Gateway National Recreation Area
Protected park · NY, USA
Gateway National Recreation Area in NY, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Quick answers
- Is there a nursing room or baby care at Gateway National Recreation Area?
- Mapped for this park: 10 changing tables. Details
- When is Gateway National Recreation Area open?
- Usually Mon–Sun 6:00–21:00. Details
- When is the best time to visit Gateway National Recreation Area?
- By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are May, June, and September. Details
When is Gateway National Recreation Area open?
- Mon–Sun 6:00–21:00
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for millions of visitors every year. Gateway offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes. Every day, Gateway is open for you to explore, envision, and enjoy!
This park's official page lists: Pet-friendly (leashed), Drinking water, Store / concessions.
Nursing and baby care
Mapped for this park: 10 changing tables.
- Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center
- Jacob Riis Park
- Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
- Ryan Visitor Center
- Sandy Hook - Beach B
- Sandy Hook - Beach C
- Sandy Hook - Beach D
- Sandy Hook - Beach G (Gunnison Beach)
- Sandy Hook - North Beach (Lot I)
- Sandy Hook Visitors Center- Lighthouse Keepers Quarters
When is the best time to visit Gateway National Recreation Area?
By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are May, June, and September.
The weather works against it in January, February, March, and December.
The warmest month is July, with average highs near 79°F (26°C); the coolest is January, near 38°F (3°C).
December is the wettest month, with about 5.2 in (132 mm) of precipitation in a typical December.
Official facts
Protected waters: 109 km². None of it is no-take.
Boating: Vessel use prohibited; anchoring unrestricted.
Fishing: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Restricted.
Conservation focus: Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage. Protects the whole ecosystem. Site-Specific Management Plan.
IUCN category: V (Protected landscape or seascape).
Protection level: Zoned Multiple Use.
Marine protection: National Recreation Area. Listed as "Gateway National Recreation Area" in NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Inventory, managed by National Park Service, established 1972.
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 18,548 acres (7,506 ha).
Designation: National Recreation Area. Listed as "Gateway National Recreation Area" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity (GAP 2). IUCN category V.
Established: 1972.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Hunting
- Beaches
- Fall foliage
- Wildlife & bird watching
Shows and experiences
- Historic sites & museum
What's on at Gateway National Recreation Area
The park's own calendar lists 11 dated events from May 8 to November 30, 2026.
November 2026 is the busiest month, with ten events.
Seven of the eight one-day events fall on a weekend; Sunday has the most, with five.
By kind, the calendar holds 11 regular events.
Most listed start times are in the afternoon, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm.
Three events ask you to register ahead.
Events
- Sandy Hook History House
- Fort Tompkins Tour
- Jamaica Bay Sunset Walk
- Gather & Stitch at Fort Wadsworth
- Astronomy Night at Great Kills Park
- Soldier Life at Fort Hancock 1898 - 1941
- Great Kills Park Wellness Walk and Journaling Series
- Nike Missile Radar Site Tour at Sandy Hook
- Thanksgiving Holly Forest Walk at Sandy Hook
- Victorian Crafts
- Gather and Stitch at Fort Wadsworth
Before you go
- First aid
- In-park (mapped location) — First aid station marked on the park map. Confirm the current location with any team member on arrival.
- Limits
- Alcoholic beverages at Sandy Hook are prohibited
- Limits
- Smoking is prohibited on the beaches at Sandy Hook, N.J., Great Kils Park in Staten Island, and the beaches at Riis Park and Fort Tilden
- Limits
- Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft (drone) from or on the lands and waters of Gateway is not permitted
- Park alert: Ryan Visitor Center Phone Line Out of Service
- The Floyd Bennett Field Ryan Visitor Center phone line (718-338-3799) is out of service. For information on ranger programs in the Jamaica Bay Unit, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340. For questions about permits, events, or other park information, call the general park information line at 718-354-4606. For emergencies, call U.S. Park Police's 24-hour dispatch at 718-354-4700.
- ⚠ Park closure: Dead Horse Bay (Brooklyn) Remains Closed to the Public
- The entire southern area of Dead Horse Bay, including Glass Bottle Beach, is closed to the public. Dead Horse Bay is located in Brooklyn, NYC.
- ⚠ Park closure: Jacob Riis Park Access Restrictions
- Due to extremely hazardous conditions Gateway National Recreation Area has restricted access to sections of Jacob Riis Park. Erosion has created unsafe conditions from Bays 1-5, and portions of the eastern beach are closed.
- Park alert: Dogs Not allowed on ocean beaches in Jamaica Bay and Sandy Hook March 15- Sept. 15
- Dogs are not allowed on ocean beaches at Sandy Hook between March 15 through September 15. Dogs are not allowed on the ocean beaches at Jacob Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Breezy Point Tip and at the bayside of Breezy Point between March 15 through September 15
- ⚠ Park closure: Spring Creek (Queens) Closed to the Public
- Spring Creek is closed to the public at this time. The NPS is conducting field investigations as part of a Remedial Investigation at the site. Spring Creek is located in Queens, NYC.
- Getting there
- Gateway is located in two states; NJ and NY, and has three units: Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook and Staten Island. You can access most of our park by car and public transportation. Please visit our website for specific directions to all of our units
- Weather & when to go
- Gateway National Recreation Area includes several separate land areas spread throughout the New York metropolitan area. The New York area experiences four distinct seasons. Temperatures are moderate in the spring and fall, but range from the high 90's during the summer to snow and sleet in winter.
- Visitor center
- Battery Granger
- Visitor center
- Battery Granger
- Visitor center
- Battery Gunnison
- Visitor center
- Battery Kingman
- Visitor center
- Battery Mills
- Visitor center
- Battery Peck
- Visitor center
- Battery Potter
- Visitor center
- Floyd Bennett Field
- Visitor center
- Floyd Bennett Field
- Visitor center
- Floyd Bennett Field
- Visitor center
- Floyd Bennett Field
- Visitor center
- Fort Wadsworth
Facilities on the park map
6 benches, 10 changing tables, 1 first aid station, 13 picnic areas, 40 restrooms, 49 visitor information, 9 water fountains.
Where to stay
- Fort Wadsworth Campsite
- Sandy Hook Camp Ground
History
- Opened
- 1972
- Park opened