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Driving Directions.
Fire Island is a short drive from the Metropolitan New York area. Follow our driving directions or for door-to-door directions, use MapQuest.com Web Directions (enter 99 Maple Ave., Bay Shore, NY as your destination).
VERY EASY- L.I.E. to Sag to Southern State to 5th Ave and
follow the signs to the Ferry.
From Long Island Expressway take Exit 53-Sagtikos Parkway South to Southern St. Parkway Eastern Long Island (left fork). Take Southern Parkway to first exit (Exit 42 south-Fifth Avenue) make left at stop sign and then right onto Fifth Avenue south. Take Fifth Avenue to first traffic light after LIRR tracks. Make left onto Union Blvd. Turn right at 3rd light onto Fourth Ave. Continue approx. 1/3 mile past second set of traffic lights (Fourth ave. becomes Maple Ave.) SV/OBPk terminal is on right side of Maple Ave.
Parking
Park at the train station and take a $4.00pp cab ride to the ferry OR parking is available at the Ferry Terminal. Parking for the weekend is about $40 and the lot fills up early, but there are other lots nearby. If full, leave the Terminal and make a left onto Maple Avenue. Take the next left onto Shore Line Marine. It is a 4-minute walk back.
By Train
From PENN STATION take the LIRR (Babylon Line, a one hour ride for $11) to BAY SHORE. The station in Bay Shore is about 1 mile from the ferry. After arriving in Bay Shore take one of the local taxi services (Tommy’s or David’s). It's a $4 ride to the terminal. If you prefer you can walk to the ferry, it’s a easy 15 minute walk.
By Taxi
Another way to get to Fire Island is by taking Tommy’s Taxi Service ($16 from NYC directly to F.I. Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal). Call Tommy’s Taxi on LI for schedule, fare, pickup points and times of pickups.
Contact: (631) 665-4800
Fire Island Ferry Schedules
There is nothing like a ferry ride to help you relax for your vacation or weekend retreat. Fire Island has ferries leaving to and from various destinations on the island and the mainland. Follow the links to find out timetables and other passenger information. The ferry ride currently costs about $15 for the round trip and takes approximately 30 minutes.
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Things To Do
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Bored? Never on Fire Island! Fire Island has activities for everyone, including camping, hiking, observing wildlife, surfing, boating, and swimming, and of course, places to eat, drink, and be merry!
Since there are many fun and relaxing things to do on this beautiful island, FireIsland.com wants to make sure you don't miss out on anything. Be sure to visit two of Fire Island's top attractions -- the Sunken Forest and the Fire Island Lighthouse.
Recreation opportunities include surfing, boating, camping and miles of scenic hiking trails.
Fire Island Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, red fox and many species of birds.
Sunken Forest
Maintained by The Fire Island National Seashore, this unique area is one of the last remaining maritime forests on the eastern seaboard. It earned its name because it appears lower than the surrounding water. The forest is not actually below sea level -- the high surrounding sand dunes that protect this environment create the illusion of being lower than sea level.
The Sunken Forest spans approximately 40 acres, so there is plenty to see. You can walk for miles up and down the roller coaster boardwalks that carry you over two rows of sand dunes. The Sunken Forest consists primarily of American holly, sassafras, and shadblow. Some trees are estimated to be well over 200 years old.
This naturally preserved wilderness is abundant with hardwood groves, dunes, swamps, and marshland. Serious hikers, bird watchers, and ecologists find this part of the island absolutely fascinating. With several ecosystems, there is plenty of diversity in the flora and wildlife. While walking through the forest, be sure to look up -- the twisted canopy is the forest's most intriguing attribute.
The parks department provides guided tours during the summer season.
Sunken Forest is located in Sailors Haven, a great Fire Island day trip destination. For more on Sunken Forest and Sailors Haven click on the links below.
Sailors Haven
http://www.nps.gov/fiis/sftour/tourintro.htm
Fire Island Lighthouse
Fire Island's most historically significant landmark was built in 1857 to protect ocean voyaging ships from running ashore on the island. In 1987, the state rebuilt the Fire Island Lighthouse as a museum and observatory. It can be reached from the Bay Shore ferry line or a short walk across the Robert Moses Crossway. Although the Fire Island Light was extinguished in 1974, its history shines bright. Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society and National Park Service are responsible for the lighthouse restoration and preservation.
For more info Visit the links below:
History of the Fire Island Lighthouse
Fire Island Lighthouse Area
Fire Island Park Department
Camping
Fire Island National Seashore provides limited camping facilities. There is one seasonal campground, accessible only by ferry, private boat, or on foot from elsewhere on the island, with tents-only sites and a lottery for reservations.
Otis Pike Fire Island Wilderness
Federal protected wilderness area on the eastern 7-mile portion of Fire Island. This 1300-acre preserve covers from Watch Hill to Smith Point. Camping is permitted and wildlife is abundant.
