SEE OUR MOST RECENT GUIDE TO NY BEACHES
What better way to cool off this summer than at the beach? Take some time to enjoy the miles of coastline in the NY area and have some fun in the sun. So pack the car, hit the road, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
Westchester
Croton Point Park
Route 9 north or south to Croton Point Avenue exit; head west over bridge into park. Croton-on-Hudson. A 508-acre park situated on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River. 914-862-5290; www.westchestergov.com/PARKS/ParksLocations02/CrotonPointPark.htm
Attractions: Beach, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, playground, and nature center. Beach open Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; park open seven days a week, 8am till dusk.
Cost: FREE; parking $8.
Osceola Beach
Taconic Parkway north to Route 6, Jefferson Valley/Mahopac exit. Located on East Main Street on the right. 914-245-3246.
Attractions: Beach, picnic areas, playgrounds, rides, games, fishing, boating, and pony rides. Park open 9am to 6pm. Swimming Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10am-6pm.
Cost: $10, $8 seniors, $6 ages 3-10, FREE under 3.
Rye Playland Pool and Beach
New England Thruway to exit 19 or Hutchinson River Parkway to exit 25 in Rye. 914-813-7010; www.ryeplayland.org.
Attractions: Beach, pool, boardwalk, rides, boating, arcade, and mini-golf. Open June 25-Labor Day, seven days a week, 11am-6:30pm.
Cost: Parking $3 Tuesday-Friday; $5 Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Beach: $4, $3 ages 5-11, $2 seniors, FREE under age 5. Pool: $6, $4 ages 5-11, $4 seniors, FREE under age 5. Lockers and umbrellas available for a small fee.
Glen Island Park/Beach
Hutchinson River Parkway south, exit 8 (Sanford Boulevard), take Pelhamdale Avenue to the end, left onto Shore Road. Or New England Thruway (1-95) north to exit 15 (Route 1), right onto Route 1 (Post Road). At first light, make a right onto Weyman Avenue. New Rochelle. 914-813-6720.
www.westchestergov.com/parks/ParksLocations02/GlenIsland.htm
Attractions: Swimming, beach, fishing, picnic grounds, playground, hiking/walking, and refreshments. Open seven days a week, 8am till dusk, year round.
Cost: $10; $2 senior; $4 ages 5-11; FREE under 5. Parking $8.
Harbor Island Park Beach
Cross County Pkwy East to Hutchinson River Pkwy North, Exit 22. Left on Mamaroneck Road to Old White Plains Road to Mamaroneck Avenue. Mamaroneck. 914-698-9347.
Attractions: Swimming, beach, baseball, soccer, tennis, boating, and fishing
Cost: FREE.
Oakland Beach/Rye Town (Municipal Beach)
Take 95 North (New England Thruway) to Exit 19 to Forest Avenue. Right to Dearborn Avenue. Rye. 914-939-3075.
Attractions: Beach, swimming, campgrounds, and golf.
Cost: FREE.
Connecticut
Calf Pasture Beach
Calf Pasture Beach Road, off I-95 exit 16. Norwalk. 203-854-7806. www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=219.
Attractions: Miniature golf, fishing, softball fields, volleyball courts, and sailboat/windsurf/kayak rentals. Open Memorial Day through September.
Cost: FREE; parking $15.
Jennings Beach
South Benson Road, off I-95 exit 22. Fairfield. www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=219.
Attractions: Playground, bathhouse, food concession.
Cost: FREE; parking $15 weekdays, $25 weekends.
Lake Mohegan
Tahmore Road, off the Merritt Parkway at Exit 15. Fairfield. 203-256-3010.
Attractions: Lake beach with public grills and a picnic area. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cost: $18 per person weekdays, $15 weekends.
Penfield Beach
Fairfield Beach road, off I-95 exit 22. Fairfield. 203-256-3010; www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=226.
