World famous Jones Beach State Park, home of 6.5 miles of beautiful white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, is made up of more than 2,400-acres of maritime environment on the south shore of Long Island. Among the 6 million visitors to the park each year, families enjoy their own piece of the beach for a day, with many returning dozens of times through the summer. Designed on the theme of an ocean liner, Jones Beach offers many activities to those who visit the park. They swim in the ocean, stroll the boardwalk, fish, visit an historic exhibit, get a bite to eat at one of the many concession stands, play miniature golf, shuffleboard and basketball, attend concerts at Northwell Health Theater Box Office, open Tuesday - Saturday 12pm-6pm (516-221-1000). Other activities that take place in the park include learning about the marine environment at the Jones Beach Nature Center, pool swimming, sunbathing, bicycling, surfing, and visiting the playgrounds.



Jones Beach State Park

Hempstead Lake State Park is a multiuse facility. Included are 20 tennis courts, children's playgrounds, basketball courts, bridle trails for horseback riding, hiking trails, shaded picnic areas and a historic hand-carved wooden carousel. There is a picnic pavilion available to rent for large parties through the Permit Department. Additionally, Hempstead offers rentals of the Carousel Party-Room by appointment.  For a rental fee of $350.00 for a three-hour event, guests are also offered unlimited carousel rides during their party.

There are three ponds that are accessible for fishing. On Hempstead Lake, the largest lake in Nassau County, you are permitted to use cartop and inflatable boats (certified by the National Marine Manufacturer's Association) with an annual permit issued from the Park. McDonald Pond, South Pond, and Hempstead Lake are stocked with trout in the fall and you may target trout year-round. Other species present include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bullhead catfish, black crappie, yellow perch, carp, and sunfish.

Hempstead Lake State Park

Gilgo State Park is located on a barrier beach on the south shore of Long Island, with Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay frontage. Access to the park is via 4 wheel drive only and requires a permit. The park is a carry in/ carry out facility. Spectacular views and tranquility make this a popular destination. The park is undeveloped. Anglers enjoy surf fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing is abundant in the fall during the striped bass migration. Anglers may also catch blue fish and a variety of salt-water species. The park is also actively managed for the protection of the piping plover and sea beach amaranth. Stewards monitor the natural resources and provide education to visitors regarding habitat management. Swimming not permitted.



Gilgo State Park

Bethpage State Park is best known for its five world-class golf courses, including the world-renowned Black Course which was the site of the U.S. Open Championship in 2002 and 2009, the Barclays in 2012 and 2016, the PGA Championship in 2019 and will host the 2025 Ryder Cup. Visitors also flock to the park to use the park's picnic facilities, playing fields, tennis courts, bridle paths, hiking and biking trails and cross-county skiing trails.

Bethpage State Park houses a restaurant and catering facilities, a Golf Pro Shop and driving range.

For information about Bethpage State Park Golf Course, please call (516) 249-0700.

Bethpage State Park

Valley Stream State Park is a day-use picnic facility next to a highly-developed residential area. The park offers picnic areas with tables, fireplaces and grills; children's play areas; horseshoe, volleyball, basketball, ball fields, nature trails, and cross-country ski trails. The Squirrel Nut and Hickory Nut nature trails give children the opportunity to explore the various habitats within the park. The park has a walking course, a half-mile loop with 15 stations, at which walkers can complete a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises. It is a unique outdoor exercise adventure with a focus on cardiovascular fitness, vitality and longevity for all ages.

Find more about park permit information

Pavilion Information
Valley Stream has one pavilion. Prices range from $200 to $250 and can accommodate up to 300 people. Check availability at ReserveAmerica.com. Find out more on picnic pavilion reservations and view photos of Valley Stream's pavilion.

Pet Policy: No pets allowed

Valley Stream State Park

Belmont Lake State Park, located in West Babylon is a 463-acre day use park bisected by Carll's Creek and Belmont Lake. The park, established in 1926 had been owned by August Belmont and served as farmland for some of Belmont's equestrian activities. Robert Moses chose this park to establish the regional headquarters for all state parks on Long Island in 1935, which serves the public today for region-wide permit sales, park administration and as headquarters for the New York State Park Police.

