Ocean Beaches

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Explore all Ocean Beaches in NYC & Vicinity

There are literally hundreds of ocean beaches to choose from around NYC.

Here they are by area:

  • Brooklyn
  • Queens
  • Bronx
  • Staten Island
  • Westchester
  • Long Island– Closer to NYC denotes beaches that are an easy drive/train ride away from NYC. Sound Side means calmer waters, so good for smaller kids and a good alternative for a relaxing day. Hamptons (with it’s parking situation) is good if you own a vintage Ferrari and/or have a house there, or are willing to pay the fees. Montauk (technically part of Hamptons) is it’s own world, but worth it. Fire Island beaches are accessible by ferry only (mostly, with few exceptions), so a long day trip, or just stay on the island for a night or two…
  • Connecticut– All the beaches are on the sound so they are calmer. There are some gems out there to escape the jersey shore or LI craziness…
  • New Jersey– Many other places besides classic Jersey shore (although that’s super fun too) and we listed them all. Beach badges are required in most places during the season and you can buy them for cash at beach entrances, or via viply app, parking is another cost to consider.

Hope you find your paradise!

BROOKLYN

  • Coney Island Beach– Beach, boardwalk, amusement park and a “slightly crazy” vibe all rolled into one…
  • Brighton Beach– A bit quieter than the one to the west (Coney Island Beach), with plenty of amenities and great Russian food (and culture) near-by in “Little Odessa”…
  • Manhattan Beach– Way less crowded than the other two in Brooklyn during the peak times, partly due to “harder to get to location”…

QUEENS

  • Rockaway Beach– “NYC mainstay” of 6 miles of sand and boardwalk, all accessible by train or bus. Restaurants and bathrooms a-plenty…
  • Jacob Riis Beach– Lesser known and much “hipper” than it’s cousin Rockaway Beach to the east, including the art-deco bathhouse with restaurants…
  • Fort Tilden Beach– Only for “diehards of solitude”, but beautiful. Can be reached by bike or walking through Ft. Tilden, unless you have a fishing permit. Hint: Drop fam off at the fishing parking lot and then park at Jacob Riis…

BRONX

  • Orchard Beach– “The Bronx Riviera”. Can get very busy during the summer weekends, but a good option for those with no car…

STATEN ISLAND

  • Midland Beach– Featuring a “sea turtle fountain” that kids love, this is the quieter of two main beaches in Staten Island…
  • South Beach– “Lighted dolphin fountain and free concerts” every once-in-a-while make this beach a go-to for locals. Lots to do for seniors too…
  • Wolfe’s Pond Beach– Playgrounds, BBQ areas and “some rocks” but overall a nice large family getaway…
  • New Dorp Beach– “Secluded area for walking” is what this beach is mostly good for…
  • Cedar Grove Beach– Some are surprised “how clean it was”, but most seem to have enjoyed some quiet family time there…
  • Oakwood Beach– “Mostly for fishing and walking” according to locals…
  • Great Kills Beach– A small decent beach “where nobody bothers you”, easy parking too…

WESTCHESTER

  • Playland Beach– “Way cheaper than Rye Town/Oakland beaches” and plenty to do around, including a pool, a boardwalk and amusement park, just busy in the hot summer days…
  • Harbor Island Park– Not really a beach, more like a swimming area next to the harbor. “Walking around marina and seeing the boats” seems to be nice though…
  • Hudson Park & Beach– “Tiny little sliver” of a beach, but relaxing views…
  • Rye Town & Oakland Beaches– “Crazy expensive for non-residents”…

