Gardiners IslandAbout Gardiners Island
Gardiners Island is a privately owned island in Gardiners Bay off the eastern end of Long Island, New York. It was acquired by Lion Gardiner in 1639 and has remained in the Gardiner family for generations.
The island is not generally open to the public, so most interest is from historians, researchers and those studying coastal ecology. It contains family properties, farmland and extensive natural habitats that have attracted archaeological and historical study.
Lion Gardiner purchased the island in 1639 and it has remained in private family ownership since then. Over the centuries it has been used for agriculture, as a private residence and as a site of local historical interest.
The island sits in Gardiners Bay off eastern Long Island, between the main body of Long Island and Fishers Island, within the jurisdiction of the Town of East Hampton in New York.
- Founding: The island has been privately owned by the Gardiner family since it was acquired by Lion Gardiner in 1639.
- Access: Access is restricted and the island is not open to casual public visits; permission from the owners is required to land.
Best Time to Visit Gardiners Island
Gardiners Island is seasonal in the sense of weather, but public access is effectively closed year-round; any visit must be arranged with the owners.
Weather & Climate near Gardiners Island
Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 27°C. Abundant rainfall (1190 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -5° - 4° | -6° | 106 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -4° - 5° | -5° | 92 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -1° - 8° | -1° | 111 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 4° - 13° | 5° | 105 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 9° - 18° | 14° | 94 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 14° - 23° | 19° | 88 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 17° - 27° | 22° | 79 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 17° - 26° | 22° | 101 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 14° - 23° | 18° | 96 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 94 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 4° - 13° | 5° | 114 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -1° - 7° | -2° | 110 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Gardiners Island
There is no public ferry; access is only by private boat and requires explicit permission from the island’s owners. The nearest public marinas and ferry services operate from eastern Long Island towns such as East Hampton and Montauk.
Tips for Visiting Gardiners Island
- Gardiners Island is privately owned and closed to the public; do not attempt to land without an invitation from the owners or their representatives.
- If researching its history, consult the Suffolk County (NY) historical archives or the East Hampton Library for documents and maps relating to the Gardiner family.
- Respect the conservation ethos of the island: much of the land is preserved, and casual visits would threaten nesting birds and fragile dunes.