Manhattan becomes so hot in the summer that it's simple to forget that it is encircled by water and that excellent beaches are accessible nearby. In order to escape the heat and make the most of summer days on beaches packed with enjoyable activities and water sports, locals and visitors go to the trains and ferries as Memorial Day approaches and the humidity levels rise. They are prepared with coolers and beach chairs.
Every kind of traveler may find a beach in and near New York City, from families and couples to singles and girlfriends wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Most of these beaches provide more than simply wonderful swimming and sunbathing opportunities. You may go sea kayaking, ride thrilling roller coasters, hike through the forest, visit beach communities, and a lot more.
These beaches can be found on the Jersey Shore, in the renowned Hamptons, and in the boroughs. No matter if you are traveling on business or for pleasure, a warm beach is never too distant from the city.
Remember that swimming is only permitted when a lifeguard is on duty at NYC beaches, which are free to access. During Memorial Day Weekend at the end of May until Labor Day at the beginning of September, beaches are open from 10 am to 6 pm. The beaches in Long Island and New Jersey require a car, and they have their own policies and charges.
Use our list of the top beaches near New York City to plan your day at the beach.
1. Brooklyn's Coney Island Beach
Coney Island is one of the most well-liked beaches in New York and has everything. With two amusement parks (Deno's Wonder Wheel and Luna Park), a boardwalk, and the famous Nathan's Famous Hot dogs, this beach near the tip of Brooklyn is easily reachable by subway trains. The original Nathan's Coney Island restaurant, which opened in 1916 and is still there at the intersection of Surf and Stillwell, is where the annual July 4th weekend hot dog eating competition is held.
Even though the beach continues to be the main draw, festivals like the renowned Mermaid Parade in June bring visitors from all around the city. The procession, which honors the start of summer, is the biggest art parade in the country.
You won't discover mermaids at the nearby New York Aquarium, but you will see plenty of marine life. The aquarium is the oldest aquarium in the country and is currently a part of the Wildlife Conservation Society. It has 350 marine species, including 18 different types of sharks from around the world. The aquarium is open all year round, no matter what the weather is like outside.
2. Brighton Beach
From Coney Island and the aquarium, walk east until you reach Brighton Beach, which is in the same area but on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is less busy than Coney Island, and most of the people using it for picnics and volleyball are locals.
The largest Eastern European population in the Eastern United States is concentrated in the Brighton Beach region, which is home to delis, restaurants, and grocery stores that serve Russian and Eastern European foods as well as freshly cooked pierogies.
On the east end of the Brooklyn Peninsula, close to Brighton Beach, sits the more private Manhattan Beach Park. The park has two baseball diamonds, as well as tennis, basketball, and handball facilities. All summer long, free movies are screened in the parking lot.
3. Long Island's Jones Beach State Park
One of the most well-known beaches in the New York metropolitan area is Jones Beach. This 6.5-mile public beach in the hamlet of Wantagh is well-maintained and has a two-mile boardwalk, Art Deco bathhouses, a number of parking lots, and a ton of entertaining activities like mini-golf and shuffleboard.
The Northwell Health outdoor stadium hosts summer concerts with well-known performers like Jimmy Buffett and Dave Matthews. Every Memorial Day weekend, Jones Beach State Park also plays host to other events like the well-liked Bethpage Air Show with the Blue Angels, a July 4th fireworks display, softball and volleyball tournaments, and free performances at the bandshell.
Only cars, boats, and bicycles are permitted access to Jones Beach, and parking costs $10. You can go for free if you have a New York State Empire Passport ($80).
Remember that it gets very crowded at the height of the summer; the ideal times to visit are early in the morning and in the evenings around sunset. Only when lifeguards are on duty may you swim. In some spots along the beachfront, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, and windsurfing are also permitted.
4. Long Beach, New York
You may get to Long Beach's soft, white beaches by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in 50 minutes from Manhattan, where you can sunbathe, swim, and surf. There are a number of outfitters where you may rent chairs and umbrellas.
Free access to the 2.2-mile Long Beach Boardwalk, which was renovated in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, makes it ideal for riding or strolling. Along the main road, there are a number of restaurants, including the Italian restaurant Brixx & Barley and the ice yogurt shop Tutti Frutti.