Attractions: Playground, picnic area with public grills, food concession, and restrooms. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cost: FREE; parking $15 weekdays, $25 weekends.
Seaside Park Beach
Barnum Dyke, off I-95 exit 27. Bridgeport. 203-576-7233; www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=157.
Attractions: Picnic area, food concession, bathhouse, restrooms. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cost: $30 beach seasonal pass. $5 parking.
Sherwood Island State Park
Off I-95, exit 18. Westport. 203-566-2305;
www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325260.
Attractions: Fishing, food concession, bathhouse, and swimming areas. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8am till sunset.
Cost: Parking $10 weekdays, $15 weekends.
Weed Beach (swimming hole)
Nearwater Lane, off I-95 exit 27. Darien. 203-656-7325; www.SwimmingHoles.info.
Attractions: Public grills, picnic areas, tennis courts (reservations required), and restrooms. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Cost: FREE; parking $25.
Brooklyn
Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Coney Island Boardwalk
On Atlantic Ocean, from West 37th Street to Corbin Place. Take F or Q to last stop; take the B36 to Surf Ave. and West 8th Street; or take the B68 to Neptune Avenue. 718-946-1350.
Attractions: Two-mile long boardwalk, New York Aquarium, rides, eateries, outdoor spray showers.
Cost: Boardwalk: FREE; Cyclone Rollercoaster: $8, $5 to re-ride (must be 54’’ to ride); New York Aquarium: $13; $9 ages 3 to 12; $10 seniors 65+; FREE under age 3.
New theatrical attraction: The Planet Earth: Shallow Seas 4-D experience. $17; $13 children; $14 seniors (includes general admission). Open weekdays 10am to 6pm, weekends 10am to 7pm.
Manhattan Beach
On Atlantic Ocean, on Oriental Boulevard from Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street. Take the Q train to Brighton Beach, connecting to B1, B49 at Manhattan Beach-Oriental Ave. 718-946-1373; www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattanbeachpark.
Attractions: Beach and boardwalk.
Cost: FREE.
Bronx
Orchard Beach and Promenade
On Long Island Sound in Pelham Bay Park. Take the 6 train to the last stop, Pelham Bay Park. 718-430-1890; www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_pelham_bay_park/vt_pelham_08.html.
Attractions: 1.1-mile sandy beach, hexagonal-block promenade, changing areas, showers, food stores, specialty shops, playgrounds, picnic areas, basketball, volleyball, and handball courts. Open year round; Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends, 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE. Parking $6 weekdays, $8 weekends and holidays.
Queens
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
On Atlantic Ocean, from Beach 1st Street, Far Rockaway, to Beach 149th Street, Neponsit. Take the A train to last stop, Rockaway Park. 718-318-4000; www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockawaybeach.
Attractions: Basketball and handball courts, roller hockey rinks, sitting areas and playgrounds along the boardwalk and adjoining areas. Open sunrise to sunset.
Cost: FREE.
Water Taxi Beach
Public/private partnership run by New York Water Taxi. 2-03 Borden Ave., Hunter's Point Ferry Terminal, Long Island City. Take the 7 train to Jackson/Vernon stop or G 21st stop; exit on Jackson Avenue. Or take the LIRR to LIC/Hunters Point; exit the platform on Borden Avenue. By water taxi: check Web site for schedules and service notices at www.nywatertaxibeach.com.
Attractions: Picnic table area, bars and food vendors, open sand area. No pets, swimming, coolers, outside food or drink. Open seven days a week till Columbus Day weekend; Monday-Tuesday 6 to 10pm, Wednesday-Friday 4 to 10pm, Saturdays Noon to 10pm, Sundays 1 to 10pm, holiday weekend Mondays 1 to 10pm.
Cost: FREE.
Staten Island
Midland Beaches and Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk
On Father Capodanno Blvd. from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Midland Beach. Take Staten Island Ferry (FREE) to S51; or S53, S79 to Father Capodanno Blvd. 718-390-8000.
