One of the loveliest ideas while putting together a summer trip is to go through the best beaches in New York to take your family out for a day. Coney Island is a perfect place to go as it is only about 45 minutes from the center of Manhattan and also it still has the boardwalk that dates back to more than a century. On the other hand, Rockaway Beach is considered the most heavily populated beach area of the city, where the number of the beach visitors is increased up to five million yearly. Moreover, if you happen to be selecting the top family beaches in New York, then Bronx single borough beach, Orchard Beach, with its mile-long sandy shore, is certainly the perfect place for a day trip.
It is quite important to remember though that the beaches in New York are largely open from Memorial Day weekend till September 8, 2025 and swimming is only allowed during the lifeguards’ shift from 10 am to 6 pm; therefore, if you are going to put on your sunscreen and bring your beach towels, do not forget to check the beach beforehand. Starting with the art deco pavilions of Jacob Riis Park and going through to the family-friendly vibe of Orchard Beach, a guide to the best beaches in New York will really be your ultimate summer companion.
Best Beaches In New York
Many great beaches line New York’s coast, and they are a must-see if you are there during the warmer months. In reality, if it’s slightly cold outside, there will still be a fair amount of people out, some are walking the beach to get in their daily dose of fresh air, and some will be relaxing in the stillness that the ocean breeze brings. We might just want to talk about the best beaches in New York City and what they have to offer.
1. Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn
Of all the numerous beach resorts in New York, Coney Island stands out as the most popular and ancient one, dates back to the mid-19th century. The enchanting and vibrant waterfront area combines the old-fashioned and typical aspects of a beach with the crazy city life, hence its fascination not only with the local people but also with the visitors from all over the globe.
Coney Island Beach Amenities
Besides swimming and sunbathing, Coney Island is packed with a lot of attractive features that make it the best beach of New York. The boardwalk is always accessible, even in the off-season, whereas the beach is, of course, open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. There are good amenities for visitors, which include changing rooms, public bathrooms, and spray showers. There are also internet hotspots free of charge to visitors throughout the zone. There are also several playgrounds for children at different age levels, one being an outdoor one, which is located on the beach right in front of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
2. Rockaway Beach
With its miles-long expanse along the Atlantic Ocean on the Rockaway Peninsula, Rockaway Beach is the biggest urban beach in the US. Rockaway Beach visitors can take their pick of the beach activities, boardwalk, food concession, and a city-exclusive surfing beach (which has two different areas for surf) to surf.
Beautifully and surprisingly diverse and radical, the Rockaways are New York at its best and has an astonishing five million beachgoers every year. On the sand, you can find the whole gamut of mankind under the (literal and figurative) sun, with tens of thousands of New Yorkers coming out on hot days to leave the heat of the black pavement for the cooling ocean breezes.
Rockaway Beach Amenities
Rockaway Beach is regarded as the largest urban beach in the United States. The beach runs for quite a few miles along the Rockaway peninsula, which faces the Atlantic Ocean and is loaded with activities for people coming to the beach. These include a boardwalk, food concession, and the only beach in the city where surfing is allowed. To be precise, the beach has two different areas where surfing is allowed.
Strikingly diverse in culture and stunningly beautiful in its extremes, the Rockaways are authentically, simply, genuinely the best of New York City, welcoming a remarkable five million beachgoers a year. On the sand, you will find all kinds of people (both literally and figuratively) under the sun, with tens of thousands of New Yorkers enjoying the best summer days by exchanging a hot asphalt street for the offshore breeze.
3. Brighton Beach
Once called “Little Odessa,” Brighton Beach gives a different cultural immersion than the beaches of New York, with its lively Russian and Eastern European community that produces an atmosphere that is different from any other beach destination in NYC. This remarkable neighborhood combines the city’s by-the-sea lifestyle with a more in-depth walk through the culture and history along with a visit from all over the world, all of which are only a couple of blocks away from the Atlantic Ocean.
