Fair Harbor is a small community on Fire Island, NY, located just a few miles across the Great South Bay from Bay Shore and about 50 miles east of New York City. With about 350 homes within its 13-block town limits, the town has everything anyone might want with a few stores, a restaurant and a pizza shop, giving it old-style charm with the security of a state-of-the-art Fire Department and EMS. The beach is wide, the bay front is active, and the sunsets, famous around the world, draw Fair Harbor’s friendly people to the dock each night to watch the sun disappear into the bay.
The Fair Harbor Community Association (FHCA) was created to give the town a unified voice in matters of civic interest and to provide residents with amenities.
To become a member of the FHCA or pay 2024 dues, please click here.
To make a tax deductible donation to the Fair Harbor Community Fund, please click here.
About Fair Harbor
Real Estate: A few of Fair Harbor’s 350 houses date to the 1920s, but most were built in the 1970s and many have been built recently.
Size: Less than one square mile
Distance from New York City: About 47 miles by car to the ferry dock in Bay Shore, NY, and six miles across the water by ferry to Fair Harbor
Getting There by Train: By Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station, it takes about 80 minutes to Bay Shore. Trains leave Penn Station frequently for Bay Shore, with connections at either Babylon or Jamaica. Vans meet the trains for the four-minute ride to the ferry docks and charge about $5, or people can walk the one-mile distance through Bay Shore in about 15 minutes. For train schedules and information, check the LIRR website.
Getting There by Van: David Brothers Car Service (631-665-1515) run vans to and from Manhattan. Pick up in Manhattan is near 53rd St. and Second Ave. or 68th & Third. Call for times and locations. Coming from FI, the vans will drop you on Second Ave., anywhere between 96th and 14th St.
Getting There by Car: The drive takes about one hour and 10 minutes from Manhattan to the ferry dock. Take the Long Island Expressway East to Exit 53, then the Sagtikos State Parkway South to the Southern State Parkway East. Turn off at Exit 42 South and follow signs through Bay Shore to the ferry dock, located at 99 Maple Avenue.
Parking: Parking is available across from the ferry terminal. If it is full, the parking attendants will tell you where else to park. Rates are $12 per day weekdays and $20 per day weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and holidays. Weekly and monthly rates are available. Check Fire Island Ferries for more information.
The Ferry: It’s a 30-minute ferry ride from Bay Shore to Fair Harbor and ferries run about every 90 minutes or longer.
Round Trip fares: adult – $25 and child – $13 and they only take cash for tickets. No credit cards except for 40-trip books. Tickets are also available in FI mTicket App.
The ferries are located at:
Fire Island Ferries
99 Maple Ave.
Bay Shore, New York 11706
Phone: 631-665-3600
www.fireislandferries.com
The FI Ferries also handle freight to Fair Harbor. Check their website or call for details.
Click here for a handy guide for renters and guests.