The Kennedy Plaza hosts a farmers market every Saturday during the summer, as well as a free concert series and the Arts on the Boardwalk festival. Skudin Surf Long Beach is situated directly on the beach if you want to learn how to surf.
In the summer, beach access is restricted and costs $12 for residents and $15 for non-residents. On weekends, the LIRR occasionally provides One-Day Getaway packages that include a train trip, a beach pass, and a coupon good at participating local businesses.
5. Southampton's Cooper's Beach
Cooper's Beach in the Hamptons consistently makes lists of the best beaches in the country, and for good reason. This 500-foot-long sparkling stretch on Long Island's South Shore offers a delightful outing against a stunning backdrop of old homes, sloping dunes, and panoramic ocean vistas.
There are lifeguards on duty in the summer. Cooper's Beach's smooth sand, which is ideal for sandcastle-building, and its calm waves are particularly appealing to families with young children. Freshwater showers are available right next to the beach so you may clean off before going home.
In addition to amenities including a refreshment store, bathroom, and chair and umbrella rentals, the beach requires a $40 parking fee.
6. East Hampton's Main Beach
Main Beach has consistently ranked first among all of the beaches in the country, along with Cooper's Beach. Several lodging options nearby this East Hampton sanctuary are accessible on foot.
There are restrooms and lifeguards at Main Beach. At the Pavilion, you may unwind in the shade, keep your belongings in a locker, purchase refreshments, and grab a bite to eat from the snack bar. Main Street offers a wide selection of stores and eateries as well as nearby attractions like the Home Sweet Home Museum and an antique windmill at Old Hook Mill.
Bike to the beach if you're staying nearby to avoid paying the $30 parking fee. There are outfitters in the area that rent kayaks, surfboards, and paddleboards; some even provide classes if you want to improve your water skills.
7. Fire Island's Robert Moses State Park
The sandy shore of Robert Moses Beach on the western end of Fire Island National Seashore, a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean that runs parallel to Long Island, is lined with colorful umbrellas for miles. This bike-friendly oasis provides a more accessible beach experience than the Hamptons while still being equally stunning.
Along with seeing the famous, 200-year-old Fire Island Lighthouse, tourists also get to see the ocean. From Field 5, a less than mile nature route takes you to the lighthouse, where you can ascend the 192 steps for sweeping views of the island and beyond.
Crystal Beach looks like it's straight out of the Disney movie Frozen ❄️🥶🧊
— John Sitarek (@JohnSitarek) December 29, 2022
This lakeside community in Fort Erie, Ontario is close to the US border of New York State and the city of Buffalo which has been especially ravaged recently by lake effect snowstorms. #flashfrozen pic.twitter.com/bxtpnw9N8o
Private outdoor showers, grills, and picnic tables are available on-site. There is a large volleyball court and an 18-hole pitch and putt golf course at Field 2. (open from April to mid-November).
If you're willing to take the train to a bus, you can use public transportation to get to Robert Moses State Park.
8. Pelham Bay Park's Orchard Beach
The only public beach in the Bronx is Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park, which is known as the "Riviera of New York" and has a variety of attractions. There are 26 basketball, handball, and volleyball courts, as well as food bars, playgrounds, and picnic spots. This 1.1-mile crescent-shaped beach faces City Island and the Long Island Sound. There are also showers and changing rooms accessible.
During the beach season, parking is $8 on weekdays and $13 on weekends. Public transit can also be used to get to this beach. The North and South Picnic Spaces both permit grilling.
Mix a trip to the beach with a trek or leisurely stroll around Pelham Bay Park, the biggest park area in New York City. The park, which is three times as big as Central Park, includes miles of hiking and bridleways that are perfect for spotting ospreys.
Together with two golf courses, playgrounds, sports courts, and fields, it also provides. In the northern part of the park, the Bartow-Pell House is a National Historic Landmark and home to some of the best Greek Revival interiors in the nation.
9. Rockaway Boardwalk and Beach
Part of the charm of Rockaway Beach on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens is that it is far less congested than Coney Island. It extends from Beach 3rd to Beach 153rd Streets, making it the largest urban beach in the nation.
The waves are choppy since it is the only coastline inside the city limits that is suitable for surfing. Surfing lessons for beginners are available nearby at Skudin Surf and New York Surf School.
