Gateway National Recreation Area is open. UPDATED June 2, 2025
Hours of Operation
Sandy Hook: 6 am to 9 pm
Canarsie Pier and Jacob Riis Park: 6 am to 10 pm
All Other Jamaica Bay Sites: 6 am to 9 pm
Staten Island Units: 6 am to 9 pm
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 Summer 2025
Which beaches are lifeguarded?
Lifeguards will be on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, at the following beach locations:
Sandy Hook: Beach C and Beach D
Jacob Riis Park: Bays 2 and 5
Great Kills Park: Beach Center
Beach Parking:
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.
There are no online sales for Jacob Riis seasonal parking permits at this time. 2025 Sandy Hook seasonal parking permits will be available on April 15 at 10 am on recreation.gov. Exchanges of the digital pass for the physical hang tag will begin Saturday 5/10/25 at the Sandy Hook Entrance Station at 10 am.
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 rec.gov, doesn’t guarantee parking in any specific parking spot. Once the visitor enters the parking lot with their rec.gov confirmation, they may stay as long as they want. The Sandy Hook parking lots close at 9 pm. The Jacob Riis parking lot closes at 10 pm.
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 10-4 Friday-Monday
Ryan Visitor Center (Floyd Bennett Field): Open 9-12 Sat-Sun. Phone Number is 718-338-3799.
Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center : Open 10-4 Friday-Monday. Phone Number is 718-354-4500.
Sandy Hook: Open 10-4 Friday. Phone Number is 732-827-5970.
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 will open on May 9, 2025. Reservations can be made beginning April 1, 2025 through recreation.gov.
Permit Updates:
The 2025 sales period for archery, fishing/parking, off road access, and boat ramp permits has ended. Permits were available through recreation.gov from March 1 through March 31. More information about beach parking permits can be found below.
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 (718) 758-3675 for Fort Tilden picnic permits, and (718) 351-6970 for Miller Field picnic permits.
Sports League Permits (Fort Tilden, Frank Charles Park, Miller Field)
Sports leagues permits for low and medium impact sports are now available. Permits are only available through phone call, e-mail, or appointment.
Please contact the Jamaica Bay Unit, Permit Office (718) 758-3675 or the Staten Island Permit Office (718) 351-6970 for updated information for sports league permits.
