Biking the Multi-Use Path from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Gateway National Recreation Area

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Staten Island Unit Home Page | Fort Wadsworth Home Page

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Except for restricted areas, bikes, including Class 1 and 2 E-bikes, are allowed on all roads within Fort Wadsworth at Gateway National Recreation Area. The fort is effectively a large, residential neighborhood these days so vehicles travel very slowly, making road biking as safe as it is going to get. I can’t imagine anyone biking around the fort for pleasure, but it is a good way to get from one place to another without using a vehicle.

There is a paved, multi-use path (MUP) that connects Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field—another section of the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area—that begins at the south end of the park on USS North Carolina Road. The closest parking area is a roadside parking lot just past the Fort Wadsworth Campground (the start of the MUP is a little ways down the road). Do not park at the campground because those spaces are for registered campers only and you will get a ticket. The roadside parking lot can hold approximately two dozen cars. If this is full, the next closest parking area is at the intersection of USS North Carolina and Hudson roads, which is prior to the campground.

Start of the MUP at Fort Wadsworth in the Staten Island unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

The MUP is 2.75 miles, one way, and it is an excellent bike ride that never uses any city streets. Technically, almost none of it is within Gateway National Recreation Area, but that won’t matter to most people. It runs next to the elevated Franklin Roosevelt Boardwalk—which stretches for 1.5 miles to Seaview Avenue—then continues right along the beach to Miller Field. The route passes all sorts of playgrounds and public beaches, so there are plenty of places to stop at along the way.

The multi-use path between Fort Wadsworth and Miller Field passes a playground and city park

The multi-use path runs along the beach on its last leg to Gateway National Recreation Area’s Miller Field

While the MUP is open to hikers and joggers as well, you’ll find that most pedestrians use the elevated Franklin Roosevelt Boardwalk. You can’t see the ocean from the MUP because the boardwalk blocks the view, so obviously the best place to walk or jog is on the boardwalk. You can ride your bike on the boardwalk, but then you must deal with dodging people.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk on Staten Island

Fishing pier along the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk on Staten Island

You’ll know when you have reached Miller Field when you see a memorial to World War II veterans of New Dorp Beach and two old airplane hangars, collectively known as Hangar 38.

Hangar 38 at Miller Field, part of the Staten Island unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

World War II Memorial for soldiers from New Dorp Beach on Staten Island

The MUP proceeds about a half mile beyond Hangar 38 before coming to an end at Cedar Grove Avenue, a neighborhood street. Take this a couple of blocks to the left and you’ll be at Ebbitts Street and on your way to Great Kills Park, a third section of the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Unfortunately, there is no MUP between Miller Field and Great Kills Park, so you’ll have to take city streets.

Multi-use path that passes Miller Field ends at Cedar Grove Avenue on Staten Island

I’m not much for biking on the road because my life is worth much more than a bike ride, so while I did bike from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, I did not continue to Great Kills Park.

Multi-use path at the southern end of Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area

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