Lighthouse Beach facts for kids

Lighthouse Beach is a beautiful part of the Fire Island National Seashore. It's right next to Robert Moses State Park on Long Island in New York.

This beach gets its name from the famous Fire Island Lighthouse that stands nearby. Lighthouse Beach is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. It stretches along the ocean between Robert Moses State Park and a small community called Kismet. The beach is officially located in the Town of Islip.

This amazing picture was taken from the top of the lighthouse. It shows the whole Lighthouse Beach. You can see the parking lot of Robert Moses State Park on the right. The town of Kismet is just visible in the distance on the left.

Getting There

Lighthouse Beach is a special place because cars aren't allowed in the Fire Island National Seashore. This means you can't drive right up to the beach.

To visit, you need to walk in from either side. You can come from Robert Moses State Park on the west side. Or, you can walk from the community of Kismet on the east side.

Right now, there isn't a special ramp for people using wheelchairs or strollers. Some ramps were there before, but big winter storms damaged them. They haven't been fixed yet.

What to Expect at the Beach

Lighthouse Beach is a quiet place with very few services. This means you won't find many facilities here.

There are no lifeguards watching the swimmers. Also, you won't find any shops or places to buy food and drinks. It's a "Carry in, Carry out" beach. This means you need to take all your trash with you when you leave. There are no trash cans on the beach.

Park Rangers from the National Park Service help keep everyone safe. Sometimes, police from the Suffolk County Police also visit. Volunteer groups also help teach visitors how to enjoy the beach responsibly.