LONG ISLAND

  • Robert Moses State Park– Closer to NYC. More chill than Jones beach, but still very popular. Lot 5 near the Fire Island Lighthouse is a great spot for families…
  • Jones Beach State Park– Closer to NYC and public transportation available. “Probably the biggest public beach (in the world) and definitely the most popular beach in Long Island with amenities a-plenty”…
  • Long Beach– Closer to NYC and public transport available. One of the most popular ones b/c of LIRR station and a short walk to beach… boardwalk is nice too with food and bathrooms…
  • Shadmoor State Park– Montauk. Between “bluffs, shadbush and old artillery bunkers” it’s a perfect spot to watch the surfers, swimming is at your own risk though…
  • Gilgo Beach– Closer to NYC. “The hidden jewel of Long Island and apparently a “boogie boarding, surfing as well as shell collectors’ paradise”. Expensive for non-residents, but worth the money, Food around too on the bay side…
  • Atlantique Beach– Fire Island. Accessible by boat, ferry or a looooong walk (from Robert Moses) only. A quintessential Fire Island beach, it has a boat slip, snack bar and and even some BBQ areas and a playground near by, “no need to supervise kids as they get ice cream in town”…
  • Kismet Beach– Fire Island. This western-most beach in fire island is walking accessible from Lot 5 on Robert Moses Beach, Less crowded than beaches to the east and has a “quaint country-like atmosphere” during the day, but can be a party scene at night…
  • Sailors Haven Beach– Fire Island. “A Sunken Forest” in addition to National Park Service Visitor Center with touch-tanks and a gift shop plus a snack bar…
  • Barret Beach Park– Fire Island. “Accessible by boat, ferry, or foot only”, so no people around, but it has toilets and a picnic area…
  • Saltaire Beach– Fire Island. “An ideal family R&R spot (for residents)”, the beach features a village boardwalk with a general store to stock up in, plus the western edge of Fire Island (with it’s amenities) is just a short walk away…
  • Cherry Grove Beach– Fire Island. LGBTQ-friendly and “clothing un-officially optional”, but food and other options near-by, including the ferry dock…
  • Ocean Beach– Fire Island. Self-proclaimed “heart and soul of Fire Island”, this beach is in the largest town in Fire Island featuring a Main Street with shops, boutiques, hotels and such…
  • Seaview Beach– Fire Island. Next to Ocean Beach it is “supremely residential”- a private property with the by-laws of 2 towns affecting it…
  • Fair Harbor Beach– Fire Island. A small, but well-planned downtown, featuring an upscale food-market, it also hosts the Pine Walk Arts & Crafts Fair, a favorite of locals and visitors…
  • Smith Point County Park– Fire Island. The only part of Fire Island under Suffolk County Park System. It boasts lobster rolls, live music and some “damn good surfing” in addition to camp grounds and beaches on both ocean and bay side. You can drive there too….
  • Watch Hill Beach– Fire Island. Managed by National Park Service, this beach has a nature center and a camp/glamp ground, plus other amenities. A “walk to the beach through the rolling dunes” is said to be worth it…
  • Amsterdam Beach– Montauk. Stunning, yet remote, not a swimming beach, must hike to access and unspoiled, no facilities and no life-guards, but a “cool tunnel of American Holly” on the way and magnificent views once there…
  • Ditch Plains Beach– Montauk. “Among the cliffs and popular with surfers” because of long, powerful swells. Restricted parking though, so arrange for drop-offs or park farther and walk…
  • South Edison Beach– Montauk. Right next to Kirk Park beach, “sandy, walkable from hotels and close to everything”, but limited parking…
  • Gin Beach– Montauk. Part of Montauk County Park. “Sound-side and calm”, so perfect for families, except rocky and parking for residents only, so arrange for drop-offs…
  • Hither Hills State Park– Montauk. Public parking and many facilities, “uber-popular camping ground near-by”…
  • Kirk Park Beach– “Main town beach” of Montauk. Wide, sandy and open. Good for “if only in town for a few hours” as other choices are more complicated parking wise…
  • Montauk Point State Park– Montauk. “Rocky, but great for hiking”, has amazing views, the oldest lighthouse in NY and it’s unspoiled…
  • Camp Hero State Park– Montauk. Turtle Cove beach is more difficult for surfers than Ditch Plains with powerful wave action and consistent swells, but the park (and the beach) are great for amazing hiking and views. Some of the best surf fishing around. Swim at your own risk though…
  • Main Beach– Hamptons. Another US Top 10 beach. Loved by all and convenient, although expensive for non-residents if available at all (park in town and take circuit shuttle or walk/bike)…
  • Coopers Beach– Hamptons. Constantly named one of the best beaches in US with dunes, mansions, a snack bar and white quartz sand. Expensive for non-residents, but at least open…
  • Two Mile Hollow Beach– Hamptons. Great views and photo-ops in this “one of East Hampton’s Best Beaches with a Cape Cod vibe”, not too crowded either, but parking is expensive and a pain in the b*** so bring a bike…