Kids won't have any trouble finding something to do with the eight playgrounds along the beach, the best of which is at Beach 30th Street. After being renovated in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the boardwalk is now ready for use. Tacoway Beach, a well-known food vendor, is located at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club. Burgers, hot dogs, arepas from Venezuela, and seafood rolls are available at other concession stands.
Take the Rockaway Parkway and head there. At Pier 11 on Wall Street, you may take the ferry, the metro, or a train to reach this six-mile-long island in heaven.
10. Far Rockaway's Jacob Riis Park Beach
With to its brand-new Bazaar and Art Deco boathouse, Jacob Riis Park Beach offers benefits beyond tanning. This spotless beach is three miles from Rockaway Beach and is known as "The People's Beach" because of its proximity to the subway and availability of local buses and ferries.
One of the main draws at Jacob Riis Beach is The Bazaar, which serves some of the best cuisine in New York City, including the renowned Ample Hills Ice Cream, Rockaway Clam Bar, and Oaxaca Tacos.
The golf facility, ball fields, refreshment kiosks, and merchants selling everything from bathing suits to antique clothing are all open to guests during the summer. Many live performances, competitions, and dancing activities are also held at The Bazaar.
11. Staten Island's Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach
South Beach and Midland Beach stretch 2.5 miles from Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island to the Gateway Recreational Area at Miller Field as a part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt boardwalk and beach area.
These beaches offer countless hours of sunbathing pleasure for people of all ages and are just a short ferry trip from Lower Manhattan. Even a senior beach with chess tables, seats, and bocce courts exists.
Visitors to the beach can enjoy breathtaking views of the Verrazano Bridge while jogging down the boardwalk past The Fountain of The Dolphins, playing tennis, biking, and other activities.
You can go fishing off the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, one of the biggest in the city, at Midland Beach, which is a less crowded choice. Children particularly enjoy the playground, sprinklers, and Sea Turtle Fountain.
12. New Jersey's Asbury Park
One of New Jersey's top beaches is located in Asbury Park, a historic seaside community that dates back to the late 1800s. The Paramount Theater and Convention Hall—the beachfront's principal attraction—ends the mile-long refurbished boardwalk, which is dotted with hip stores and eateries. You can see a performance, go to a festival, or even go shopping here.
With a glassblowing studio, Silverball Retro Arcade, Asbury Splash Park with lots of family-friendly activities, and the recently built Asbury Lanes bowling alley, Asbury has something for everyone.
The New Jersey Transit Coast Line, with a change at Long Branch, and taking an Uber or Lyft to the beach are the two ways to get to the beach; weekend admission is $7 and weekday admission is $5.
13. Fire Island's Barrett Beach Park,
Although Fire Island is only a small portion of a barrier island, the variety of its villages gives the impression that it is much bigger than it is. In Fire Island, the beaches are also significantly dissimilar.
Barrett Beach Park, which is situated between the communities of Fire Island Pines and Water Island, is one of the nicest beaches in the area. Only on foot or by private boat, the expansive, seemingly never-ending beach offers unbroken views.
The beach has a lengthy history. In actuality, this beach was once a swanky tourist destination with food vendors and lifeguard stations. Yet all sections were shut down due to significant beach wear and strain. Being a part of the Fire Island National Seashore, the beach has been fully recovered as of late.
Although there are no longer any concessions here, the interior is a spotless paradise with a flawless seashore. Architecture enthusiasts will love it also because of the amazing houses that border the shoreline. Moreover, a playground and a boat dock are also here.
14. Montauk's Ditch Plains Beach
One of lower New York's most exquisite jewels is Montauk. It takes roughly two and a half hours to drive from New York City to the easternmost part of Long Island, where there is a swath of lovely, windswept beaches and tiny coastal towns.
Although Ditch Plains Beach should be your choice if you only have time for one beach in New York, the beaches of Montauk are among the greatest in the city. Surfers and sunbathers alike frequent Ditch Plains, which is two miles from Montauk Village. It is actually among the top surfing spots on the entire East Coast.
Visitors will require a beach sticker to park at the beach because it is a part of the East Hampton Municipal beaches. Nonetheless, beach access is free for travelers arriving by bicycle or foot.
Expect crowds in the summer because it's one of New York's nicest beaches. Off-season, though, is quite as lovely, with countless additional places to sit and saunter. When you're in town, don't forget to stop by the Ditch Witch food trucks because everyone loves to grab a bite there.