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National Monument · New York

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument in New York. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Monument
StateNew York
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkShenandoah (275 mi)
Closest airportEWR (8 mi)
Castle Clinton NM Entrance
Castle Clinton stands where New York City began. Photo: NPS Photo/Laura Brennan

Castle Clinton National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in New York.

In the park service’s words

Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of 1812, it has since welcomed theatergoers, immigrants, and sightseers, and today continues to greet millions of visitors to New York Harbor.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 7:45AM - 5:00PM. Castle Clinton is open daily except Thanksgiving day and Christmas Day.

Getting there

Castle Clinton is located in historic Battery Park. It is only directly accessible by foot, bicycle, or wheelchair. You cannot drive directly to the site. Local parking is nearly impossible to find and expensive. All public transportation options are located outside of Battery Park.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Newark, NJ No road route 8 Large hub
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) New York, NY No road route 9 Large hub
Teterboro Airport (TEB) Teterboro, NJ No road route 10 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Castle Clinton NM: Daily, 7:45AM - 5:00PM. open 7 days a week. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Weather

Castle Clinton National Monument has a variety of weather. New York City has hot summers and cold winters. Spring can have heavy rains and Autumn can be cool. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=New+York&state=NY&site=OKX&lat=40.7198&lon=-73.993#.Vqj8OvkrJlZ

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Shenandoah, about 275 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Castle Clinton National Monument?

No entrance fee.

Where is Castle Clinton National Monument?

In New York. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Newark Liberty International Airport, about 8 miles away.

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