11 Best Long Island Beaches

November 20, 2019 - Updated

From the pristine white sand beaches of the Atlantic Ocean to the rocky shores of the Long Island Sound, you can find a beach on our list that’s perfect for your needs. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for calm waters for little ones to splash around in or an exhilarating water activity to partake in, our list of Long Island beaches has you covered.

1.Callahan's Beach

Only for town residents. A Smithtown Town resident sticker from Town Hall is required to enter. Situated in Sunken Meadow State Park, Callahan’s Beach is a town beach that is mainly for town residents and their visitors. It’s often packed on weekends and holidays with friends and family looking to enjoy a fun day out in the sun. There are several features and amenities to ensure you have a safe visit including lifeguards between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., a first-aid station, restrooms, outdoor showers, a playground, designated picnic area, and a campground. Fishing, sunbathing, swimming, and other water activities are extremely popular at the beach. Several restaurants can be found alongside the beach to enjoy a delicious meal after fun day at Callahan’s.

Callahan’s Beach Road, Route 25A, Fort Salonga, NY 11768, Phone: 631-269-1122

2.Cedar Beach

Situated in the Long Island Sound in Mount Sinai, Cedar Beach is a fun, family-friendly place for you to enjoy the sun and sand. The beach has two areas: Cedar Main Beach and Cedar West Beach. Additional features and amenities of the beach include a playground, walking trails, basketball courts, designated picnic areas, and several concessions stands. Boaters and anglers will love the marina, boat launch ramps, and fishing pier which they could make use of. Additional aspects such as restrooms and outdoor showers also make it easy to swim, sunbathe, and have a great day at the beach. Though you’ll probably want to enjoy the outdoors and stay away from your smartphones or laptops, Cedar Beach does offer their patrons free wi-fi access as well.

Cedar Beach, Ocean Parkway, Phone: 631-669-5984

3.Cupsogue Beach County Park

Cupsogue Beach is a part of a 296-acre barrier beach park which attracts visitors from all over for a relaxing day at the beach. You’ll be able to swim in the refreshing Atlantic Ocean or sunbathe on the pristine white sand beach. It’s perfectly kid-friendly and there’s a lifeguard supervising the area during designated rimes. A feature of the beach which makes it stand out from others is the access it gives anglers to some of the finest saltwater bass fishing in the area. Additional amenities to ensure you have a pleasant stay are restrooms, outdoor showers, changing rooms, a first aid center, a snack bar, and picnic benches at the Cupsogue Pavilion. There are also a few remote campsites which allow for overnight, beachside camping during certain months.

906 Dune Road, Westhampton, NY 11978, Phone: 631-852-8111

4.Hither Hills State Park

Hither Hills State Park is home to several scenic picnic areas, playing fields, playgrounds, and campsites, but one of its best and most popular features is its sandy ocean beach. You’ll be able enjoy swimming and sunbathing as well as several other water activities such as surfing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddle boarding. The proximity to the ocean gives anglers year-round access to go fishing anytime they like; there are special permits issued for night fishing as well. The surrounding park is filled with gorgeous woodlands and allows for hiking, biking, picnicking, and birdwatching; there are designated areas for cross-country skiing, camping, and hunting as well.

164 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954, Phone: 631-668-2554

5.Jones Beach State Park

Jones Beach State Park has become a renowned site across the nation and welcomes over six million visitors to the park each year. The park houses a 6.5-mile stretch of white-sand beach directly on the Atlantic Ocean, giving residents and visitors a wonderful place to enjoy the warm, sunny weather during the summer months. There is so much you can see and do at the beach and the surrounding area include swimming in the ocean, sunbathing, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, fishing, strolling the boardwalk, eating at the beachside concession stands, attending musical performances at the outdoor pavilion, or learning about the surrounding marine environment at the Jones Beach Nature Center.