Brighton Beach Amenities
Mostly the shore is free from dirty sand and generally have more area than the next-door Coney Island. Besides lying in the sun, people can also walk and buy from the bustling shopping district that continues along Brighton Beach Avenue. The district is full to the brim with a great number of shops, and one of them is a bookstore called Saint-Petersburg (since 1994), which has more than 10,000 books in the Russian language.
As a result, they become fascinated by these types of discoveries at markets like Brighton Bazaar and Gourmanoff, which provide a full sensory experience about Eastern European delicacies, smoked fish, cured fish and prepared food. The list of entertainment options also includes the Master Theater that is the regular venue of both Russian musicians and international artists.
4. Jacob Riis Park
In the case that you might be searching for one of the best beaches in New York that would offer you soft sand, a lively atmosphere, and delicious fare, Jacob Riis Park Beach would probably be the perfect location. Slightly away, towards the west of the Rockaway, facing the Atlantic is the Jacob Riis Park Beach. It is called the ” Peoples Beach” of New York and is one of the least crowded beaches in the city as it is slightly hidden behind a summer recreation park and a second world war military fort. The beach is maintained by the National Park Service. Situated at Queens, this beach allows the sunbathers an exquisite quarter-mile long waterfront.
In 2015 new concessions opened on the Boardwalk at Jacob Riis , which has made the beach a much more popular destination. There is still plenty of space on the beach, but there are definitely bigger crowds visiting on weekends to enjoy the excellent vending options, including sandwiches from Court Street Grocery, cotton candy from Brooklyn Floss, and artisanal ice creams and ice pops. You are even allowed to buy drink or beers and alcohol in a designated area of the beach.
Jacob Riis Park Amenities
The features of the local park are quite comprehensive when it comes to the recreation needs of the people who live nearby. What is more? The park is also showcasing 36 basketball courts, 7 playgrounds, shuffleboard courts, beach volleyball, handball courts, and an 18-hole pitch-and-putt golf course.
An employee can help you if needed and you can find him at Bays 2 and 5, respectively, every day from 10 am to 6 pm, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, inclusive. The lifeguards, who are there for safety at the same locations, as well as the attendants, stay at Bays 2 and 5, respectively, every day, from 10 am to 6 pm, starting from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
Open-air showers are there, too, and can be used at any time during the summer season. The boardwalk, in addition, goes along the beach, letting you have a nice walk next to the yards and the well-kept paths.
5. Long Beach
Often known as “The City by the Sea,” Long Beach provides a beautiful oceanfront stay being one of the beaches in New York with its breathtaking white sand beach and lively atmosphere. It is the ideal getaway for those who want to unwind or have fun because this lovely coastal town in the South Shore of Long Island is only a 50-minute train ride from Manhattan.
Long Beach Amenities
Essentially, the boardwalk functions as the core of the town, offering a spacious and secure area for walking, biking, or roller skating to the locals. Facilities for the public consist of restrooms that can be reached at least every two blocks and in addition, there are popup stands and rental bike services. Being a beach resort, Long Beach is an area that necessitates a permit during the beach season (from Memorial Day to Labor Day), and the gate fee is $15 per person. Moreover, the beach is kept in a very good condition.
6. Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park, an internationally famous, is ranked as one of the top five New York beaches and attracts more than 8 million visitors yearly. This fantastic seaside park has more than 2,400 acres of beach along the Long Island’s south shore.
Jones Beach State Park amenities
Only swimming is not the case; people can also take part in many other activities such as riding a bike, surfing, fishing without a license on Steeplechase Pier, playing miniature golf, shuffleboard, basketball, cornhole, paddle tennis, table tennis, and pickleball.
Families love the playgrounds and splashpad a lot. Nature lovers will also have a great time watching the birds as a variety of species are found there such as Oystercatchers, Terns, Skimmers, Northern Harrier Hawks, and Plovers. Kids usually find big horseshoe crabs when they are picking shells by the beach.