  • Atlantic Avenue Beach– Hamptons. Great beach with nice dunes, and a food shack in Hamptons, but expensive for non-residents so take a train to Amagansett and walk…
  • Cupsoque Beach County Park– Hamptons. Gorgeous beach, Tiki Joe’s for food and both ocean and bay side swimming besides camping, but often open to county residents only, so check…
  • Flying Point Beach– Hamptons. Beautiful beach off the beaten path with views of 3 towns, but County parking sticker required and only ice cream truck for food… walk, bike, or get dropped off…
  • Ponquogue Beach– Hamptons. Clean, wide and beautiful beach and not too crowded. Pavilion with concessions too…
  • Havens Beach– Hamptons. Small, but pretty beach to walk and watch the sunset and boats, but rocky and on the bay side…
  • Sagg Main Beach– Hamptons. Get there early for (week day) day pass or Uber it. Otherwise, pretty and clean with bathrooms and a food truck in one of the most expensive zip codes in the East Coast…
  • Mecox Beach– Hamptons. Pretty beach in affluent neighborhood with “clear water and magic light”. Close to Mecox bay, so good for calmer waters. Concession on site. Expensive day passes for non-residents…
  • Gibson Lane Beach– Hamptons. Unofficial dog beach or a slice of St. Tropez, you decide. Restricted parking, no amenities and terrible phone service make it a nice secluded spot…
  • Louse Point Beach– Sound Side. Quiet and on the bay, good for a stroll with fam…
  • Road D Beach– Hamptons. Deserves special attention b/c it’s the only beach in the Hamptons that does not require a permit to park in a small lot (20-30 cars max, so get there early). No amenities and no bathrooms, but otherwise beautiful…
  • Cedar Beach– Closer to NYC. Nice beach, even if expensive for non-residents, live music and above the average food at Salt Shack…
  • Ocean Road Beach– Hamptons. Get there early. A nice beach just blocks from downtown Bridgehampton to watch the surfers, parking is difficult like other Hamptons’ spots…
  • Corey Beach– On a bay. Very serene and good for kids with a playground… water feels like a pool…
  • Crab Meadow Park Beach– Sound Side. Nice and calm, but sometimes for residents only, so check by season
  • Davis Park Beach– Fire Island. Nice beach at the eastern-most tip of Fire Island with a store and snack bar near-by…
  • Charles E Ransom Beach– Sound Side. Rocky and not really for swimming, but good for a nice family stroll, with a few shops for kid-friendly food near-by…
  • Lido Beach– Closer to NYC. Next to Long Beach, a small, family friendly beach with a (very expensive) parking fee…
  • Tobay Beach– Closer to NYC. Alternative when Jones Beach is full. Same sand, but amenities available on the bay side, like multiple food and drinks options, playground/splash pad etc…
  • Smith Point Park Beach– Fire Island. Accessible by car. In addition to “best Labor Day (RV)camping”, it has a nice beach, free shows during the weekend and playgrounds…
  • Wading River Beach– Sound Side. Perfect for “collecting very smooth pebble rocks” and you can swim too…
  • Nickerson Park Beach– Close to NYC. Extremely family friendly with pitch-and-putt golf, 2 pools + a kiddie pool, skate park and soft sand included in a “somewhat steep price”…
  • Sunken Meadow State Park– Close to NYC .3 miles of beach with wind-formed bluffs on the sound, plus a boardwalk, large play area and a concession stand…
  • Orient Beach State Park– Montauk. Off the beaten path in North Fork with a relaxing bay beach and a large playground right on the sand…
  • Meschutt Beach– Sound Side. Calm waters, soft san, good parking and a bar with food and drinks near. Great place to bring kids. Way cheaper with county issued “green key”…
  • Foster Memorial Beach-Sound Side in Hamptons. Great sunsets and water gets warmer faster in the summer…
  • West Meadow Beach– Sound Side. Gorgeous sunsets, playground and calm waters, never too crowded….
  • Indian Wells Beach– Hamptons. Nice wide Hamptons beach, limited parking for residents only, no food either…
  • Corey Beach– On the Bay. Street parking near-by. Calm waters and some play structures on the beach. Snacks and a bar near too…
  • Shinnecock East County Park– Hamptons. Rugged and out of the way. Secluded and pretty if you can get there…
  • North Hempstead Beach Park– Sound Side. Pretty place to come and relax with family, stroller friendly and has soft sand. Kayak rentals near too……
  • Pike’s Beach– Hamptons. Gorgeous beach with limited parking, especially during the beach season. Not too crowded and great sunsets, has a bay side too…
  • Atlantic Beach– Closer to NYC. Short and sweet boardwalk, even if a bit rusty, parking is hard, but you can always walk/bike from Long Beach if it’s too crowded… fictional home of Don Corleone, so it must be good…
  • Ho-Hum Beach– Fire Island. Quaint beach that you can only reach by ferry in east end of FI…
  • Flying Point Beach– Hamptons. For residents only, but if you can sneak in, it’s gorgeous in its solitude…
  • Kings Park Bluff– Sound Side/Bay. Hiking, views and fishing are the main attractions, limited parking for non-residents…
  • Tiana Beach– Hamptons. Nice ambiance, good parking and very pretty…
  • Callahan’s Beach– Sound Side. Intimate beach in the shadow of great dunes offering picnic area and playground in Sunken Meadow State Park…

