Searching for the best beaches in New York State? You can definitely find great beaches in NYC, all around New York State and near NYC, such as in New Jersey. Here you can find an in depth list by a Native New Yorker. Let’s dive in!
When you think of New York State, beaches probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but you would be surprised! There are plenty of nice, sandy beaches around to spend a day building sand-castles, surfing, or just dipping your toes.
As you probably know from geography, New York is surrounded by a body of water, most notably the Atlantic Ocean. The further you go away from the city, the more space and access you’ll get to some of the prettiest beaches in the State.
The Hamptons are notorious for big summer crowds and second home properties that are being used to full capacity once the season begins. But even a shorter train or subway ride will get you to a cool beach when it’s needed the most.
New York City is a sweltering place to be during the summer. Getting away to the welcoming ocean breezes of the local beaches is a definite must-do. Here’s a list to help you on your quest to cool off during the summer!
The Best Beaches in New York City and Around
The Best Beaches in Brooklyn
Manhattan Beach
Out of all of the Brooklyn beaches, this one is the least crowded, which is the reason it became a favorite among locals and people looking for some privacy, without having to travel far and competing with too many other beachgoers.
It’s an easy commute from Manhattan and makes for a great day of picnicking and relaxing in the sun. The houses around the Manhattan Beach area are so beautiful and many of them are historic too.
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Brighton Beach
This is an area where many Eastern Europeans have settled down and you will benefit and get the full experience of that here, including Russian and Ukrainian parties at night and ethnic food along the boardwalk. The beach’s nickname: Little Odessa.
It’s a unique place and feels like anything but the quintessential Brooklyn a visitor might think of at first!
The food is authentic, and it’s great for mingling with the locals, who cherish this beach beyond words during the summer. It’s their weekend escape for when temperatures reach anything over 80 degrees. And so the party begins!
Coney Island
This is where all of the excitement is to be found! It’s not the cleanest or nicest beach per se, but you go for riding the Cyclone at Luna Park, the boardwalk, visiting the beautiful aquarium and eating Nathan’s Famous hot dog, which hosts the annual hot dog eating contest.
It’s crowded, but loads of fun to visit, especially when you’re going with friends or children in tow. Pack a blanket and off you go for an adventure-filled excursion! The F-train will take you straight there.
Note: Another great annual summer experience in Coney Island is attending The Mermaid Parade. It is the celebration of the Summer Solstice with a fun crowd and amazing costumes!
Getting to Coney Island
By subway: take the D, Q, N, F train to the last stop Stillwell Ave.
The Best Beaches in Queens
Rockaway Beach
Queens has beaches too, who would have thought? Rockaway Beach is where the action is in the summer. It’s a great place for an extended stay, which many Manhattanites take advantage of, and end up renting weekend cabins for the summer.
There are endless activities, such as surfing or volleyball, and many may be spontaneously organized, amidst plenty of yummy food trucks along the boardwalk. Try the fish tacos, they’re always fresh and filling!
If you’re looking for an affordable option, why not pull some friends together and share the burden of paying for a summer cottage? It’s worth the effort. And public transportation to reach the beach is impeccable.
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Fort Tilden Beach
This is the most deserted beach around, which makes it so utterly attractive for some. It’s perfect for solitude, romance, or writing that best-selling novel!
During the week it’s basically empty and, even on weekends, you’ll only find a handful of people out and about. The lack of proper transportation to the beach is probably the main reason why people don’t visit it in larger numbers, or might not even know about it. It’s a bit of a process to reach it but, once there, it’s perfect.
However, it needs planning. There’s no food to be purchased in proximity, so you have to bring your own, which is only a small hindrance. Nothing that a trip to the grocery store the day before, or stopping along the way, can’t solve!
Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on duty, so swimming in the ocean is at your own risk. Otherwise, it makes for a wonderful trip away from the masses.