2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, NY 11793, Phone: 516-785-1600

6.Long Beach Boardwalk

The Long Beach Boardwalk encompasses all the features, facilities, and charm of a seaside gem that you would expect. From the minute you get there, you’ll feel the laid-back ocean vibe, see the smiles of the friendly beachgoers, and know that it’s the perfect place to make a summer memory with friends and family. The 2.2-mile-long boardwalk offers picturesque views of the golden sand and azure water. It is filled with boardwalk-style activities, concession stands, restaurants, souvenir shops, rental places, and more. There’re often events held there during the weekends such as fairs, festivals, performances, and more. You can rent a bike and cruise the boardwalk, enjoy drinks at the outdoor dining spaces, and go home with fun souvenirs to remind you of your trip.

7.Main Beach, East Hampton

Main Beach in East Hampton is one of the exclusive, more private beaches in Long Island. Due to its lack of a boardwalk and other popular beachside amenities, it’s often less crowded than the other places on our list - but that makes it perfect for people who want a more secluded beach experience. The lovely beach has a pristine shoreline and does include features and amenities such as lifeguards, restrooms, showers, a beach pavilion, and a heavily-stocked snack bar. Though it is busiest in the summer, Main Beach should be experienced during the other seasons as well as its serenity and the views it offers are incomparable.

104 Ocean Avenue, East Hampton, NY 11937

8.Nickerson Beach Park

Found on Long Island’s South Shore, right along the Atlantic Ocean, Nickerson Beach Park is a sun-drenched recreational facility that is packed to the brim with places to explore and things to do. The beach itself is only half a mile long but the surrounding park spans over 155 acres. In addition to swimming and sunbathing at the beach front, visitors will also be able to enjoy the beach volleyball courts and the seaside Pitch and Putt, a nine-hole golfing range on the dunes. There are two ‘Fun Zones’ which include a swimming pool, a kiddie pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, a baseball field, and a skate park. There are several cabanas, campgrounds, and picnic areas fitted with barbecue equipment scattered across the park.

880 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY 11561, Phone: 516-571-7700

9.Ocean Beach

Renowned as one of the most tranquil beaches on Fire Island, Ocean Beach is often said to have an atmosphere similar to a paradise resort - without the paradise resort price tag. The beach is extremely peaceful, and you’ll be able to take in the sounds of the ocean waves, chirping birds, and friendly people that are there. This calm demeanor is mostly due to the fact that no cars are allowed on the 32-mile-long barrier island; to get there from Long Island, you’ll have to take a half an hour long ferry ride across the Great South Bay. Water activities you can partake in include swimming, windsurfing, jet skiing, boating, and fishing. After a day on the sandy beach, take a stroll on the boardwalk promenade, stick around to photograph the sunset view, or buy some beachside souvenirs on Main Street.

10.Robert Moses State Park

Boasting a shoreline of nearly five miles, Robert Moses State Park is an ocean beachfront facility which attracts nearly four million visitors every year. Rightly so, as visitors love the spacious expanse of azure waters and golden sands. You are welcome to swim, surf, surf-fish, or boogie-board at any of the four fields. Features include on-duty fishing piers, lifeguards, first aid offices, comfort stations, restrooms, private outdoor showers, complimentary WiFi access, designated picnic areas, beach shops, and concession stands. Furthermore, the park also has an expansive beach volleyball court and an 18-hole Pitch & Putt golf course. Have a more unique beachside experience by obtaining a star gazing permit and staying at Robert Moses State Park well into the night.

600 Robert Moses State Parkway, Babylon, NY 11702, Phone: 631-669-0449

11.Sunken Meadow State Park

Sunken Meadow State Park is a favored place with both locals and visitors. Out of all of the beaches on our list, it is the one with the most stunning panoramic views of the Long Island Sound. You’ll also be able to see lovely bridges that stretch over Sunken Meadow Creek and even parts of Connecticut from right on the beach. The waters are extremely calm, so the beach is perfect for visitors who are coming with younger children. Some of the most popular water activities available here are kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddle boarding. You can also make use of facilities such as the walking path, open lawn areas, picnic areas, ball fields, restaurants, boardwalk, and more.

Rte. 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park, NY 11754, Phone: 631-269-4333