Long Island Beaches

Clean white-sand beaches are Long Island's main attraction for most visitors, whether for lounging on warm sand, swimming, surfing in the rolling waves, or just strolling along the shore and breathing in the fresh salt air. For serious waves, head to the magnificent South Shore, including Jones Beach and Fire Island. The seashore tends to get crowded on summer weekends, but as you move out east toward the Hamptons and Montauk the crowds thin. Most Hamptons beaches are open only to residents, but most lodging properties have beach passes for their guests. Among the few public beaches in the Hamptons are the county-run Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton and Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays, with concessions and events. A $15 parking fee is charged 8:30–5. For a $20 parking fee, visitors can enjoy the vast beachfront and concessions of Southampton Town Ponquogue Beach in Hamptons Bay. Expect crowds, especially on weekends. On South Shore beaches the surf can go from gently rolling waves to large thunderous monsters even as the tide changes throughout the day, and you always need to be aware of the possibility of rip currents. Fronting Long Island Sound, with views of Connecticut across the water, the beaches on the North Shore have coarser sand and a more varied landscape, with dramatic cliffs. The water is less rough here, which is great for kids and swimmers who enjoy calmer waters, and it's eminently suitable for kayaking. It also tends to be less crowded than the South Shore. Look out for jellyfish in the coastal waters throughout the island. The water is always fairly chilly, but not enough to stop you jumping in to cool off from the summer heat. It starts warming up in early September, which can also be the best time to go, as the crowds thin out.