Best Beaches Near New York 2026
New York's beaches reward those who know where to go. Here are the best beaches near New York for 2026.
The Hamptons
The Hamptons — the string of beach towns on the South Fork of Long Island east of Southampton — are the most famous and fashionable beach destination within reach of New York. The LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) from Penn Station to Southampton takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes; Montauk (the furthest east) takes 3 hours 30 minutes. The ocean beaches of the Hamptons are genuinely exceptional — long, wide, and clean Atlantic coast beaches with significant surf and strong rip currents (swim between the flags only). The Coopers Beach in Southampton and Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack are consistently rated among the finest ocean beaches in the American northeast. The village of East Hampton has excellent restaurants and the famous Barefoot Contessa store. Car ownership or rental is effectively required for Hamptons beach access beyond the train stations.
Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach — the barrier island State Park accessible from Queens and Nassau County by car (1 hour from Midtown Manhattan), or by LIRR to Freeport then shuttle bus — is the most accessible and best-maintained public beach in the New York area. The State Park has 6.5 miles of Atlantic beach, a large bathhouse, lifeguards, parking (USD 10), and food concessions. Jones Beach is the practical choice for a full Atlantic Ocean beach day from the city without the expense of the Hamptons.
Coney Island
Coney Island is New York's great democratic beach — accessible from Manhattan in 45-55 minutes by the D, F, N, or Q subway trains (free with MetroCard/OMNY), and free to enter. The Coney Island Beach is a long, serviceable Atlantic beach (the water quality has improved substantially over the past two decades through Clean Water Act enforcement), fronted by the famous Coney Island Boardwalk with its rides, Nathan's Famous hotdogs (serving since 1916), and the 1927 Cyclone roller coaster. The adjacent Brighton Beach (one stop east on the Q/B) has a large Russian-speaking community and excellent Eastern European restaurants and food stores on Brighton Beach Avenue beneath the elevated subway.
Practical Tips for NYC Beaches
Atlantic Ocean rip currents at New York beaches are significant — swim only at lifeguarded beaches within the designated swimming area (marked by red-and-yellow flags). The water peaks at around 22 degrees Celsius in August; a rash vest is comfortable. Jones Beach and Coney Island are at their most crowded on hot summer weekends (July-August); the water is at its best in September when crowds thin. LIRR tickets to the Hamptons should be booked in advance for summer Fridays (the outbound Friday evening Hamptons Express is very popular).
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