The Best Beaches Near New York City

Jacob Riis Park Beach, with its rich historical heritage, is located at the west end of the Rockaway Peninsula.

Quickest mode of transport from New York : Taxi/Car (30 minutes)

Parking : available

Montauk is a major tourist destination in Suffolk county, it's famous for miles of beautiful white gleaming sand & the spectacular 70 feet high cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Timings : 10 AM to 9 PM

Parking : Parking isn't free anymore. Make sure to get a pass($35) or you will get a ticket.

Pet friendly : Pets are allowed on the beach

Also known as the Bronx Riviera, Orchard Beach is the only public beach in the Bronx. For most parts of New York, this is the closest beach, making it very popular amongst locals.

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : $8-$10

Facilities :  Playgrounds, Sports courts, Barbecue area, Pet friendly, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible, Senior discount for parking

Conveniently an hour and a half away from New York, Fire Island is a 31 miles long barrier island off the South shore of Long Island.

Amenities : Boating and fishing opportunities available

Cost of ferries : $9 for one way trips; $17 for two way trip

The main beach East Hampton is one of the five beaches of the village of East Hampton and is also very close to the Georgica & Wiborg beaches.

Timing : 10 AM to 5 PM.

Parking : The parking usually fills up in the peak of summers. The parking is either paid (for visitors) or free (if you have a resident permit).

Activities : No fishing, watercraft, or surfboarding is allowed in the swimming areas.

An hour away from New York, Long Branch has wide sandy beaches to offer to beach bums and a boardwalk ideal for jogging and strolling.

Best time to visit : Autumn

Beach fee : ranging from $5 upto $45 with student and elderly concessions

Parking : Metered parking available, free on street parking

Cherry Grove Beach in Horry County, South Carolina is famous for its white sand and for being the most family-friendly beach in the entire New York City. It’s also very close to Myrtle beach(& significantly less crowded).

Timings : 7 AM to 8 PM

Brighton Beach, Brooklyn- Located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Brighton Beach is popularly called ‘Little Odessa’ due to its rich historical past of ex-soviet settlers.

Transportation : Subway- Take the B or Q transit lines ; Bus- B1 from Bay Ridge or B68 from Prospect Park

Restaurants : Tatiana restaurant, Kashkar Cafe, and Skovorodka

Shelter Island is a part of Long Island. You will have to take a ferry from Greenport to reach Long Island. Shelter Island is famous for its picturesque beaches, serene hiking trails and it serves as a perfect destination away from the city.

Timings : 9 AM to 8 PM

Parking : Always get a parking permit, or you may be fined

Activities : Kayaking, paddle boarding & bonfires are allowed

Also known as the Bronx Riviera, Orchard Beach is the only public beach in the Bronx. For most parts of New York, this is the closest beach, making it very popular amongst locals.

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : $8-$10

Facilities :  Playgrounds, Sports courts, Barbecue area, Pet friendly, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible, Senior discount for parking

The 2.5 mile long Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk is one of the most spacious beach areas in New York City and consists of 2 beaches- South Beach on the North side of the boardwalk and Midland Beach towards the South.

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : Free

Facilities : Playgrounds, Sports courts, Barbecue area, pet friendly, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible

An hour away from New York, Jones Beach State Park is famous for its 6.5 miles of ocean beach that offers excellent space for swimming as well as for still water bathing.

Address : 1 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh, NY 11793, United States 

Parking : Available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. $10 during peak times ; $8 during non-peak times

Restrictions : No pets allowed all year round

It is one of the best beaches in New York City for family groups and surfers.

Timing : 9 AM to 5 PM

Right by Coney Island is Manhattan Beach. Located on the southern end of Brooklyn in an upcoming neighbourhood, this beach is perfect for those looking to escape the crowds of Coney Island.

Timings : 9 AM to 5 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : USD 2/hour

Facilities : Children’s park, Barbecue area, Sports courts, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible

Located in Nassau County, Long Beach boasts of some of the finest and cleanest white sandy beaches covering an expanse of roughly five miles. A 2.1 mile boardwalk runs along the ocean with bikes available for rental.

Timing : 9 AM to 6 PM

Restrictions : Alcohol, animals, smoking and glass bottles are prohibited at all times.

5 miles of soft, sandy coastline makes up the beaches of the Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island. The stretch is divided into 4 separate beach areas or ‘fields’, each having its own vibe and crowd.

Timings : 9 AM to 5 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : $10

Facilities : Children’s park, Barbecue area, Sports courts, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible

It's a dog-friendly beach in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's famous for its wide boardwalk with the shallow waters of the Atlantic on one side & bustling shops on the other

Parking : You need to use the "Viply" app to buy a beach permit ($5) & they sell out quickly.

Timings : 9 AM to 8 PM

Accessibility : The authorities provide adaptive chairs for visitors with paralysis.

Entry Fee : Military personnel and their dependents are admitted free of charge.

Coney Island is the quintessential ‘Classic American’ beach located in Brooklyn and rightly finds itself near the top of the list of New York’s best beaches.

Timings : 6 AM to 9 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Beach (Free), Amusement Park (Between $10 to $20)
Parking $20

Facilities : Playground, Sports courts, Bathroom and Showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible (Beach and Amusement Park)

The Rockaway beach and boardwalk in Queens is the essential New York City beach. This majestic 5.5 mile beach and its adjoining boardwalk is one of the longest in the country and therefore has something for everyone.

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : Free

Facilities : Children’s park, Barbecue area, Sports courts, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible

Opened in 1937, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach stretches over 2.5 miles from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field.

Distance from New York : 29 minutes (14.1 miles)

Wheelchair accessibility : Yes

Parking : space available

Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area, Jersey is situated in Monmouth County, Sandy Hook is a popular tourist destination with its ocean beaches and green spaces.

Timings : 5 AM to 9 PM

Pet Friendly : Pets are only allowed on oceanside beaches from September 15 - March 15.

Beach parking fee : $15

Cedar Grove Beach is Staten Island’s newest beach and has only been open to the public since 2011.

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM (From May end to September end)

Entry fee : Free

Parking : Free

Facilities : Comfort areas and benches, Bathrooms and showers

Accessibility : Wheelchair accessible