7. Orchard Beach
Orchard Beach is an utter favorite among visitors, and for good reason. Orchard Beach has made its way onto our guide of the best beaches in New York due to it being the primary public beach that the Bronx has to offer, and a truly amazing one at that. One of the main reasons is its very characteristic crescent shape along with the stunning panoramic views of the city island that are actually the factors, which makes it be visited by numerous New Yorkers in the hot season. Basically it consisted of a plan showing a boulevard, a pavilion with a food store, playing areas, a picnic area, and basketball, volleyball, and handball courts. Dressing rooms are available for those who have been playing and would like to take a shower and change their clothes. The Orchard Beach bathhouse, a facility built during the Great Depression, has been designated as a historic landmark. If you want to eat, snack bars and food carts are in service to you.
Orchard Beach Amenities
The shore has a hexagonal-block promenade that is goint along the entire stretch of the beach that offers amazing views of the water. Recreational options abound with:
- Two playgrounds and two picnic areas
- Twenty-six courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball
- The Orchard Beach Nature Center
8. South Beach
South Beach is the name of a Staten Island beach that is located on the east side of the island. Among the beaches in New York, this is the one that has been singled out for its charming and old-fashioned boardwalk and stunning views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The beach, which is a local favorite, and frequently quoted as “The Riviera of New York City,” is the borough’s treasure with its stunning beach and is a nice and quiet resort away from the hectic city and the crowded beaches.
South Beach Amenities
This beach is not only great for swimming in lifeguard-protected waters, but it also offers various recreational amenities. Fans of sports can practice their favorite activities in any of the eight baseball fields that are available besides basketball and handball courts, as well as the Detective Russel Timoshenko Soccer Field. Moreover, the Ben Soto Skate Park is a wonderful metal and cement facility built exclusively for the skateboard and BMX bike enthusiasts to enjoy their time. The attractive Fountain of Dolphins, that was installed in 1998, comprises six bronze figures that can be illuminated with green, blue, and white lights after sunset.
9. Fort Tilden Beach
Rockaway Peninsula is where you will find Fort Tilden Beach which among all the New York beaches is the most solitary one, a perfect place of nature for anyone wanting to get away from the crowd as much as possible.
Fort Tilden Beach Highlights
This is an ex-military base that has the best views of the city skyline, New York Harbor, the Bay of New York, and Queens. The shore is a refuge for rare plants and animals and also has a forest, marshes, and historic structures such as Battery Harris and the Nike Missile Launch Site. Actually, the people get fewer and fewer as you go down the coast to the west.
Fort Tilden Beach Amenities
Fort Tilden is totally different from the other beaches as it definitely has no lifeguards and swimming facilities, though swimming is prohibited. The place has something to offer to every nature lover, the hiking trails, sports fields, arts center, theater, and even the observatory deck of a historic battery. Not much is provided, but there are still some porta-potties.
10. Main Beach (East Hampton)
The Main Beach of East Hampton has been ranked for a long time as one of the best beaches in the US and is known to be the most luxurious beach out of the beaches in New York. Its clean sands and elegant aura are some of the things that people can expect from this beach. The most beautiful New York beach is essentially the Capitol of the jewel of East Hampton& seashore.
Main Beach amenities
The first thing that comes to mind is that lifeguards are mainly on the lookout from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on days when the pool is open. The safer beach to swim at has this colour-coded flag system that shows the conditions of the water: green being calm, yellow for caution, red for dangerous and if there is no flag, it means that swimming is not allowed. There are also nice restrooms and changing areas with bathrooms that are always open when lifeguards are on duty.
Conclusion
The world-famous beach of Coney Island, the quiet Montauk and the never-altered Fire Island are only a few examples that show how varied and amazing are New York beach destinations. In fact, if you are looking for childcare, romantic sunset or party after sunset, New York state has the best beach for you. So putting it simply, take your lotion, get your sunhat and turn this summer into one that you will always remember by visiting the 10 best New York beaches. The ocean is calling-you coming?