CONNECTICUT

  • Calf Pasture Beach– Steep non-resident parking fee gets you a whole area for the kids with spalsh pad, food, calm sound waters and lots of greenery…
  • Clinton Town Beach– Expensive for non-residents to protect the rare local coastal species of Connecticus Affluensicus, but a nice area if in town…
  • Ocean Beach Park– Half a mile beach features Olympic sized pool, mini-golf, play-grounds and a cafe….
  • Hammonasset Beach State Park– Connecticut’s largest shoreline beach park…
  • Harvey’s Beach– Cozy and family friendly and they are proud of the white sand, more room at low tide, still have to pay for parking though…
  • Hole-In-The-Wall Beach– Perfect for little kids, train over-pass is fun to watch, otherwise nice and picturesque…
  • Jacob’s Beach– Nice, clean and convenient, but expensive if not from the area…
  • Jennings Beach– Largest beach in Fairfield, but it doesn’t come cheap
  • Eastern Point Beach– Convenient for families if in the area….
  • Rocky Neck Beach– Cute sandy spot, but can get crowded on nice days…
  • Sherwood Island State Park– Great for families, has large grassy areas, conveniences and a large beach for CT…
  • Silver Sands State Park– Rocky, shelly and absolutely gorgeous, great for walks…
  • Waterford Beach Park– Beautiful and clean, lot’s to explore and great for families…
  • McCook Point Beach– White sand and play areas, plus convenient parking, but expensive for non-residents…