Smith Point/Fire Island Wilderness Visitor Center
Watch Hill Campground
Tents only with running water, grills, showers, bathrooms and you can bring your pet. Accessible only by ferry, by private boat, or by hiking from elsewhere on Fire Island. Open mid-May through mid-October. Cost is $20 and reservations must be done through a lottery in April which allocates campsites for the season.
Phone: 631-597-6633
Click here for more Info on the Watch Hill Campground
BirdWatching
Fire Island is one of the best places in the New York area for birdwatching. Its diverse habitats support a great variety of birds throughout the year, and it is a prime "rest stop" for birds on migration. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded on this thin strip of land, around 1/3 of all the birds found in North America!
Surfing
Fire Island is a barrier island that creates great surfing, especially during the hurricane season when the waves have been known to exceed ten feet. A series of sandbars and jetties enable variations in the island's surf conditions.
The best breaks: Sandbar breaks can be found in Atlantique, Point o' Woods, and Smith Point. For a steeper, faster wave, surfers head to the ocean beach jetties. There is an east and west jetty, both with quality waves and a fantastic section in the middle of the two. The middle section is only surfable before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. when lifeguards are off duty. The outer areas are reserved for surfing -- when the swell is good, it's the place to be.
Fishing
Fishing is fantastic around the shores and off the docks of Fire Island. There are a few ways to approach fishing on the island.
Surfcasting is a fun way to fish as you can cast directly into the swift-moving schools of blues and stripers right off the beach into the Atlantic. On the other shore of the island, the Bay provides an abundance of fluke, flounder, blues, stripers, crabs, and more. Bay fishing is best accessible by boat, however, the community docks have been known to be quite productive at times. The best times for fishing are early mornings, late afternoon, and nighttime.
If you don't have a boat, there are many charter services that will provide you with excellent offshore fishing around the Fire Island area. See the Fire Island business directory for more information on charter boats.
Clamming
Clams are to Fire Island what maple syrup is to Vermont. Abundant, fresh, and fun to gather, clamming is a great activity for anyone visiting Fire Island. There are a few strategies used when clamming. While many use the rake and boat approach, longtime locals are more familiar with the foot and toe method. Just walk out in the bay, dig your feet into the sand, and feel for the bump. When you feel that smooth and hard rock-like shell, reach down and pull it out. Here at FireIsland.com, we suggest everyone tries this method of clamming at least once. It's a therapeutic and enlightening experience.
For Kids
Wagoning
Fire Island is famous for its wagons. When landing on Fire Island, one will undoubtedly be approached by the local and summer youth prospecting the use of their wagon. Don't be afraid -- they are just trying to make a few bucks to buy some overpriced ice cream. If you have children and want them to learn the value of a day's work, get a wagon and have them wait by the ferry for the weekend crowds. It's a great way for your children to learn the value of a dollar and interact with other island children.
Shell decorating and sales
Fire Island has 30 miles of shell-covered beaches. Shell collecting and decorating can be a great pastime for children as well as adults. To increase the fun while giving your children some business experience, send them out to the nearest walk with a table full of their newly decorated, priced-to-sell shells. Make sure your children flash their puppy dog eyes -- they will surely make a few bucks.
Youth groups and camps
Fire Island offers several camps and youth groups. The best-known camp on Fire Island is the Ocean Beach Youth Group. These camps offer instruction in sailing, swimming, windsurfing, sports, arts and crafts, and nature. Camp is a great way to spend the summer and meet other Fire Island kids. For contact information, see the FireIsland.com business directory.
A few tips when visiting Fire Island.
Fire Island is at its most beautiful in the summer when the scenery beckons visitors outdoors. As you depart the urban jungle and embark on your journey to the "wilds" of Fire Island, you should be mindful of a few things. Safety is not reserved for the big city, however on the shore there are other issues one should be aware of, some just plain common sense, and others…. well, you decide.
Just as mom always told us, never walk on the boardwalk barefoot, or you will end up with splinters.
Stay on marked trails or you will expose yourself to poison ivy and ticks. Deer ticks can be carriers of Lyme Disease. To protect yourself, wear insect repellent, dress in light colored clothing, and check your body very carefully for ticks.
Needless to say - sun block is an essential for yourself and your children.
Don't be reckless in the water. When boating, adhere to all regulations and wear lifejackets or lifebelts. Do not speed, and be extremely cautious in the channels and marina areas.
Never feed the wild animals. Their behavior can be unpredictable and food will only lure them towards people. Don't worry; Mother Nature does take care of her own. Enjoy the wildlife from a distance.
Don't forget to bring:
Insect repellent, light clothing, baseball hat, long tent stakes if camping, binoculars, sun block, and lots of aspirin
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