Jacob Riis Park Beach
Ever you heard of the Beach Bazaar? It invites you to shop and eat all you want, and is located right here, at Jacob Riis Park Beach. This is a thrilling beach to go to, since there’s so much to do. The food choices are endless too, which gives it everything you’d desire in a perfect beach day.
Unlike the previously mentioned beach, this one is made for party-goers, and people looking for excitement. You can bring the party to the beach and others will join in, if you let them.
I would suggest getting there early to secure a prime spot on the beach, and to be able to be the first in line before the lunch crowds have you standing in line at the most popular food vendors. Bring your best attitude always and enjoy!
The Best Beach in the Bronx
Orchard Beach
It’s unexpected to find a beach in the Bronx, but here we are! Located at Pelham Bay Park, this is the Bronx’s beloved Puerto Rican Riviera, as it is also called. It’s an oasis that everyone can enjoy and it gets very crowded, but quietude is only a short walk away, if you decide to explore other areas of the park.
I would absolutely rate it as one of the best beaches in the city, serving a big part of the city’s population. Puerto Rican Day Parade is celebrated here with great honor and lots of delicious food!
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The Best Beaches in Staten Island
Midland Beach
Staten Island has a few hidden treasures, and Midland Beach would be one of them. It’s a beach for locals mostly, since many don’t bother with the public transportation to get there (it’s complicated!).
If you have a car, however, then it’s a perfect location for a relaxing day at the beach. The boardwalk invites you to stroll leisurely or to even take a bike tour along the beach. Either way, you will find ample space for all outdoor activities!
South Beach
Another popular beach amongst the locals in Staten Island is South Beach where you can get wonderful views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as a backdrop. They usually have concerts, activities, and fireworks over the summer, so definitely check out their website.
What I really like is that there is a little bit of everything here. A cool fountain with six bronze dolphins that light ups with colors at night is great for pics. You can also sit down to sunbathe, swim, or walk along the boardwalk.
Not to mention that, for those who love fishing, this beach has a large fishing pier, one of the longest ones in NYC. Lastly, there’s a park with different forms of entertainment for Senior Citizens or others, if that’s your thing, such as bocce courts, checkerboard tables, etc. Something for everyone!
The Best Beaches in Long Island
Fire Island
There’s so many wonderful things to say about Fire Island! It’s one of the best day-trips from New York City, with Robert Moses State Park having the most beautiful beach on the Island. The commute is easy and before you know it, Fire Island is right in front of you!
Insider Tip: Visit the lighthouse and climb the stairs to get perfect views of the ocean.
Whether you want to live it up or spend quality family-time here, it offers a little bit of both. It’s not a developed area in the sense that it has hotels on the island but, if you want to spend a few nights here, you can look for an Airbnb, or plan to stay at their camping site, which goes perfectly well with the name! Camp, make a fire, meet new friends, and hang out at the beach. What can be better than that?
If you do want to go on a day trip to Fire Island, I also can recommend taking the LIRR to the Bay Shore stop in Long Island, and from there you can take a ferry into Ocean Beach on Fire Island.
I really like Ocean Beach. You can walk around the boardwalk, explore their beautiful streets, see some cool houses; there are great places to eat and drink and, afterwards, you can grab some homemade ice cream. I definitely enjoy the vibe whether you’re on a date, hanging out with friends or family, there’s always fun to be found here.
There are also other beaches on Fire Island, such as Cherry Groove and the Fire Island Pines that are very Gay friendly. Honestly, on Fire Island, there is something for everyone!
Jones Beach
At Jones Beach State Park you can find something that most other beaches don’t have: A firepit, yay! It makes for a great excuse to get your smore’s game on!
It’s a popular place for families and very easy to reach via public transportation. It also happens to be one of the cleaner beaches, despite the firepits, since most people are good at cleaning up after themselves.
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Long Beach
Only an hour away by train, this is one of the most popular beaches for day trips from Manhattan. There is a long wooden boardwalk where people jog or bike down.
