The Best Beaches Near New York City

Coney Island

Coney Island is a classic, old-school amusement park and entertainment area that offers visitors a glimpse into the past. The park is just over an hour outside of Manhattan and it has several classic thrills including a wooden roller coaster, an aquarium, and a boardwalk. The island also has a beach and a chill atmosphere that makes a strong contrast to the vibe in the city.

Rockaway Beach & Jacob Riis Park

Rockaway Beach is located in Queens and is accessible with public transportation. Here you can find some nice sand, fairly calm waves, and a relaxed crowd. In the summer months, especially on weekends it can get a bit crowded as this is one of the most accessible beaches to the city. A large section of this beach is Jacob Riis Park which is a National Recreation Area managed by the NPS. Here you'll find several historic art deco buildings in addition to the wide sandy beach (and a sizeable parking area).

Jones Beach State Park

Jones Beach in Wantagh on Long Island is very popular, and can get crowded in the summer. But the popularity is warranted as the beach here is terrific, and there's also a lengthy boardwalk, changing areas and bathrooms, and other nice facilities. They also have concerts in the summer which bring in a crowd. As it's a state park, there is a small admission fee.

Manhattan Beach

Not far from Brighton Beach is this smaller family-friendly beach with nice sand and fairly calm waves. It's the perfect place to spend the afternoon with your kids and enjoy beautiful weather. Picnics and BBQ's are popular here and it's easy to keep everyone entertained with the sporting venues and other activities nearby as well.

The surrounding neighborhood is filled with single family houses, many with private swimming pools.

Cedar Grove Beach

You'll find this fairly new beach on Staten Island. It's charming and small, and it's also wheelchair accessible. Lifeguards are on staff in the summer months, too.

Long Beach

Long Beach on Long Island offers a large stretch of sand from the Atlantic Beach area on the western side to Point Lookout on the eastern side. You can get here from Manhattan on the LIRR, and once you do you will be greeted with relaxing waves, chairs and umbrellas for rent, a nice long boardwalk, and various restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops along the main road for when you get hungry or thirsty. You can also take surfing lessons here, or enjoy the concerts in the summer.

Brighton Beach

Next door to all the fun at Coney Island, Brighton Beach has some wide sandy beaches with a relaxing but fun vibe. As expected, it's very popular in the summer months when the water and weather is warmer. Lifeguards are on duty during the day in the summer, and the facilities are wheelchair accessible, too.