Attractions: Sprinklers and playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, seasonal concession stands, changing stations. Site of the annual Back to the Beach Celebration with food, games, sand castle building, boardwalk vendors, live music, and fireworks. Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
South Beach
Father Capodanno Blvd. and Sand Lane. Take Staten Island Ferry (FREE) to buses S51 or S53 to Father Capodanno Blvd., S79 from 86th Street station in Bay Ridge. 718-816-6804; www.statenislandusa.com/pages/south_midland.html.
Attractions: Children's playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, bocce courts, roller hockey rink, ball fields, fishing pier, and newly renovated picnic and changing areas. Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
Wolfe's Pond Beach
On Raritan Bay and Prince's Bay, Holton to Cornelia Avenues. From Staten Island Ferry, take S78 to the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Cornelia Avenue. 718-984-8266;
www.si-web.com/Recreation/WolfesPond.html.
Attractions: Swimming, rowboats, daytime freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing (permitted October through May), picnic grounds, outdoor fireplaces, and a model yacht pond. Restrooms available. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends, 10am to 6pm.
Cost: FREE.
Long Island
Jones Beach
33 miles from Manhattan via Meadowbrook Parkway south and Wantagh Parkway south. Wantagh. A discounted summer LIRR package ticket includes round trip rail fare to Freeport and MTA Long Island Bus service via the N88 to and from the Central Mall, and the East and West Bath Houses. 516-785-1600;
www.longislandexchange.com/jones-beach.html.
Attractions: Beach, showers, recreation programs, pool, playground, picnic tables, performing arts theater, museum/visitor center, marina, golf, gift shop, food, and fishing. No pets allowed. Open year round. The East Bathhouse swimming pool and the West End Ocean swimming beach closed for the 2009 season. Zach's Bay swimming area open daily for the season through August 16.
Cost: FREE.
Camp Hero State Park
Route 27 (Sunrise Highway) east to the end, 130 miles from New York City. Montauk. 631-668-3781;
www.longislandexchange.com/parks/camphero-statepark.html.
Attractions: Beach, biking, bridle path, fishing, hiking, and cross country skiing. Dogs allowed on a leash. Open year round, sunrise to sunset. Open 24 hours a day to fishermen with permits.
Cost: FREE.
Gilgo State Park
From north: Meadowbrook or Wantagh Parkway south to Ocean Parkway east or Robert Moses Causeway south to Ocean Parkway west. From west: Ocean Parkway east from Jones Beach. From east: Ocean Parkway west from Captree State Park. 631-669-0449; www.nysparks.com/parks/info.asp?parkID=182.
Attractions: Beach, fishing. No pets allowed. Open April 1-December 31, 24 hours a day with valid New York State Sport Fishing Permit.
Cost: FREE.
Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park
46 miles from Manhattan; Long Island Expressway exit 53. Kings Park. 631-269-4333;
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=44.
Attractions: Beach, biking, bridle path, fishing, food, golf, hiking, nature trail, picnic tables, playground, playing field, recreation programs, and showers. Dogs allowed only in undeveloped areas of the park with a leash. Open year round, sunrise to sunset.
Cost: Vehicle fee.
Heckscher State Park
At the end of the Heckscher State Pkwy, 50 miles from Manhattan on the south shore of Long Island, within the East Islip/Great River area in Suffolk County. East Islip. 631-581-2100;
www.nysparks.com/parks/info.asp?parkID=153.
Attractions: Beach, biking, boat launch sites, camper recreation, campsites, fishing, food, hiking, nature trail, pavilions, picnic tables, playground, playing field, pool (fee), recreation programs, showers, and tent/trailer sites. Dogs only allowed in undeveloped areas, on a leash not more than six feet. Open year round, daily 7am-sunset. Swimming pool open July 4-August 17, 8am-4pm.
Cost: Vehicle fee.
