Floyd Bennett Field Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov.
- Season
- Open year-round.
- Sites
- Tent and group sites at a former airfield in Brooklyn.
- The signature pick: a real campground inside New York City, near the Jamaica Bay refuge.
National Park Service · New York
Gateway National Recreation Area
An urban national park across New York Harbor: ocean beaches at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis, the Floyd Bennett Field campground, and history a subway ride from the city.
Field briefing
Gateway National Recreation Area starts with access, not mileage.
Before you go
Gateway is a national park stitched into New York City, so the planning is unusual: there is no entrance fee, much of it is reachable by transit, and the cost that matters is seasonal beach parking at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis.
Treat it as several distinct destinations: Sandy Hook for ocean beaches and history in New Jersey, Jamaica Bay for world-class urban birding, and Jacob Riis and Fort Tilden for Queens beach days. Camping at Floyd Bennett Field is the rare overnight option inside the city, reserved through Recreation.gov.
- Best window
- Late May to early September for swimming and beaches; spring and fall for birding and quiet trails
- Signature routes
- Sandy Hook beaches and Fort Hancock, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
- Pack focus
- Water, layers
Gateway in photos
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Location
New York
Established
1972
Size
27k acres
Best time
Late May to early September for swimming and beaches; spring and fall for birding and quiet trails
Entrance
No entrance fee. Seasonal beach parking is $20 per day or $100 per season at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis (oversized vehicles more).
Nearest airport
John F. Kennedy International (JFK), minutes from the Jamaica Bay unit
When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
55-70F
Moderate crowds
Cool and breezy, highs 55-70F. Strong shorebird migration through Jamaica Bay.
Pack Wind layer, sun protection, and binoculars for the refuge.
Summer
80-90F
Peak crowds
Warm and humid, highs 80-90F. Peak beach season with paid lots and crowds.
Pack Sun protection, water, and an early plan for beach parking.
Fall
60-75F
Moderate crowds
Mild and clear, highs 60-75F. Excellent birding and quieter beaches.
Pack Layers, and a camera for migrating raptors and shorebirds.
Winter
35-45F
Low crowds
Cold and windy, highs 35-45F. Quiet, dramatic shorelines and good waterfowl viewing.
Pack Real insulation, wind protection, and traction on icy paths.
Top things to do
Sandy Hook beaches and Fort Hancock
Atlantic Ocean swimming beaches on a New Jersey barrier spit, plus a historic coastal-defense fort and the oldest operating lighthouse in the country.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
One of the best urban birding sites in the country, with trails ringing tidal ponds under the JFK flight path.
Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden
A Queens ocean beach with a historic bathhouse, beside the wilder dunes and former military bunkers of Fort Tilden.
How long to spend
Anchor the day around Sandy Hook beaches and Fort Hancock
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Gateway National Recreation Area, make Sandy Hook beaches and Fort Hancock the non-negotiable, add Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Sandy Hook beaches and Fort Hancock: Atlantic Ocean swimming beaches on a New Jersey barrier spit, plus a historic coastal-defense fort and the oldest operating lighthouse in the country.
- 2Add Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: One of the best urban birding sites in the country, with trails ringing tidal ponds under the JFK flight path.
- 3Use Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn Gateway's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Gateway National Recreation Area. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Gateway National Recreation Area packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Gateway National Recreation Area asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- If overnightSleep and shelterTent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
Gear for Gateway
The buying guides that match what Gateway asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in New York City or northern New Jersey and treat Gateway as a day trip by car or transit. The standout overnight option is the campground at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, a genuine campsite inside the city, with limited seasonal camping also in the Sandy Hook and Staten Island units. Highlands and the Jersey Shore towns near Sandy Hook offer hotels close to the ocean beaches.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Camping is reservation-only on Recreation.gov, led by Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
Gateway offers camping in its Jamaica Bay, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook units, all reserved through Recreation.gov. The headline site is the Floyd Bennett Field campground, a rare chance to camp inside New York City.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Campsites are reserved through Recreation.gov. Jamaica Bay camping runs year-round, while Staten Island and Sandy Hook are seasonal, roughly late spring through early fall.
- There is no entrance fee, but Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis charge seasonal beach parking of $20 per day or $100 per season, and more for oversized vehicles.
- Floyd Bennett Field at Jamaica Bay is the flagship campground and the only one open year-round.
- Camping is by reservation; this is not a drive-up-and-pitch park.
- Transit reaches several areas, but a car makes Sandy Hook and the camping logistics far easier.
Where to book or verify
Gateway camping information
Official NPS page for camping across the Jamaica Bay, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook units.
Reserve Gateway campsites
Campsites, including Floyd Bennett Field, book through Recreation.gov.
Campgrounds to know
Sandy Hook and Staten Island camping
Details- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov when open.
- Season
- Seasonal, roughly late spring through early fall.
- Sites
- Limited seasonal camping in the New Jersey and Staten Island units.
- Use these when you want to wake up near the Sandy Hook ocean beaches or the Staten Island unit.
Getting there and practical info
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Get to Gateway National Recreation Area by solving the transfer first.
- Nearest airport
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK), minutes from the Jamaica Bay unit
- Access rhythm
- Transfer time matters
- Region
- New York
Arrival note
Gateway spans New York Harbor in three units.
Transfer plan
Sandy Hook sits at the northern tip of the New Jersey shore, reachable by car or a seasonal ferry from Manhattan.
Car strategy
Jamaica Bay and Jacob Riis are in Brooklyn and Queens, reachable by car and, for parts, by subway and bus.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee at Gateway National Recreation Area?
No. Gateway has no entrance fee. The cost most visitors pay is seasonal beach parking at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis, set at $20 per day or $100 per season, and more for oversized vehicles.
Can you camp in New York City at Gateway?
Yes. The Floyd Bennett Field campground in Brooklyn is open year-round and reserved through Recreation.gov, making it a rare chance to camp inside the city. Sandy Hook and Staten Island have additional seasonal camping.
What is the best part of Gateway for wildlife?
The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is one of the premier urban birding sites in the country, with trails around tidal ponds and strong spring and fall shorebird migration, all under the JFK flight path.
How do you get to Sandy Hook without a car?
A seasonal ferry runs from Manhattan to Sandy Hook in summer, which avoids both the drive and the beach-parking fee. A car is still the most flexible option, especially outside ferry season.