The park is primarily visited by families seeking outdoor gatherings, picnics, and informal sports activities. It provides a bucolic feeling adjacent to the Southern State Parkway at exit 38 among densely developed neighborhoods. Carll's Creek stretches 4.2 miles south to the Great South Bay with a trail for hiking and biking. Horseback riding is available through the nearby Babylon Riding Center (for information contact 631-587-7778). The 42-acre Belmont Lake is encircled by a similar path, making a total of 7.6 miles of multi-use trails.

Pedal boats, rowboats, and kayaks are available for rent on the lake through the summer. We allow kayaks and canoes to be launched from the boat dock while the boat dock is open (they can't be inflatable, must be hard bottomed, no motors, no surfboards or wakeboards, and no paddle boards). If you cannot bring your own kayak, kayak rentals are also available for a nominal fee.

The park's significant natural features include the 26-acre, spring-fed Belmont Lake and a significant wetland complex. The lake provides springtime trout fishing and summer bass fishing for the avid anglers who use the park. It is home to permanent and migratory waterfowl populations. Park visitors enjoy watching Osprey diving from high above to catch fish for their young in the spring. Other waterfowl that can be easily spotted include Northern Shovelers, Mergansers, Teal, Great Blue Heron, and Egrets.

Patrons enjoy activities such as picnicking, playgrounds, and using the various game courts and fields. The lake attracts trail walking, fishing and non-motorized boating. The 7.6 miles of trails throughout the park are available for hiking, walking, biking, nature observation and weather permitting, cross-country skiing.

Special events such as the Great Jack-O-Lantern Sail, Holiday Tree Lighting, Egg Hunt, and Fishing Expo draw the highest attendance on non-holiday weekends.

Find out more about park permit information.

Belmont Lake State Park

Robert Moses State Park is an ocean beachfront facility that attracts nearly 3.8 million visitors annually and boasts a shoreline of nearly five miles. As the most western point of Fire Island, the park is conveniently located at the southern end of the Robert Moses Causeway and is easily accessible by car or from the Babylon train station with a bus connection. Visitors are welcome to swim and boogie-board at any of our four lifeguard-staffed fields. Surfing and surf-fishing are popular activities that are enjoyed by many beach-goers as well. Each location is equipped with concessions, beach shops, first aid offices, comfort stations, and private outdoor showers. Scenic picnic areas complete with park grills and tables for any group size are located at fields 2, 3, and 4.

An 18-hole Pitch & Putt Golf Course is available at Field 2 for public use from early April through mid-November. Field 2 is also home to an expansive volleyball court area which can accommodate up to 21 games at a time. It sits just east of Democrat Point, a local favorite with surfers and fishermen alike for its 4x4 drive-on access and shorefronts which face both the Atlantic Ocean and the Fire Island Inlet.

Established in 1908 in honor of master builder Robert Moses, Field 3 is the park's oldest recreation area. It is the closest location to the park's landmark Water Tower, which serves as a perfect background to the field's picnic area. Here, visitors can utilize a spacious gazebo to host large gatherings on a first -come, first-serve basis. Patrons may also make use of an underpass tunnel that connects Field 3 to a day-use boat basin which can accommodate up to 80 personal watercrafts. Anglers typically take this walk from Field 3 to fish or crab off of the long piers in front of the facility's Park Office. Open 7 days a week, the Park Office sells an array of permits that allow visitors to make the most of their beach experience, including Empire Passports and Fishing, Surfing, and Star Gazing Permits.

Field 5 is the public's gateway to Fire Island. With a beautiful ¾ mile nature walk that leads directly to the Fire Island Lighthouse, visitors are free to explore nearby towns like Kismet and Saltaire by foot from the eastern parking lot. Perfect for families, Field 5 also offers a large playground area for children and a boardwalk that extends the length of the parking area.

All beachfronts are handicap-accessible by beach wheelchair, which are available free of charge on a first-come, first serve basis at any of our First Aid Offices. During the summer season, mobility mats, for easier beach access can be found at Field 2, Field 3 and Field 5.

Jones Beach State Park Maps

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Jones Beach State Park Description

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