It’s easy to forget that New York City is a beach town. Escape the sweltering city heat one weekend this Summer and relax at the beach all day, no car required.
- Southampton – Long Island
Take the LIRR out of Penn Station, and with a quick transfer in Jamaica, you can be in the quaint coastal town of Southampton on Long Island in less than 3 hours (2 hours and 47 minutes to be exact).
The town center is just a 10 minute walk from the station, so grab some food there then head to the ocean.
There’s even a free ride service called Circuit, just download the app and a golf cart will pick you up and take you to the beach for no cost.
Choose Southampton if you’re looking for a coastal grandma-esque vibe, with cute boutiques and eateries dotting the town, and a laid back, family-oriented beach day with great waves and a clean beach.
Cooper’s Beach is consistently in the top 10 beach towns of America, and this year was ranked #2.
2. Rockaway Beach – Queens
Choose Rockaway Beach if you’re in need of a quick, last-minute beach fix.
Take the ferry from Pier 11 in the Financial District (do NOT bother with the ferry on a holiday – the line spans blocks and will take hours to get through) or take the A train all the way to Broad Channel, where you can then transfer to the shuttle if it’s off-peak hours.
Then get off at any of the stops, with Beach 90 St. being the first, and Rockaway Park – Beach 116 St. coming last.
Rockaway can get crowded, but being apart of Queens means convenience wins it major bonus points.
You can even learn to surf at one of the many surf schools located in Rockaway, for as little as $75 for a semi-private lesson!
3. Sandy Hook – New Jersey
From E. 35 Street or Wall Street, you can take an hour-long ride on the Seastreak Ferry right to New Jersey’s closest beach. Check the ferry schedule here.
Sandy Hook is home to one of the oldest, still-working lighthouse in the United States, and New Jersey’s only nude beach, Gunnison Beach.
In the Summer months, there are lifeguards present and tons of food options like food trucks and snack bars.
4. Long Beach – Long Island
A quick and direct 45 minutes on the LIRR will bring you to Long Beach, a sprawling beach with a 2 and 1/4 mile boardwalk, plenty of food options and restaurants, a lively bar scene, and a clean beach with great waves and lifeguards during the Summer season.
The beach is just a 10-minute walk from the train station and a five minute walk to a Stop & Shop, so it’s super convenient to grab some lunch before you head to the water.
Check out Minnesota’s after dinner for a nightlife hot spot with lots of young people and a blaring DJ. Just make sure to get the last train back to the city at midnight.
5. Long Branch – New Jersey
This quintessential Jersey Shore town is just over an hour and a half on NJ Transit from Penn Station.
After getting off the train, the beach is just a 10-15 minute walk to the beach, where you can also find a boardwalk and a plethora of boutiques and restaurants to explore.
