The best beaches for a weekend getaway—just a train ride away from NYC
Ocean air and open sand can be found less than two hours from the Big Apple. Here are six of the best coastal escapes.
It’s no secret that summer is one of the most popular times to visit New York City. But with average high temperatures sitting in the 80s and stifling humidity, some travelers may want a break from the Big Apple.
While popular seaside spots like the Hamptons require advanced planning, several beaches are just a train ride away and offer historic sites, nature, and small-town charm along with uncrowded shorelines.
(Antoni Porowski's guide to New York City)
Here are six of the best beaches not far from New York City.
Jones Beach State Park, Long Island
Travel time from NYC: Just under two hours by train
Known for: Outdoor concert venue and Fourth of July fireworks show
An early project by influential New York City urban planner Robert Moses, Jones Beach State Parkcombines the recreational activities of a city park with 6.5 miles of white-sand beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island’s south shore.
“You have various activities throughout Jones Beach that you could partake in one day,” says George Gorman Jr., regional director of New York’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on Long Island. “And then come back a second day, and it would be like a new experience.”
Besides its picturesque coastline, Jones Beach is known for concerts The Northwell at Jones Beach Theater, an outdoor amphitheater, hosts top performers such as James Taylor, Rod Stewart and the Dave Matthews Band, while The Jones Beach Bandshell, which is directly along the boardwalk, presents free summer events, such as Fourth of July fireworks and the FourLeaf Air Show.
Swimmers have lots of options, from designated on-duty lifeguard spots (if you’re driving, park in field 6) to the calm waters of Zach’s Bay, located on the other side of Ocean Parkway. Additionally, the park’s two historic bathhouses—West Bathhouse Pool and East Bathhouse—are great alternatives for visitors who want to avoid the sand. At press time, East Bathhouse was set to reopen in summer 2026, after an extensive restoration.
Outdoors lovers may want to stop by Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center to learn about the area’s nature-based energy sources, such as wave action, in the ecosystems; take guided nature walks; or try the zipline and obstacle course at WildPlay Jones Beach.
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After working up an appetite, stop by the Boardwalk Café for a quick bite (or ice cream) or head across the bay to restaurants like Dirty Taco + Tequila in Wantagh, for a lively atmosphere and street-style tacos, or Salt on The Water in Merrick for dockside dining. About a seven-minute drive, The Buoy Bar serves American classics at lots of outdoor tables with views across Point Lookout.
Getting there: From Penn Station or Grand Central Madison in Manhattan, take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Babylon Branch to the Freeport Station. From there, head downstairs to catch the Nassau Inter-County Express northbound bus to the beach. With a seasonal, nonstop schedule, the n88xpress makes two stops along the beach at: West Bathhouse, which is around 17 minutes and near the park’s boardwalk, and Central Mall a main dining, retail and rec hub that’s about a minute away. (Note: The current 2026 schedule does not include East Bathhouse.)
Where to stay: Opened in 1929, Jones Beach Hotel is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood bordering Cedar Creek Park and offers charming vintage-style rooms and an upscale Italian restaurant.
Fire Island, New York
Travel time from NYC: An hour by train, plus a half-hour ferry
Known for: A rare maritime holly forest and LGBTQ history
A primarily car-free getaway, Fire Island is a 32-mile thin barrier island off of Long Island, sprinkled with 17 distinctive communities, historic maritime sites, and miles of sand dune-dotted beaches and salt marshes. It also coincides with Fire Island National Seashore, a National Park Service site established in 1969 to protect the island’s coastal resources and prevent overdevelopment.
The island’s unofficial capital is Ocean Beach, a singles and family-friendly spot buzzing with a sweeping beachfront and homey restaurants like Rachel's Fire Island Restaurant & Bakery offering sit-down meals and sweet treats like their famous crumb cake to go.
In Kismet, check out the Fire Island Lighthouse, the largest in the state, with views of the New York City skyline, the Atlantic Ocean, and Long Island’s bays. The Fire Island Pedicab takes visitors there and to Robert Moses State Park, located at Fire Island’s western end.
Nature lovers can’t go wrong with Sailors Haven’s Sunken Forest, a “globally rare” maritime holly forest home to many tree species protected by a double dune system. Alexcy Romero, superintendent with the Fire Island National Seashore, notes that a boardwalk runs through the forest. Visitors can also book ranger-led tours.
Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines (“The Pines” to locals) neighborhoods are steeped in LGBTQ+ history. In Cherry Grove, beloved Cherry’s On the Bay has been drawing fans to its drag brunch for years, while The Pines has long been a social hub with a pool club, pavilion, and the harborside restaurant, The Blue Whale.
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Getting there: Take the LIRR to one of three stations on the Montauk Branch, then take a shuttle bus or taxi to one of three ferries. Fire Island Ferries services the western end and operates Fire Island Water Taxi. Sayville Ferry Service connects to the central and eastern communities. Davis Park Ferry sails to the easternmost areas.
Where to stay: Locals say Watch Hill, on the western edge of the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, makes a good base for campers. Non-campers can try a vacation rental or book rooms at The Grove Hotel, which has a pool and a packed calendar of events, or The Palms Hotel Fire Island, whose cottage-style décor makes a serene backdrop for rest and relaxation.
Long Beach, New York
Travel time from NYC: Under an hour by train
Known for: Surfing and a bustling boardwalk
This “City by the Sea” on Long Island’s south shore draws travelers and surfers with 3.5 miles of prime beach and a 2.1-mile historic boardwalk. Surfers typically paddle out from Azores and Lincoln Boulevard Beach, but also follow a rotating surf schedule set by the city.
