Do you have to take a ferry to get to Fire Island?
How to get to Fire Island. The Island is about a 50-60 mile drive from Manhattan depending on which ferry you need to take. The trip can take about 1.5 to 3 hours from Manhattan. Traffic can be heavy in summer, so allow more time to catch the ferry.
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By Private BoatFire Island can be reached by some private vessels. Marinas are located on the bay side of Fire Island, between Moriches Inlet and Fire Island Inlet.
Fire Island Ferries travel from Bay Shore to western Fire Island communities. To get to the Fire Island Lighthouse, take the ferry to Kismet and then take a water taxi to the lighthouse.
Long Island Railroad (LIRR) stations are near the William Floyd Estate and three mainland ferry terminals for Fire Island. From Penn Station in New York City, take the Montauk Branch of the LIRR to Mastic/Shirley for the William Floyd Estate or to Bay Shore, Sayville, or Patchogue to access ferry terminals.
Fire Island Ferries provide transportation service from Bay Shore to Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, Dunewood, Ocean Beach, Seaview, and Ocean Bay Park, the seven western towns of Fire Island. It is a 30-minute ferry ride that has been running since 1948.
The barrier island of Fire Island is just a quick ferry ride across the Great South Bay from mainland Long Island. Locals and visitors travel around by foot, bike, wagon, and golf cart at this 'car-free' beach haven. The 32-mile-long island is known for its pristine beaches and relaxing beachside ambiance.
There are ATMs on the island, and all of the venues usually accept credit cards, though on occasion (like the 4th of July, for example) the bars go to cash only.
6-mile boardwalk that runs between the Field 5 parking lot at Robert Moses State Park and the Fire Island Lighthouse. There is no parking within the National Seashore, so visitors must use this parking lot (there is a fee). A boardwalk also connects the lighthouse to the Ranger Station a tenth of a mile away.
In addition to the state parks at either end of the island, public bathrooms and snack bars are in the National Seashore facilities at Atlantique, Sailor's Haven, and Watch Hill. Restrooms can also be found in Ocean Beach and Fair Harbor but may be hard to find.
Fire Island National Seashore is a carry-in, carry-out park, so please plan to pack out your trash. Also be respectful of restrictions in some communities where food and drink are not allowed on the beach or in other areas.
The Pines, which has the most expensive real estate on Fire Island, has approximately 600 houses and a 100-unit condominium complex on its square mile of location. It has two-thirds of the swimming pools on Fire Island. Its summer seasonal population is between 2,500 and 3,000.