Train Travel

Long Island Rail Road trains depart from New York City’s Penn Station, and can take you close to any popular Long Island destination. Tickets are $16–$52 round-trip and travel can take 30 minutes to three hours, depending where you're going. Local taxi companies can be found at train stations. Bicycles are allowed with a permit ($5; applications are available on the LIRR website). Expect trains to be especially busy during the 7–9:30 morning rush and the 4–6:30 evening peak.

Memorial Day through Labor Day, the LIRR offers One-Day-Getaway packages to more than 25 popular Long Island destinations, with discounts, coupons, and taxi vouchers. One-day beach packages from Manhattan and Brooklyn include round-trip fare and transfers to Jones Beach, including Jones Beach Theater ($18.75), Long Beach ($22), Robert Moses ($23), and towns in Fire Island ($30.25–$36.75), which also includes ferry and shuttle bus. For less than $50 each way, the Cannonball Hamptons Reserve service express trains offer reserved seats, air-conditioning, and bar and snack service. The LIRR also offers themed bus tours during the summer months, including Wine Country tours and a shopping excursion at Freeport’s Nautical Mile.

Information

Long Island Rail Road. 718/217–5477; www.mta.info/lirr.