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1760s era lighthouse located at the Gateway National Recreational Area in Sandy Hook
Historic Site | National Park

Sandy Hook

A strategic location for the defense of New York's harbor, the Continentals failed to reinforce this peninsula, leading to the city's capture in August of 1776. A lighthouse dating to 1764 still operates there today, once serving as a Loyalist fortification.

  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Wheelchair Accessible
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New Jersey
84 Mercer Road Highlands, NJ 07732
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Know Before You Go

The lighthouse at Sandy Hook was fully restored in 2000 and the nearby parks are currently managed by the National Park Service as a part of the Gateway National recreation Area, which spans 27,000 acres.

Operating Hours

Jamaica Bay Unit hours

Includes Bergen Beach, Floyd Bennett Field, Fort Tilden, Frank Charles Park, Hamilton Beach, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Canarsie Pier, Jacob Riis Park, North Channel Bridge, Plumb Beach and Spring Creek.

Standard Hours

Monday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Tuesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Wednesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Thursday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Friday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Saturday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Sunday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM

Sandy Hook hours

Sandy Hook is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Standard Hours

Monday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Tuesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Wednesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Thursday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Friday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Saturday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Sunday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM

Staten Island hours

The Staten Island unit includes Fort Wadsworth, Great Kills and Miller Field. The park is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Standard Hours

Monday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Tuesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Wednesday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Thursday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Friday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Saturday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM
Sunday: 6:00AM - 9:00PM

Admission & Tickets

There are no entrance fees for this park.

Directions

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

Accessibility & Amenities

  • Accessible Rooms
  • Accessible Sites
  • Automated Entrance
  • Baby Changing Station
  • Benches/Seating
  • Bicycle - Rack
  • Bus/Shuttle Stop
  • Captioned Media
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Food/Drink - Vending Machine/Self Service
  • Gifts/Souvenirs/Books
  • Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
  • Information
  • Information - Maps Available
  • Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present
  • Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board
  • Parking - Auto
  • Parking - Bus/RV
  • Picnic Table
  • Public Transit
  • Restroom
  • Restroom - Accessible
  • Scenic View/Photo Spot
  • Telephone
  • Toilet - Flush
  • Trash/Litter Receptacles
  • Water - Drinking/Potable
  • Wheelchair Accessible
Reignite the spirit of revolution. Liberty Trail. See all sites.

Sandy Hook Images

Tent at Floyd Bennett Field campsite in Gateway's Jamaica Bay unit.
You can camp at all three units of Gateway, in the shadow of NYC.
Image Credit
NPS Photo
Visitors enjoying the sun and sand at Jacob Riis Park
Millions of visitors visit Gateway's beaches every summer.
Image Credit
NPS Photo
The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the only wildlife refuge in the National Park Service
Image Credit
NPS Photo
The Sandy Hook lighthouse and keepers quarters
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States.
Image Credit
NPS Photo
Battery Weed is the fort under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in Staten Island.
Battery Weeds guards the entrance to the New York harbor.
Image Credit
NPS Photo