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Governors Island National Monument: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee
None[1]
Busiest month (2025)
August[2]
Recreation visits, 2025
52,200[3]

Governors Island National Monument is a unit of the National Park System in New York[4]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee, and says the island is only accessible by ferry[1][5].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Governors Island National Monument[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS describes the summer public access season as running from May to September[6]. Fort Jay lists its court yard displays, magazine and ravelin as open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am until 4pm, in summer[7]. NPS lists Fort Jay as shut for the winter and reopening in April, with a winter schedule from 2026-12-01 to 2027-04-12[8][7]. Castle Williams will also be closed this winter and re-open in the spring[9]. In 2025 the busiest month was August, with 16,127 recreation visits[2]. NPS notes that summer weather can bring quick thunderstorms and stretches of heat or humidity, and that the island tends to run a little cooler than the city thanks to a steady breeze[6].

January 2025: 91 recreation visitsJanFebruary 2025: 264 recreation visitsFebMarch 2025: 897 recreation visitsMarApril 2025: 2,069 recreation visitsAprMay 2025: 6,555 recreation visitsMayJune 2025: 8,447 recreation visitsJunJuly 2025: 9,672 recreation visitsJulAugust 2025: 16,127 recreation visits16,127AugSeptember 2025: 8,078 recreation visitsSepOctober 2025: 0 recreation visitsOctNovember 2025: 0 recreation visitsNovDecember 2025: 0 recreation visitsDec
Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, August, is highlighted[2].
Show visits by month
Month, 2025Recreation visits
January91
February264
March897
April2,069
May6,555
June8,447
July9,672
August16,127
September8,078
October0
November0
December0
Show visits by year
Year Recreation visits
2021[3] 191,257
2022[3] 44,345
2023[3] 38,670
2024[3] 63,086
2025[3] 52,200

Pets and dogs

The national NPS pet rule says pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times where they are allowed[10]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted[10]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 0 of the things to do it lists here, and each park can close more areas to pets[11][10].

Before you go

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee for Governors Island National Monument?
NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee[1]. NPS adds that the island is only accessible by ferry[5].
When is Fort Jay open?
NPS lists Fort Jay as open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am until 4pm, in summer[7]. Fort Jay is listed as closed for the winter and re-opening in April[8].
What is the busiest month at Governors Island National Monument?
In 2025 the busiest month was August, with 16,127 NPS recreation visits[2].
Are dogs allowed at Governors Island National Monument?
The national rule says pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed, and they are not allowed in public buildings[10]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check the official park page[10].

Facts and sources

  1. NPS lists Governors Island National Monument as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
  2. NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
  3. NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 191,257, 2022: 44,345, 2023: 38,670, 2024: 63,086, 2025: 52,200. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
  4. Governors Island National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in New York. National Park Service
  5. Parking or transportation fee note from NPS: The National Park Service does not charge a fee to visit Governors Island, but the island is only accessible by ferry. National Park Service
  6. NPS weather and seasons overview for Governors Island National Monument. National Park Service
  7. Operating hours, Fort Jay: The Fort Jay court yard displays, magazine, and ravelin, are open in Summer, Wednesday through Sunday 10am until 4pm Listed exceptions: Fort Jay Winter schedule 2026-12-01 to 2027-04-12. National Park Service
  8. Operating hours, Fort Jay Winter: Fort Jay will be closed for the winter. It will re-open in April National Park Service
  9. Operating hours, Castle Williams winter: Castle Williams will be closed this winter and will re-open in the spring National Park Service
  10. National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
  11. NPS lists 1 things to do at Governors Island National Monument: Fort Jay self Guided Walk. Pets permitted on 0 of them. National Park Service
  12. Activities NPS lists for Governors Island National Monument: Biking, Road Biking, Food, Picnicking, Guided Tours, Junior Ranger Program, Museum Exhibits, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store, Gift Shop and Souvenirs. National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.