Looking for a quick beach escape from NYC with boardwalk charm and Atlantic waves? Visit Long Beach! Located on Long Island’s south shore, Long Beach offers a laid-back surf vibe, clean sandy beaches, walkable neighborhoods, and a revitalized boardwalk. Whether you’re sunbathing, biking, or catching live music, it’s the perfect coastal getaway—just an hour from Manhattan.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Long Beach is in the summer (June–August), when the beach is in full swing with lifeguards, concessions, and events. Late spring and early fall also offer warm weather with fewer crowds, while off-season visits bring peace and oceanfront strolls, though beach access is limited.

How to Get There

  • By Train: Take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Penn Station in Manhattan directly to Long Beach Station (approx. 55 minutes).
  • By Car: From NYC, take the Cross Island Parkway or Southern State Parkway to Loop Parkway and follow signs to Long Beach.
  • By Bike/Walk: The city is very walkable and bike-friendly, especially along the boardwalk and Ocean Avenue.

Where to Stay

  • Alejandra Hotel – Boutique hotel with modern rooms and a rooftop terrace just blocks from the beach.
  • Allegria Hotel – Oceanfront luxury hotel featuring a rooftop pool, restaurant, and stunning boardwalk access.
  • Vacation Rentals – Beachfront condos and cozy apartments are widely available on Airbnb or Vrbo for longer stays.

Must-see if you are a first-time visitor:

  • Long Beach Boardwalk – A 2.2-mile pedestrian boardwalk perfect for walking, jogging, or biking with ocean views.
  • Long Beach Beach – Wide sandy beaches with swimming, surfing, sunbathing, and daily beach passes (required in summer).
  • Magnolia Playground – Family-friendly beachfront playground with restrooms, shade structures, and picnic areas.
  • Long Beach Surf School – Take a lesson or rent a board to ride the waves like a local.
  • Skudin Surf – Surf camps and private instruction for all ages, located right on the beach.

Unique Attractions

⮕ Catch a Wave or Learn to Surf at Skudin Surf

Catch waves and learn surf basics during an exciting kids-friendly beach adventure.

Catch a Wave or Learn to Surf at Skudin Surf

© Tabor Chichakly/stock.adobe.com

Skudin Surf aims to bring surfing to people of any ability or age in a safe, positive, and fun environment. The surf lesson company offers a variety of surf camps, group lessons, and private instruction options, as well as corporate events and parties for both children and adults in the waterfront town of Long Beach, New York. Skudin Surf also offers surf lessons at Rockaway Beach and Lido-Nickerson Beach. Surf lessons as offered daily from 7:00am until 5:00pm and paddle board activities include sunset paddle, stand-up paddle core workout, stand-up paddle yoga, and paddle meetup.

Address: Skudin Surf, 2 Riverside Blvd, Long Beach, NY 11561, Phone: 516-318-3993

Where to Eat

⮕ Start Your Day with Comfort Classics at Laurel Diner

Grab a booth and enjoy hearty classics on a quick breakfast stop.

Start Your Day with Comfort Classics at Laurel Diner

© Laurel Diner

The Laurel Diner, formerly known as the Laurel Luncheonette and Restaurant, has been a part of the Long Beach community for around ninety years. It has long been a place that locals dine at on daily, weekly, or sometimes even an hourly basis. This has made it perhaps the “unofficial institution of Long Beach.” The more than eighty year streak is representative of the Laurel Diner’s level of customer satisfaction, as well as the local loyalty to this dining establishment. The diner is typically open seven days a week from 6:00am until midnight, with hours varying during the holidays.

Address: Laurel Diner, 300 W Park Ave, Long Beach, NY 11561, Phone: 516-432-7728

⮕ Spice Things Up with Flavorful Fare at Tandoor Grill

Taste bold spices and savor Indian dishes on a flavorful couples night out.

Spice Things Up with Flavorful Fare at Tandoor Grill

© Tandoor Grill

The name of Tandoor Grill comes from the traditional Tandoor oven, a bell shaped oven traditionally made out of clay. The restaurant continues the rich tradition of using the Tandoor and preparing delicious kebabs and curries, specially marinating kebabs overnight before roasting them in the clay oven. Roti and Naans are also baked in the Tandoor oven, complimenting many of the main dishes served at the Tandoor Grill. The menu here also includes an extensive array of vegetarian curries and other options. To top off the meal, the restaurant also offers the famous desserts acclaimed throughout India from West Bengal.

Address: Tandoor Grill, 1042 W Beech St, Long Beach, NY 11561, Phone: 516-766-4440

If you are traveling with kids:

⮕ Read, Relax, or Explore Events at the Long Beach Public Library

Explore local collections and attend community events during a quiet retirement afternoon.

Read, Relax, or Explore Events at the Long Beach Public Library

© Long Beach Public Library

The Long Beach Public Library in the seaside town of Long Beach serves as a community center for the area’s recreational, educational, cultural, and civic needs. The library consists of two branches: one at Long Beach’s West End and the other in Point Lookout. In addition to offering numerous books and other media for visitors to read or borrow, the Long Beach Public Library provides a variety of programs, amenities, and services available to both the local community and out-of-town visitors, such as the Library Playland, classes, parent/child workshops, storytimes for several different age groups, and more.

Address: Long Beach Public Library, 111 W Park Ave, Long Beach, NY 11561, Phone: 516-432-7201

If you are interested in local events:

  • Arts in the Plaza (Saturdays, May–October) – Weekly artisan market with local crafts, live music, and community vibes.
  • Long Beach International Film Festival (August) – Showcasing independent films, music, and culinary events.
  • Boardwalk Concert Series (Summer) – Free evening concerts featuring local bands and ocean breezes.
  • Annual Polar Bear Splash (February) – Brave souls dash into the freezing Atlantic to raise funds for local causes.

If you are looking for unique day trips within 30–60 Minutes of Long Beach, New York:

  • Point Lookout (20 min) – Quieter beach town with scenic fishing spots, casual seafood shacks, and kayaking.
  • Jones Beach State Park (30 min) – Iconic New York beach with a large amphitheater, wide boardwalk, and nature center.
  • Rockville Centre (20 min) – Trendy downtown with great dining, bars, and live entertainment.
  • Freeport Nautical Mile (30 min) – Waterfront strip with boat tours, seafood restaurants, and dockside attractions.
  • Lido Beach Passive Nature Area (10–15 min) – Peaceful wetlands perfect for birdwatching and a break from the summer crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What is Long Beach, NY known for?
    • Known in the area as the “City by the Sea,” Long Beach, NY was once a popular resort destination during the turn of the 20th century for New Yorkers.
  • What activities can visitors enjoy on the boardwalk?
    • The boardwalk offers an ideal place for in-line skating and other activities before diving into the Atlantic Ocean or relaxing on the white sand beach.
  • How can visitors reach Long Beach, NY without a car?
  • Where can visitors find free parking?
  • What parks and recreational facilities are available in Long Beach?
  • Where can visitors stay in Long Beach with an ocean view?

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Plan Your Trip