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Gateway National Recreation AreaSubway crossing Jamaica Bay in the beautiful Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
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Gateway National Recreation Area
Getting to Jamaica Bay by Public Transporation

For information on public transportation schedules and routes, go to http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us

Floyd Bennett Field (718)338-3799

  • Subway: IRT #2 (also #5 at rush hours)  to Flatbush Avenue, or IND "A" to Rockaway Park / Beach 116th St. 
  • Take Q35 bus from either stop to park. 

Jacob Riis Park/Fort Tilden (718)318-4300

  • Subway: IRT #2 (also #5 at rush hours)  to Flatbush Avenue, or IND "A" to Rockaway Park / Beach 116th St. 
  • Take Q35 bus from either stop to park, or Q22 from Beach 116th Street. 
  • Connect with the Q35 bus on Flatbush Avenue at the corner of Nostrand, Kings Highway, Fillmore Ave. or Avenue U (Kings Plaza).
  • After the bridge, ask driver to let you off at either Ft. Tilden or Riis Park.
  • Alternate: Q21 or Q53 to Beach 116th Street, then Q22 or Q35 to the park.
  • By Ferry: NY Watertaxi Ferry between Riis Landing, the Brooklyn Army Terminal (Bay Ridge,) and Pier 11 Wall Street.  See schedule.

Ferry Service is scheduled weekdays only, Monday through Friday, September through June.  Weekday and Weekend service Saturday, July 4 to Monday, September 7 (Labor Day).

For commuter ferry information, visit NY Watertaxi's website Or, call (718) 474 - 0555.

For information on excurison cruises on Jamaica Bay, call (718) 318 - RIIS (7447).

Canarsie Pier (718)763-2202

  • BMT "L" subway to Rockaway Parkway, then transfer (free) to the B42 bus to the entrance of the pier.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (718)318-4340

  • Subway IND "A"  to Broad Channel Station.
  • Proceed by walking on Noel Road to Cross Bay Boulevard.
  • Turn right and walk about three quarters of a mile to the Refuge Visitor Center.
  • Bus Q21 from Liberty Avenue (Queens) or 116th Street (Rockaway) to the Refuge, or the Q53 bus from 61st Street & Roosevelt Avenue (Queens) to the refuge.  
World War I recruiting poster for the Coastal Artillery Corps.  

Did You Know?
All of Gateway NRA's units include sites that defended New York Harbor from attacks from the sea, from the Revolutionary War through World War II? They are Fort Hancock, Fort Tilden, and Fort Wadsworth. Learn about the history of coastal defense by visiting any of these sites.

Last Updated: November 10, 2009 at 13:16 EST