Hither Hills State Park
122 miles from Manhattan via Sunrise Highway east. Montauk. 631-668-2554;
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkId=48.
Attractions: Beach, biking, bridle path, camper recreation, campsites, dumping station, fishing, food, hiking, hunting, nature trail, picnic tables, playground, playing field, recreation programs, showers, and tent/trailer sites. Dogs only allowed in certain areas, on a leash not more than six feet. Open year round, sunrise to sunset. Beach open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cost: FREE.
Long Beach
From LIRR: a few blocks from Long Beach Station. Discounted package ticket includes one-day round trip rail fare to Long Beach and admission to the beach. Hourly service from Penn Station, Brooklyn, and Jamaica. Express trains from Penn Station Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Weekday service June 25-September 3. Long Beach. 516-431-1000; www.longbeachny.org.
Cost: $10 over age 13.
Orient Beach State Park
118 miles from Manhattan on the north shore via Long Island Expressway east to the end, then Route 25 east to the Park. Orient. 631-323-2440;
www.longislandexchange.com/parks/orientbeach-statepark.
Attractions: Beach, biking, fishing, food, hiking, nature trail, pavilions, picnic tables, playground, playing field, recreation programs, and showers. No pets allowed. Open year round, sunrise to sunset. Swimming season late June through early September.
Cost: FREE.
Robert Moses State Park
48 miles from Manhattan via Southern State Parkway to Robert Moses Causeway (exit 40), south to Park at western end of Fire Island. Babylon. 631-669-0470;
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=45.
Attractions: Beach, fishing, food, golf, marina, picnic tables, playground, recreation programs, and showers. No pets allowed. Open year round, sunrise to sunset.
Cost: FREE.
Shadmoor State Park
Route 27 east to Montauk Village. The park is one-half mile east of the village on the right, at the southwest corner of Route 27 and Seaside Avenue. Montauk. 631-668-3781;
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=83.
Attractions: Beach, biking, fishing, hiking. Dogs allowed only on a leash. Open year round.
Cost: FREE.
Wildwood State Park
73 miles from Manhattan via Long Island Expressway to exit 68. North on Route 46, to Route 25A east. Left onto Sound Avenue; left at traffic light onto Hulse Landing Road. Park entrance is on the right. Wading River. 631-929-4314;
www.longislandexchange.com/parks/wildwood-statepark.html.
Attractions: Beach, biking, camper recreation, campsites, fishing, food, hiking, nature trail, picnic tables, playground, recreation programs, showers. No pets allowed. Open year round. Camping season began first weekend of April and ends Columbus Day.
Cost: $4 per car May 25-September 2; weekends/holidays September 7-October 14.
Lido Beach/Nickerson Park Beach
Located between Long Beach and Point Lookout. Take Meadowbrook Pkwy South exit 22S toward Jones Beach, merge onto Loop Pkwy exit M10 toward Point Lookout all the way to the end. 516-571-7701; www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Parks/WheretoGo/active/nickerson.html.
Activities: Family “Fun Zone” with a skate park, basketball courts, two tennis courts, playground with climbing apparatus and puzzles, baseball field, beach volleyball courts, dog run, camp grounds, beach, cabana areas, beach showers, food, two picnic areas with benches and grills, and parking areas. There are two pools at either end of the park, along with small “kiddie” pools (fee required). The pools are open June 20 through Labor Day. Monday-Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday and holidays 11am-7pm.
Cost: Parking $20.
Atlantic Beach
I-678 to exit 1E Nassau Expressway NY 878. Located off the South Shore of Long Island in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County. One of the Outer Barrier Islands, which it shares with the more populous Long Beach.
Attractions: Beach clubs along the Atlantic Ocean shore, including Lawrence Beach Club, Sunny Atlantic Beach Club, The Sands, Catalina Beach Club, Silver Point Beach Club, and Sun and Surf Beach Club. Open daily June 20 through September 7, 9am to 6pm.
Cost: $10 ages 13 and over.
