The best beaches in New York state

When travelers are comparing beaches in New York state, the glitz and glamour of the Hamptons and the old-school appeal of Coney Island tend to steal the spotlight. But there are plenty of sandy havens across the Empire State.

No matter whether you are going upstate or way out east on Long Island, check the water quality at your destination before going for a swim. The 67 beaches in New York’s state park system make it easy, conducting tests at least once a week and posting the results online, at park offices and at any beaches with a lot of visitors.

Here are 12 of our favorite beaches in New York state, including easy getaways from New York City and lake beaches at the state's northern and western edges.

1. Rockaway Beach, Queens

Best for surfing in the city

The Ramones put it on the map in the 1970s, and in the years since, Rockaway Beach has maintained its reputation as a super summertime spot on the Atlantic Ocean, with great waves, good eats and a pleasantly sandy stretch of shore.

This stalwart in the borough of Queens hosts New York City’s only sanctioned surfing beaches, between Beach 67th and 69th Sts and between Beach 87th and 92nd Sts. Newbies can take lessons from Locals Surf School, and experienced surfers can rent boards and gear from a handful of shops nearby.

Planning tip: For refreshments, hit the concession stands at Beach 86th, 97th and 106th Sts, or venture off the boardwalk to Tacoway Beach, which slings fish tacos that are alone worth the subway ride. Dig into arepas at Caracas at Beach 106th St or fresh fish at La Cevicheria at Beach 97th St.

2. Orchard Beach, the Bronx

Best for activities

Dubbed the Riviera of New York when it opened in the 1930s, Orchard Beach is the only beach in the Bronx, and it remains a hot spot to this day. The waves are gentle, thanks to its perch on the Long Island Sound, and the sand is accessible, with beach mats and sand-friendly wheelchairs available upon request.

Planning tip: Don’t expect to find peace and quiet here. Between the playgrounds, the snack bars, the promenade with restaurants and stores, and dozens of basketball, volleyball and handball courts, the mile-long beach is a go-to destination for local residents.

3. Coney Island and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

Best for the boardwalk

Coney Island was developed as a resort at Brooklyn’s southernmost point in the 1800s, and by the turn of the 20th-century, its amusement park attractions were drawing crowds from all five New York City boroughs. Though its wide strand on the Atlantic Ocean isn’t the cleanest, its boardwalk is hard to beat for people watching.

Steps away from the beach, Luna Park has games and rides. Though it’ll shake you up a bit, don’t skip the Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster from 1927 that’s a New York City landmark.

For a rainy day (or a break from the sun), the Coney Island Museum overviews the neighborhood’s colorful history. The New York Aquarium is nearby too.

A short stroll down the beach or boardwalk is Brighton Beach, which is a little more low key than its neighbor, with more people socializing and exercising outdoors.

Detour: Off the Brighton Beach boardwalk, get a Ukrainian feast (with some vodka) in the neighborhood sometimes known as Little Odesa. We especially love the Uyghur dumplings at Kashkar Cafe.

4. Jacob Riis Park, Queens

Best for sunbathing

On the Rockaway peninsula, which straddles Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Jacob Riis Park's popular strip of sand on the ocean side is nicknamed the People’s Beach, and it lives up to its reputation, welcoming tens of thousands of sunbathers during the summer months.

The park is part of the larger Gateway National Recreation Area, which encompasses 27, 000 acres in New Jersey, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Historically connected with the LGBTQ+ community, Riis Park still boasts a (restored) 1930s art deco bathhouse, plus a pitch-and-putt golf course and concessions.

Planning tip: If you’d like to stay overnight nearby, make the Rockaway Hotel (near Beach 108th St) your base. You can walk to dinner at Uma’s (a cool Uzbek spot) or Sayra’s Wine Bar, which has a delightful outdoor patio.

5. Ocean Beach Park, Long Beach

Best for families

Long Beach is smack-dab in the middle of the barrier island off the South Shore of Long Island that gives the town its name. It is less than an hour from Manhattan via the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), but you’d hardly guess that proximity once you arrive. Given its pristine sands and surf-worthy swells, the town’s Ocean Beach Park on the Atlantic Ocean could be half a world away – only the crowds hint otherwise.

The 3.5-mile beach is tailor-made for families, with multiple playgrounds for the little ones and loads of activities for the older ones, including surf lessons, bike rentals and a 2.25-mile boardwalk. Food carts and concession stands sell burgers and ice cream.

Planning tip: The downside of Long Beach is the required day pass for 16 US dollars (US$). You can buy them (card payments only) at designated entrances or get digital passes online.

6. Jones Beach, Long Island

Best for concerts

A hop, skip and jump across a narrow inlet east of Long Beach, Jones Beach Island is considered one of the best beaches on Long Island. Its state park draws some 8 million visitors on an annual basis. Its appeal is due in no small part to the open-air amphitheater, a beautiful venue overlooking the bay and featuring A-list talent all summer long.