Outside of catching waves and sun on the beach, there’s plenty to explore. In West End, historic 1920s bungalows and boardwalk cottages set the scene for laidback summer strolls. On Saturdays, locals and visitors explore “Arts In The Plaza,” an arts market that runs through late October.
West Beech Street bustles with bars, cafés, and surf shops. Popular spots include The Merrow, an Irish pub-style restaurant; Lost At Sea, in intimate space serving seafood and craft cocktails; and Speakeasy, a local hangout specializing in craft beers.
Right off the boardwalk, Lido Kosher Delicatessen dishes up comfort foods, while Riptides 11561 fries up fish and chips. Walk up to Marvel Frozen Dairy, a Long Beach institution that’s been scooping ice cream and whipping up milkshakes since 1951.
Getting there: Take the LIRR Long Beach Branch line from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal to the Long Beach Station. (You may need to transfer at LIRR’s Jamaica station, depending on the day’s schedule). To access the beach, visitors must purchase a 10-day or seasonal pass.
Where to stay: The Allegria Hotel is Long Island’s only oceanfront accommodation. It has a rooftop pool with sea views and an airy restaurant and bar serving new American-style cuisine.
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Travel time from NYC: 50 minutes by ferry
Known for: Military history and America’s oldest-operating lighthouse
At the northern tip of the New Jersey shore, in Middletown Township, Sandy Hook comprises a barrier peninsula with seven miles of sand and six public beaches. It’s also home to the largest stand of American holly trees on the East Coast.
But the standout here is Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest-operating lighthouse in the U.S., built in 1764. National Park Service rangers lead public tours up through the nine-rung ladder to the lantern room, where visitors can imagine the area during the Revolutionary War. The site includes the decommissioned Fort Hancock, whose history predates the Civil War and is now a National Historic Landmark, together with the lighthouse.
Getting there: Seastreak offers seasonal ferry service between New York City and Sandy Hook Beach.
Where to stay: The SummerHouse, in Highlands, offers cozy cottages with a courtyard. Beachwalk at SeaBright, in Seabright, has a variety of rooms overlooking the beach and a pool. Campers can book spots at Camp Gateway, a hike-in, tent-only campground across from Horseshoe Cove in the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Rockaway Beach, New York
Travel time from NYC: About an hour and a half by ferry or subway
Best known for: Surfing and a wildlife refuge
Made famous by rock band, The Ramones, Rockaway Beach is the only legally designated surfing beach within New York City. Besides surfing, visitors have lots of options, from browsing the seasonal Edgemere Farm market in Far Rockaway to birdwatching along the salt marshes atJamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
“We have seven miles of beach, and the vast majority of it is open to the public,” says Elizabeth Walsack, administrator of Rockaway and Broad Channel for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. “There’s so much activity on the boardwalk, including pickleball and handball courts and basketball, every sport you could play here. We even have a labyrinth, where you walk and meditate, just off the beach.”
Within Queens’ Rockaway Peninsula, the 5.5-mile boardwalk has three designated surfing areas—Beach 90th Street to Beach 92nd Street, Beach 67th Street to Beach 69th Street, and Beach 110th Street to Beach 111th Street. Visitors who want to learn how to surf can sign up for lessons with New York Surfing School, Locals Surf School, or Sierra Surf School.
After working up an appetite, head to Beach 97th, along Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The largest concession has eight food stands, with vendors selling everything from ceviche to wood-fired pizza, and poke bowls. Popular sit-down restaurants in the area include dockside Similan on the Bay for familiar Thai favorites and sea views, or Tacoway Beach, a colorful spot serving fish tacos in Far Rockaway.
Getting there: NYC Ferry’s Rockaway-Soundview route connects to the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, on weekend and weekday schedules. From the subway, take MTA’s A Queens-Bound line (marked as Far Rockaway) to Broad Channel. On summer weekends, the S (Rockaway Park Shuttle train) operates between Rockaway Boulevard and Rockaway Park Beach 116 St.
Where to stay: The Rockaway Hotel + Spa offers nightly rates as well as long-stay residences, with some water-view rooms. The spa features a heated pool, wet and dry saunas, and several massage services.
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Travel time from NYC: About an hour and a half by train
Best known for: Vibrant art and music scenes, with a lively boardwalk
This small beach town is big on the arts. “Asbury Park has a little bit of everything, that’s [what] makes it so unique compared to some of our other shore towns,” said Matthew Whelan, executive director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. “I like to tell people there’s always music somewhere in Asbury Park.”
Music lovers shouldn’t miss the Stone Pony where The Boss honed his chops as a young performer and now serves as center stage for summer concerts. Quirky Wonder Bar is a fun spot for discovering new performers.
The beach town’s namesake Asbury Boardwalk offers the quintessential summer experience. It’s lined with boutiques and ice cream shops and located near the Paramount Theater & Convention Hall and Asbury Splash Park. On the Sunset Pavilion’s side of the boardwalk, admire colorful murals commissioned by the Wooden Walls Project and try your luck at Madame Marie, a fun longtime fortune-telling booth.
Silverball Retro Arcade is a hub for families, with antique pinball machines and classic video games along the boardwalk. Dining options range from the seafood-focused Iron Whale to Ethiopian and Dominican Ada’s Gojjo. Husband-and-wife run pizzeria Talula’s is a good option for families with kids.
Getting there: From Penn Station, take NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line train to the Asbury Park Station. A badge is required to access the beach.
Where to stay: Boutique-style St. Lauren Social Club is an 21+ facility (with just 20 rooms, a restaurant, and a lounge housed in an 1886 building. The Asbury Hotel is a fun spot attached to Asbury Lanes, a vintage bowling alley, with lots of shows and events. Century-old Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel has hosted world leaders and celebrities. Asbury Ocean Club Hotel offers tastefully decorated rooms steps from the boardwalk.