The beach is also very long, with several roped off swimming areas staffed by lifeguards. Note: This beach requires a beach pass.
Getting to Long Beach:
By train: on the LIRR, there are trains to and from every hour starting around 8 am from Penn Station, costing approximately $13.50.
It’s a quick walk from the train station down some residential blocks before hitting the beach. If you’re not sure which way to go, just follow the crowds!
Best beaches in The Hamptons
A little background about the Hamptons:
The South Fork of Long Island compromises the towns of West Hampton, South Hampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk, which collectively are called The Hamptons. Each town has one or more beaches, perfect for relaxation or fun in the sun!
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this area fills up with party-minded summer shares, rich celebrities, and many city residents escaping for the weekend. Because of this exclusivity, it is an expensive place to visit in the summer.
Most of the beaches also require pre-paid parking passes, but some do have day parking. The nicest beaches are on the Atlantic Oceanside. Trivia: The movie Jaws was filmed off of Montauk.
Main Beach
Welcome to the Hamptons! Home of the rich and beautiful! Main Beach is definitely an example of what a rich person’s beach would look like: Very clean and well-funded, as you can see by its amenities and lifeguard houses. It was named #1 on America’s Best Beaches list according to the NY Post.
Even though it’s a bit far out, it’s free, and you can mingle among the one percent. Don’t worry, the beach isn’t prejudiced against anyone! Bring your best gear and enjoy a piece of the Hamptons, open to anyone who owns a bathing suit.
Ditch Plains
Attention, all surfers! If you haven’t found the ideal beach yet to perfect your wave-riding, then look no further. Ditch Plains is it! Need further help? Take some lessons from highly-regarded Corey’s Wave and you will be off to a great start.
This beach is always busy, and famous for its watersport activities, especially surfing. It’s located in Montauk on the tip of Long Island and is the last spot on the Hamptons.
It’s scenic, makes for great picture opportunities, and is great for the whole family. Another bonus is that it’s large enough to accommodate the throngs of people visiting Montauk during the high season, which makes social distancing somewhat easier, given the long stretch of sand.
It brings excitement during all seasons, even in winter when hardcore surfers are still at it, and it’s also very pretty to look at, with its surrounding formations and those foamy waves rolling in.
Getting to the Hamptons:
- By car: Driving from the city will take around four hours, depending on the traffic.
- By train: Taking the Long Island Railroad or LIRR from Penn Station is a good option but can be crowded during holiday weekends.
- By bus: The Hamptons Jitney picks up and drops off at several Manhattan locations to and from several Hamptons locations.
Best Beaches Near NYC
The Jersey Shore Beaches
Much like The Hamptons, the Jersey Shore attracts party share houses, and weekenders, but without the notoriety of rich celebrities and pretentiousness that comes with it. Beaches abound up and down the shore, sometimes even in quaint Victorian towns with other action to offer, such as great dining, antiquing and shopping.
Some of the famous beaches are Bradley, Point Pleasant, Bayhead, Seaside Heights, and Surf City. Here is a complete guide to the best Jersey Shore Beaches as per a Native from New Jersey.
Note: Beaches here require beach passes. There is also a casino at Atlantic City for people who want to gamble après beach. It may not be the Atlantic City of old, but it’s on it’s way to being rebuilt better than before!
Getting to the jersey shore
- By car: Several of the closest beaches are a couple of hours’ drive from Manhattan.
- By train: All of the towns are served by the New Jersey Transit trains from and to Penn Station.
Sea La Vie!
Beaches will always be a wonderful example of what New York has to offer, serving as a refuge for city dwellers during the sometimes excruciatingly hot summer days. This year, things will be different but, nonetheless, the beaches are a free, public space that will be used for its main purpose once the heat arrives.
Most city folks don’t have a pool of their own and, since most likely public pools will remain closed this summer, beaches will be our only hope of cooling down and getting some much needed vitamin D! We hope that list covering the best beaches in New York helps you find the right one for you. Enjoy!
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