But the beach itself deserves credit as well. It has more than 6 miles of white sand facing the Atlantic Ocean and a 2-mile boardwalk lined with restaurants, cafes and concession stands. Follow the winding bike paths, enjoy quiet pastimes like fishing and birding, or play miniature golf and shuffleboard – there’s enough here to keep everyone occupied.

Planning tip: From New York City, take the LIRR to Freeport and hop on Nassau County’s NICE bus.

7. Fire Island, Long Island

Best LGBTQ+ scene

Car-free Fire Island – another barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean, situated east of Jones Beach – is a welcome change from the gridlock on the rest of Long Island. The ferry takes you directly to a number of destinations on the 32-mile-long island, but if it’s your first visit, get off at Ocean Beach, a quaint village with postcard-ready storefronts and restaurants, for an easy entry into island life.

If you’re vacationing here for Pride or seeking out the local LGBTQ+ community, Cherry Grove and the Pines are where you want to be. For house shares, bars and a thriving pickup scene, head to Kismet. For a slower family vibe, check out Saltaire.

Planning tip: From New York City, plan for at least 2 hours of travel each way via the LIRR and ferry. If you're planning to stay overnight, book in advance because options are limited.

8. Plattsburgh City Beach, Plattsburgh

Best for paddling

Among the largest freshwater beaches in the state, Plattsburgh City Beach is in the northeasternmost reaches of New York on Lake Champlain, directly across the water from Vermont and the Green Mountains. In addition to its stellar views, it’s good for a sporty day out – kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent.

Planning tip: Unlike many beaches in New York, dogs are welcome here.

9. Montauk, Long Island

Best for sunsets

No list of New York beaches would be complete without a mention of the Hamptons. Once a sleepy fishing community at the easternmost point of Long Island, home to artists, surfers and creative types of all stripes, Montauk these days is party central in the peak summer months but remains charmingly low-key in the offseason.

Less than 2 miles from the LIRR terminus is the family-oriented Kirk Park Beach, with public restrooms and lifeguards on duty. If mingling with the surf crowd is more your speed, stake out space on the sand at Ditch Plains, right on the Atlantic Ocean just east of the village proper.

Planning tip: One of New York’s best state parks for biodiversity, Hither Hills is less busy than the beaches in town, and you can even book a campsite and stay overnight. For a more remote experience, strap on your walking shoes and head for the Amsterdam Beach Preserve, where a gentle wooded loop leads up to bluffs with ocean views and down to a rocky beach untouched by the masses.

10. Million Dollar Beach, Lake George

Best for picnicking

New York’s Atlantic-facing beaches get lots of attention, but its freshwater lakes deserve some as well. One of the best beaches in upstate New York can be found in the Adirondacks, about an hour north of Albany on Lake George. Dubbed the Million Dollar Beach for its opening cost in 1951, this sandy 51-acre shoreline includes a bathhouse, volleyball court, grills and picnic tables for meals alfresco. Wade into the crystal clear waters under the protective eye of a lifeguard. The water temps reach 70–75˚F (21–24˚C), with peak temperatures around late July and August.

Planning tip: Roughing it isn’t for everyone, but for those who don’t mind scurrying to an outhouse when nature calls, camping on an island in Lake George can be a serene, inexpensive way to experience the Adirondacks' wild side. Snatching the perfect campsite (for US$33 a night) gets competitive: bookings open 9 months ahead of time, and sites disappear within seconds.

11. Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville

Best for meromictic lakes

Just outside of Syracuse in the eastern Finger Lakes, Green Lakes State Park encompases two lakes (Round and Green Lakes), one with a sandy beach for swimming and the other designated a National Natural Landmark.

The beach is a draw in its own right – a sandy spread overlooking blue-green waters encircled by thick woods, with a lifeguard, a modern bathhouse and concessions – but the lakes themselves are the main attraction. A fascinating and rare natural chemical phenomenon keeps the layers of water from intermixing in these meromictic lakes, which reach depths of nearly 200ft. The USA has fewer than 20 meromictic lakes, and this pair is even more unique, taking their signature aqua hue from the mineral content of the water, not biological sources like algae or phytoplankton.

Planning tip: Swimming options in the Finger Lakes region also take the form of swimming holes beneath gushing waterfalls. Close to Ithaca, Robert H Treman State Park counts a dozen cascades on the 4.5-mile Gorge and Rim Trail loop. Buttermilk Falls State Park packs 10 waterfalls into a similar 1.6-mile loop. Both showcase natural swimming holes at the base of frothy cataracts.

12. Bennett Beach, Angola

Best for peace and quiet

Bennett Beach is a sandy (albeit rocky) freshwater beach with gentle waves some 20 miles south of Buffalo on the Lake Erie shore, surrounded by grassy fields, wildflowers and dunes. The Angola-area favorite cultivates a family atmosphere – loud music and booze are strictly prohibited, and swimming is allowed only when a lifeguard is on duty.

Planning tip: The furry members of your household have to stay home, along with items like life jackets, rafts and kayaks, as dogs and flotation devices are forbidden from this beach.