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It’s a race against time to the Fire Island Lighthouse. Since we couldn’t get our National Park Passport Stamp at the Fire Island National Seashore’s Sailors Haven Visitors Center, we are hoping to complete our quest at Fire Island Lighthouse.

Sailor’s Haven, Cherry Grove, and other areas of Fire Island National Seashore, are only accessible by boat. After a morning exploring Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest, we disembark the afternoon, return ferry, at the Sayville Ferry Terminal. Fire Island Lighthouse and The William Floyd Estate, are Fire Island National Seashore sites, accessible by car. Having time for only one site, we choose the lighthouse.

Though the Fire Island Lighthouse, Field 5 parking lot, is hectic and crowded, we easily find a parking space.

It’s a ¾ mile walk from the Field 5 parking lot, to the Fire Island Lighthouse Tower.

The walk is along a flat, accessible, boardwalk.

The stroll is relaxing and scenic, but the length could be taxing for some. The walk is substantial enough to warrant a pedicab business. Located at the boardwalk entrance, for a fee, you can skip the saunter and take a ride to the lighthouse. During our visit, there is a wedding taking place. Women, wearing their fanciest cocktail dresses, and highest heels, opt for pedicabs rides.

Our first lighthouse stop, is The Lens Building. The Lens Building houses the First Order Fresnel Lens, used in the tower from 1858-1933. It’s the closest view of a vintage lighthouse lens we’ve encountered. The lens is fascinating.

A volunteer shares the story of the historic len’s creation and journey to Long Island. I recommend making a stop in The Lens Building during your visit to Fire Island National Seashore.

Time is slipping away. The lighthouse closes at 4:00pm and the last admission into the lighthouse tower is 3:30pm. Entering the gift shop, we purchase our tower tickets. We are ecstatic to find that this is also the location of the park stamp. Fire Island National Seashore, National Park Passport Stamp, achieved!

It is 182 steps to the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse. Most of the climb is your basic, metal, see-through, spiral, stairs.

There is a point in the climb however, that is ladder-like, and takes a little extra effort.

The sweeping views of Fire Island National Seashore are impressive.

Purchasing our tower tickets, just before 3:30pm, has advantages. We have the top of the lighthouse to ourselves. A volunteer, happily takes our photo and points out interesting areas in our view.

The volunteer announces closing time. She locks up and descends the stairs with us, sharing bits of lighthouse information along the way.

During our National Parks journey, we find that many National Parks intertwine with, overlap with, or border, State Parks. The Field 5 parking lot for the Fire Island Lighthouse, also allows access to the Robert Moses State Park. This State Park area, is perfect for those desiring some leisurely beach time. You can swim, sun, boogie board, fish…etc. There are restrooms, showers, changing areas, and a large playground. Between the National Park and State Park, you can leave your car in the Field 5 parking lot, and spend an entire day at this Long Island location.

Overall, we are content with our day at Fire Island National Seashore. Do we wish we had more time? When do we not? Two days would allow for visits to multiple ferry accessible sites, and multiple car accessible sites. Still, the two National Seashore locations we experience, Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest and the Fire Island Lighthouse, are the standout attractions of this National Park.

If you are visiting New York City, or driving through New York on a road-trip, make an effort to visit Fire Island National Seashore.

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