The lighthouse is operated daily by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.Tower tours available by reservation. History talks, nature walks, and special evening programs are also available. Please call for additional information and scheduling. Special programs available for fourth grade school groups by reservation. Exhibits - The base of the lighthouse houses a museum and exhibit room which includes exhibits on shipwrecks and rescues off Long Island, historical photos and records of previous lighthouse keepers, and information on the restoration of the lighthouse. Available Facilities - Museum with exhibits, video program about offshore rescues, gift shop and restrooms. Seasonal interpretive programs are provided, boardwalk nature trail, and access to ocean beach. SAILORS HAVEN Facilities are closed for winter. They will reopen in spring 2002. Phone - 631/597-6183 VC Location - Middle of Fire Island, across the Great South Bay from Sayville, Long Island. Closures - Facilities closed for winter season on October 15, 2001. They will open in spring for weekday school groups. Call 631-289-4810 (park headquarters) when visitor center is closed. Special Programs - Ranger interpretive programs available when visitor center is open. Call for seasonal schedule. Exhibits - Exhibits available in visitor center. Available Facilities - Visitor center, including interpretive programs and exhibits, boardwalk nature trail through Sunken Forest, bathhouses, marina and seasonally lifeguarded ocean beach. Ferry concession and snack bar/gift shop. WATCH HILL Phone - 631/597-6455 Location - Watch Hill is located in the middle of Fire Island, across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, Long Island. Ferry service is available seasonally from Patchogue. Closures - Facilities are closed for winter. Visitor Center will reopen in spring for school groups. Special Programs - Special interpretive programs offered seasonally. See the Watch Hill webpage for additional information. Exhibits - Exhibits on various natural history topics available seasonally in the Watch Hill Visitor Center. Available Facilities - Facilities and services include a nature trail, visitor center (staffed seasonally for interpretive programs) and ranger office, marina, lifeguarded beach (summer only). Park campground reservation information, call (631)597-6633. Marina: (631) 597-4158 and (631) 597-4192. Wilderness Information Centers WILDERNESS VISITOR CENTER Phone - (631) 281-3010 Location - The Wilderness Visitor Center is located on the eastern portion of Fire Island, adjacent to Smith Point County Park. It is accessible via the William Floyd Parkway. Parking is available at Smith Point County Park (fee is charged). Special Programs - Seasonal interpretive programs are available. Contact Wilderness Visitor Center for additional information or for school group programs. Exhibits - Exhibits on natural history topics are located in the Wilderness Visitor Center. Available Facilities - Exhibits, seasonal interpretive programs, boardwalk nature trail through the Wilderness Area, walking access to the ocean beach, and sport fishing driving permits available.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Fire Island National Seashore.   Campgrounds Near Fire Island National Seashore: Southhaven County Park, Patchogue, 1 miles away Smith Point County Park, Mastic Beach, 4 miles away Cathedral Pines County Park, Middle Island, 6 miles away Fire Island National Seashore - Watch Hill, Blue Point, 8 miles away Wildwood State Park, Wading River, 10 miles away Cupsogue County Park, East Moriches, 11 miles away Heckscher State Park, East Islip, 19 miles away   Marinas Near Fire Island National Seashore: S N 1 at the Boatyard, Brookhaven , 0 miles away MNL Marine Limited, Bellport , 3 miles away Moriches Bay Marina, Mastic Beach , 6 miles away Dockside 500 Marina, Patchogue , 6 miles away Bay Point Marina, Blue Point , 10 miles away   Hotels Near Fire Island National Seashore: SpringHill Suites Long Island Brookhaven, Bellport , 4 miles away Comfort Inn Medford, Medford , 7 miles away Fairfield Inn Medford Long Island, Medford , 7 miles away Ramada Plaza Holtsville Long Island, Holtsville , 9 miles away Hampton Inn Long Island-Brookhaven, Farmingville , 9 miles away Residence Inn Long Island Holtsville, Holtsville , 11 miles away Americas Best Value Inn, Port Jefferson Station , 12 miles away   Beaches Near Fire Island National Seashore: Blue Point Beach, Suffolk County , 9 miles away Shoreham Beach, Suffolk County , 10 miles away North Shore Beach, Suffolk County , 10 miles away Cupsoque Beach, Suffolk County , 11 miles away Scotts Beach, Suffolk County , 11 miles away   Ski Areas Near Fire Island National Seashore: Powder Ridge, Connecticut , 39 miles away, 500 foot drop, 5 lifts, 19 runs Mount Southington, Connecticut , 42 miles away, 425 foot drop, 8 lifts, 14 runs Woodbury, Connecticut , 49 miles away, 300 foot drop, 4 lifts, 18 runs Ski Sundown, Connecticut , 58 miles away, 625 foot drop, 5 lifts, 15 runs Thunder Ridge, New York , 61 miles away, 500 foot drop, 4 lifts, 30 runs Mohawk Mountain, Connecticut , 62 miles away, 640 foot drop, 6 lifts, 24 runs Blandford, Massachusetts , 74 miles away, 465 foot drop, 5 lifts, 26 runs Otis Ridge, Massachusetts , 75 miles away, 400 foot drop, 5 lifts, 11 runs Ski Butternut, Massachusetts , 79 miles away, 1000 foot drop, 10 lifts, 22 runs Catamount, Massachusetts , 83 miles away, 1000 foot drop, 7 lifts, 29 runs   Whitewater Near Fire Island National Seashore: Whitewater Outfitter - White Water Outfitt, Suffolk County , 28 miles away, Whitewater outfitter   Public Lands Near Fire Island National Seashore: Wildwood State Park, New York , 12 miles away Connetquot River State Park Preserve, New York , 17 miles away Heckscher State Park, New York , 18 miles away Caleb Smith State Park, New York , 23 miles away   Golf Courses Near Fire Island National Seashore: The Links At Shirley, Shirley , 2 miles away Bellport Country Club, Bellport , 3 miles away Middle Island Country Club, Middle Island , 7 miles away Spring Lake Golf Club, Middle Island , 7 miles away Leisure Village Golf Course, Ridge , 7 miles away