NEW JERSEY

  • Wildwood Beach– A massive boardwalk with amusement parks is the main attraction besides a large beach area…
  • Seaside Park Beach– A little less crowded than neighbors and more parking available for cheaper…
  • Long Beach Township– Nice beach, but parking is a nighmare…
  • Bay Head Beach– A narrow beach that outsiders don’t know about…
  • Mantoloking Beach– Small and out of the way with no frills…
  • North Wildwood Beach– A bit less crazy than Wildwood, boardwalk/beach, still fun though…
  • Deal Beach– Large beach with mansions to spot… Conover Pavillion has shpwers etc, Hathaway beach is in the south side…
  • Allenhurst Beach– A pristine beach, but with no amenities around, unless you pay the daily/seasonal fees at Allenhurst Beach Club…
  • Monmouth Beach– Hard to access (unless you belong to a beach club) with narrow strip of coarse (but clean) sand… check for day pass availability before you go…
  • Margate City Beach– Nice pier to hang out on and cool dunes, plus Lucy The elephant, but parking is terrible…
  • Brigantine Beach– Just north of Atlantic city. Long walk to a flat beach and limited parking…
  • Ventnor City Beach– You can walk to Atlantic City boardwalk from it, which is nice, otherwise pretty average…
  • Loch Harbor Beach– Tiny pristine beach and less crowded…
  • Seaside Heights Beach– Jersey shore embodied from “the ultimate boardwalk with an amusement park” to the touristy crowds flocking to it…
  • Atlantic City Beach– Lots for kids to do while mommy and daddy work on retirement plan B in the casinos…
  • Sea Girt Beach– Small boardwalk with food available, go on the week days, otherwise parking is a nightmare…
  • Longport Beach– Water is nice and deep, not too crowded, but parking is difficult…
  • Sea Isle City Beach– Clean beaches with soft sand and great Italian/seafood nearby at Fish Alley…
  • Ocean Grove Beach– Boardwalk, food court and amazing Victorian homes to look at. Parking is notoriously hard…
  • Avon-By-The-Sea Beach– Family friendly town with a well maintained beach, street parking only…
  • Belmar Beach-Large beach is a favorite of day-trippers, can be a party scene, but parking is near and boardwalk even has a surf school…
  • Spring Lake Beach– Gorgeous and fairly uncrowded beach with food available near…
  • Sea Bright Beach– Great beach with entire downtown just across the road for anything you need…
  • Point Pleasant Beach– Large OK beach, but has the must-visit Jenkinson’s Boardwalk with all the fun for kids…and grown-ups…right there…
  • Surf City Beach– Great waves for body-surfing and lots of good food options near, you just have to find parking…
  • Asbury Park Beach– Probably the trendiest in NJ with a boardwalk with restaurants and even a pin-ball museum, lots of parking, but crazy crowds as well…
  • Ortley Beach– Nice boardwalk and a clean good-sized beach…
  • Island Beach State Park– Kind of like Sandy Hook, very natural with a bit of a drive to the beach, good food court with adult beverages too…also, Chris Christie’s favorite, especially during government lock-downs, so you know it’s nice…
  • Avalon Beach– Chill and not crowded, free parking, but a bit of a walk to the beach, near a town with fun things to do, including awesome pancakes at at Bill’s Pancake House…
  • Strathmere Beach– Quiet, natural beach with many turtles and locals, not a lot of parking, but it’s free and no beach tags required either…
  • Barnegat Lighthouse State Park Beach– One of the most beautiful beaches in NJ, relaxing and pure, visit the lighthouse in town too for great views…
  • Wildwood Crest Beach– South of “Crazy Wildwood”, but walkable to it, enormous beach and definitely cleaner and nicer, but parking is harder…
  • Long Branch Beach– Great pier and village center along with a nice beach, but “packed on sunny days”…
  • Sandy Hook Beach– Massive area with multiple beach areas, old fortifications, a lighthouse, bike trail and both ocean and sound side swimming… there’s a little cafe too…
  • Stone Harbor Beach– “Super soft and clean sand”, natural beauty all around and a short walk to the beach from (not a whole lot of) parking…
  • Harvey Cedars Beach– A very quiet town and a wide beach full of natural beauty…
  • Bradley Beach– Beautiful beach (although a bit narrow) and family friendly with a boardwalk grill for basic lunch. Reasonable parking and a relaxed vibe…
  • Cape May Point Park– Like Cape May, but no crowds and still close enough to action there, has a large parking lot and access to beach is free…
  • Manasquan Beach– A fine beach with a road (instead of a boardwalk) you can easily access from the beach to get to drinks, food and even an arcade…
  • Ship Bottom Beaches– Big, gorgeous beach and nice dunes in Long Beach Island, or choose to chill on the bay side…
  • Lavallette Beach– A very natural beach with clean sand and water and a cute town nearby to explore…
  • Ocean City Beach– Stands out from the rest b/c of unique vibe of old school and new mixed, plus it has amusement/water parks galore in the area/boardwalk…
  • Beach Haven– Chill vibes and great attractions around, yet also humble, what’s not to like…
  • Cape May Beach– Big, clean, amazing beach with tree-lined streets full of old Victorian homes and amazing food spots. Long drive but well worth it…

MORE/SIMILAR

Latest full reviews of Ocean Beaches in NYC & Vicinity

Gilgo Beach- Long Island

The hidden jewel of Long Island, apparently a boogie boarding as well as shell collectors’ paradise. Expensive for non-residents, but worth the money…

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Jones Beach- Long Island

A long time favorite of NYC folk with miles of sand, plenty of parking and lots of amenities!

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