Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Facility · New York ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Gateway National Recreation Area (National Recreation Area) · Open Access
- 22 ft
- Elevation
The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is the gateway to this 900-acre preserve, home to salt marshes, uplands, open bay and beach areas, and two man-made ponds, all supporting hundreds of species of plant and wildlife. The one story, flat-roofed building contains a ranger desk, colorful exhibits on the eco-system of the surrounding area, a classroom, a bookstore, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, water fountains, and tactile, hands-on nature exhibits. Restrooms are open when the visitor center is
Getting there
Off of Cross Bay Boulevard.
From the North, East, and West the Visitor Contact Station is approximately 1.5 miles past the bridge on the right.
From the South (and alternate route from other directions):
Beach Channel Drive to the Cross Bay - Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Cross the bridge toward Broad Channel.
Follow Cross Bay Boulevard through Broad Channel, about 1 mile.
Turn left at traffic light into the Visitor Contact Station parking lot.
40.61679, -73.82483 · 40°37'0.4"N 73°49'29.4"W
Typical weather
Typically 84°F in Jul, down to 40°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 42 | 49 | 59 | 68 | 78 | 84 | 82 | 76 | 65 | 54 | 45 |
| Low °F | 26 | 27 | 34 | 43 | 53 | 62 | 69 | 68 | 61 | 50 | 40 | 32 |
| Precip in | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 4.0 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
- Can you reserve a site at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center?
- No. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
- Camp Gateway- Brooklyn Ny 3.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp Gateway - Staten Island 12.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp Gateway - Sandy Hook 14.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ryan Visitor Center 4.3 mi · Facility
- Visitor Center 11.2 mi · Visitor Center
- Museum of American Finance 11.5 mi · Facility
- Castle Clinton NM 11.7 mi · Visitor Center
- Ellis Island Information Desk 12.6 mi · Facility
- Liberty Island Information Center 12.7 mi · Facility
- The Plaza 12.8 mi · Facility
- Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 13.6 mi · Facility
- The Jazz Museum in Harlem 14.4 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (718) 318-4340
- Email gateway_feedback@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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