Fire Island National Seashore
Couple strolls along beach at sunset in front of Watch Hill lifeguard stand.
Welcome

Plan Your
Visit

Recreational
Opportunities
Cultural
History
Natural
Resources
For Your
Safety
Home
Accessibility
Activities
Educational Programs
Facts
For Kids
History & Culture
In Depth
    Plan Your Visit
        Places To Visit
        Times To Visit
            Spring
            Summer
            Fall
            Winter
        Getting Here
        Where To Stay
        Things To Do
        Calendar
        Park Maps

    Recreation

    Cultural History

    Natural Resources

   For Your Safety
Management Docs
Nature & Science
News
Plan Your Visit
Permits and Special Park Uses
Special Events
Bookstore »
Employment »
Volunteer »
Search »
Contact Us

Plan Your Visit

Collage of seasonal images shows people on summer beach, buck among fall shrubs, snow-covered dunes and swale, and yellow spring flowers blanketing the dune along a boardwalk.

Every season at Fire Island offers its own ingredients for special memories.
Times To Visit

What time of year should I visit?

Many people are surprised to learn that Fire Island is accessible almost all year. However, the majority of visitors come to Fire Island during the summer months, from May through September, when the weather is the most favorable for beach related activities. In the off-season (October through April), public transportation to the island may be limited, and some services on various parts of the island are unavailable.

The Fire Island Lighthouse and William Floyd Estate—both parts of Fire Island National Seashore—and Smith Point County Park and Robert Moses State Park—located on either end of Fire Island—are accessible year-round, but operating hours vary by season.

Fire Island's Sailors Haven, Barrett Beach/Talisman and Watch Hill units are dependent on water travel, and are open from mid-May through mid-October each year. The Wilderness Visitor Center is open mid-May through December. Ranger-led interpretive activities are primarily scheduled for summer months at all locations.

Be sure to review the train and ferry schedules in advance, and pay particular attention to the return schedules. Ferries run regularly to the island in the summer months but are limited in the off-season. See "How to Get Here" for park access information.

Schedule at least a full day for each visit to Fire Island, since getting to and from the island requires more time than you might expect. Be sure you allow plenty of time to enjoy the seashore.

Climate

Fire Island has a temperate climate. The park's air temperature may be slightly cooler in summer or warmer in winter than on the mainland of Long Island. Layered clothing is always recommended.

Check the predicted weather conditions before coming to Fire Island. Ferry schedules may change and some programs may be cancelled or postponed in poor weather conditions.

Today's Weather (Patchogue, New York)
Tides (2006 - Moriches Inlet)
Tropical Storm Prediction Center (May through November)
Spring Fall
Summer Winter
Back to Plan Your Visit
Last Update: Thursday, 29-Dec-2005 15:22:54 Eastern Standard Time
http://www.nps.gov/archive/fiis/TimesToVisit.htm
ParkNet U.S. Department of the Interior FOIA Privacy Disclaimer FirstGov
Fire Island National Seashore U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service