Fire Island Lighthouse & National Seashore
Fire Island
A narrow, car-free barrier island off Long Island's south shore, with white sand beaches, boardwalks through the dunes, and a black-and-white striped lighthouse you can climb.
Fire Island is a barrier island about 50 km long off the south shore of Long Island. Most of it is part of the National Seashore, and private cars are largely banned. The Fire Island Lighthouse at the western end was built in 1858. It stands about 51 meters tall and its black-and-white stripes make it striking. You can climb roughly 180 steps to the top for views of the Atlantic and Great South Bay, and there is a small exhibit hall at its base. From the parking lot at Robert Moses State Park, it's about a 1.2 km walk along a wooden boardwalk, and crowds swell on summer weekends. The dune villages in the middle of the island and the Sunken Forest coastal woodland are reached by ferry from Bay Shore or Sayville on Long Island. From New York City, take the LIRR to Babylon and then a bus or taxi; the whole trip takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Be mindful of sun protection and rip current warnings.
Opening hours
Lighthouse approx. 09:30–17:00 (seasonal; open weekends in winter); beach open all day
Nearby sights
- Roosevelt Island Tramway
- Brooklyn Museum
- The Met Cloisters
- Prospect Park
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- United Nations Headquarters
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Central Park