Long Island Beaches
One of Long Island's great treasures has always been its beaches. Completely surrounding its circumference, Long Island possesses some of the longest and loveliest stretches of sand beaches in the country. With almost 1200 miles of coastline, few Long Island residents live more than a 15 minute drive from a strip of beach or two.
Long Island’s beaches include some phenomenal facilities available to the public. From bathhouses to pools, to boardwalks, to food and picnic areas, the following are a list of Long Island’s best beaches and amenities.
Jones Beach State Park
P.O. Box 1000 | Wantagh, NY | (516) 785-1600 | google map
8 ocean beaches (6 miles), Zachs Bay beach, 2 pools (open daily June 24-Labor Day), band shell, 4 basketball courts, 2 mile boardwalk/health walk, surf chairs for the disabled (Fields 2, 6 and Central Mall), beach ramp at Field 6, 4 mile bike path, boat basin, picnic areas, amphitheater, tennis courts, equipment rentals, miniature golf, pitch & putt golf, 4 finger piers, surf casting, bait station, 2 softball fields (permit required), 22 shuffle board courts, and food concessions. A recent addition to the park is the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center (West End 1) with outdoor and indoor displays, children's activities and programs; call 516-679-7254; open year round 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. weekends and holidays and through the season May 28 to Labor Day - Wed. through Fri. and holidays.
| Website | Beachfront |
| www.nysparks.com | 6.5 miles on ocean (8 beaches); part of a 2,413 acre park |
| Information | Directions |
(516) 785-1600 |
South end of Wantagh and Meadowbrook parkways |
| Lifeguards | Pitch-And-Putt |
| May 27th - Sept. 10th | Season (April 2 - Nov. 27 - Daily 8 AM - 6 PM during the summer |
Gov. Alfred E. Smith - Sunken Meadow State Park
Kings Park, NY | (631) 269-4333 | google map
3-mile beach on Long Island Sound, beach ramp and sand wheelchair, picnic area, umbrella rentals, refreshment stand, 3 playgrounds, showers, 5 softball fields, soccer field, 8 basketball courts, 9 and 18-hole golf courses, putting green, clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, 4-mile nature trail, cross-country skiing and clinic, fishing (permit required for night fishing), 2 miles of bicycle trails, boardwalk, aid station; 1 mile of north end of Suffolk Greenbelt Trail runs through park.
| Website | Beachfront |
| www.nysparks.com | 3 miles on Smithtown Bay and LI Sound |
| Information | Directions |
(631) 269-4333 |
North end of Sunken Meadow State Parkway |
| Lifeguards | Season |
| May 27th - Sept. 10th | Year round - Daily sunrise - sunset |
Smith Point County Park
William Floyd Parkway | Shirley, NY | (631) 852-1316 | google map
On Fire Island, off Shirley, has 5 miles of ocean beachfront, and also houses the TWA memorial. Like Jones Beach, towel space is at a premium in the summer, but for many Eastern Suffolk's South Shore residents, this is "the beach."
Campsites, saltwater fishing, outer beach, sand chair, camping and fishing area, snack bar, playground, picnic area.
| Website | Beachfront |
| www.suffolkcountyny.gov | 5 miles on Great South Bay |
| Information | Lifeguards |
(631) 852-1316 |
May 27 - Sept. 10 - Daily 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Davis Park
Opposite Patchogue | Fire Island, NY | (631) 451-6100 | google map
On Fire Island, just a 20-minute ferry ride from Patchogue, is this small Brookhaven town beach. It has a general store and marina, and a private restaurant/bar sits at the water's edge, with panoramic views of the ocean and bay. Beach cottages, many of them passed down for generations, line boardwalks on either side of the beach and a host of regulars, day trippers and boaters make up this cozy community.
Reached by Davis Park Ferry at Sandspit Beach or by private boat, Rest rooms.
| Website | Beachfront |
| www.brookhaven.org | 800 feet on ocean |
| Information | Lifeguards |
(631) 451-6100 |
10 A.M. - 6 P.M Memorial Day weekend May 27-29 |
Ditch Plains
Off Ditch Plains Road | Montauk, NY 11954 | (631) 324-2417 | google map
For surfers, Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk is the place. This East Hampton Town beach offers little in the way of amenities. But for wave seekers, it has everything they need.
Food stand, sand chair and rest rooms.
| Information | Beachfront |
| (631) 324-2417 | 500 feet on ocean, popular with surfers |
| Lifeguards | |
May 27 - June 24 and Sept. 10 - 25 weekends only 9 AM - 6 PM |
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