Beaches in New York City
Published on: December 1, 2025
People don’t always think of New York City as a place with great beaches, but in reality, it actually has some of the most enjoyable spots along the coastline. From Brooklyn to Queens and even the Bronx, the best beaches in New York City offer a mix of boardwalks, quiet areas, and family-friendly spaces. From surfing areas to peaceful stretches of sand, from food stalls to open waterfront views, New York City’s beaches give visitors plenty of ways to enjoy time by the water.
Here is a look at some of the best beaches in New York City, each offering something a little different depending on the kind of day you have in mind.
Famous Brooklyn Beaches
There is something special about spending a day at a Brooklyn beach. The blend of lively boardwalk spots and quieter corners gives visitors plenty of ways to enjoy the coast. You will see people biking along the waterfront, families gathering for the day, and locals taking long walks by the water. Brooklyn’s beaches feel different from one another, mostly because of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Some areas are calm and residential, while others stay busy throughout the day. Before choosing where to go, let’s take a look at these beaches so you know what kind of experience to expect.
1. Coney Island Beach
Location: Along the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Brooklyn, between West 37th Street and Brighton 15th Street
The beach is wide and busy, and the boardwalk has plenty of food spots, shops, and the well-known amusement rides close by. Moreover, the beach has restrooms, showers, and lifeguards, so you can comfortably spend the whole day here. If you want a quieter visit, weekday mornings are usually the best. Weekends bring bigger crowds, so a lot of people choose to take public transit or get dropped off instead of dealing with parking. It’s a great spot for families, groups, or anyone who likes a busy, fun beach atmosphere.
Quick Tips
- Vibe: Energetic, classic beach and boardwalk feel
- Good for: Families, large groups, anyone who loves food, rides, and sun
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers, lifeguards, boardwalk shops
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings or early weekends
2. Brighton Beach
Location: Directly east of Coney Island, running along Brighton Beach Avenue and the Boardwalk
Brighton Beach runs just east of Coney Island, and the whole feel changes the moment you reach this stretch of the boardwalk. The shoreline is calmer, the pace is slower, and most people around you are locals enjoying an easy day by the water.
One thing that stands out is the neighborhood right behind the beach. Brighton Beach Avenue is lined with bakeries, cafés, and grocery shops. You can hear Russian music from open storefronts, smell fresh bread, and feel the neighborhood’s routine blending into the beach day.
Weekdays are the most peaceful, but even on weekends, Brighton Beach keeps its neighborhood vibe. It’s the kind of place where you can spend a few hours without feeling rushed or crowded.
Travel Tips:
- Vibe: Quiet, local, everyday-neighborhood feel
- Good for: Families, anyone avoiding busy boardwalk areas
- Facilities: lifeguards, nearby cafés and bakeries, restrooms
- Best time to go: Weekday afternoons when the beach feels most open
Manhattan Beach
Location: At the southern tip of Brooklyn, bordered by Oriental Boulevard within Manhattan Beach Park.
This beach is known for being peaceful and family-oriented. Instead of boardwalk attractions, you will find wide sand, BBQ areas, playgrounds, restrooms, and seasonal lifeguards. It’s one of the best Brooklyn options for anyone who prefers a quiet day outdoors.
Weekdays are the calmest, and early mornings on weekends still feel relaxed. Because the surrounding area is residential, many visitors prefer being dropped off rather than looking for limited parking.
- Vibe: Calm, clean, family-focused
- Good for: Picnics, relaxed beach days, families
- Facilities: Restrooms, playgrounds, showers, BBQ/picnic zones
- Best time to go: Weekdays or early weekends
Top Queens Beaches
Queens has some of the most popular beaches in New York City, especially for people who want more space, strong waves, and a laid-back atmosphere. The coastline here feels different from Brooklyn’s boardwalk style. It is more open, more relaxed, and often a favorite for locals who want a real beach day without leaving the city.
Rockaway Beach, Jacob Riis, and Fort Tilden each offer something unique, which is why so many people looking for the best beaches in New York end up here. Whether you are planning a simple afternoon or a full beach trip, Queens gives you the best beach options that fit almost any kind of outing.
1- Far Rockaway Beach
Location: Along the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, stretching from Beach 3rd Street to Beach 153rd Street
Far Rockaway beach Queens New York is one of the most active beaches in the city. The boardwalk has food stands, small shops, and open seating areas, while the beach itself is long, clean, and ideal for swimming or surfing. During the summer, lifeguards, restrooms, and showers are available, making it an easy spot for long visits.
Crowds grow quickly on weekends, so many people prefer weekday mornings for a calmer experience. Rockaway is great for families, beachgoers who want more energy, and anyone interested in surfing, since the waves are stronger than most NYC beaches.
Quick Tips
- Vibe: Active shoreline with food, music and surfing
- Good for: Families, surfers, groups, long beach days
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers, seasonal lifeguards, food stalls
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings
2-Jacob Riis Park
Location: Western end of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, centered around Beach 149th Street inside the Gateway National Recreation Area
Jacob Riis Park has an easygoing feel you notice right away. The old Art Deco bathhouse still feels like the center point of the beach, and in the summer you will find lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and a few food spots around it.
On weekends, the area near the Riis Park Bazaar gets busier, but the shoreline is so wide that you can always move a little farther down and find space of your own. The steady breeze coming off the water gives the whole place an easy, relaxed feel, and that’s why families, regulars, and people who just want a simple beach day keep coming back.
Quick Tips
- Vibe: Open, calm, breezy
- Good for: Families, couples, solo visitors, relaxed days
- Facilities: Lifeguards, restrooms, showers, seasonal food
- Best time to go: Weekdays or early weekends
- Getting there: Car service, bus or a drop-off near the main entrance
3-Fort Tilden
Location: Just west of Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula, within the Gateway National Recreation Area
This is one of the calmest beaches in NYC. There are no lifeguards on the main stretches, no food vendors, and almost no built-up facilities. You access the beach through walking or biking paths, which is part of why it stays quiet.
It’s a great choice if you want a natural setting and fewer people. The dunes,trails,s and open sand make it feel more like a preserved shoreline than a typical city beach.
Quick Tips
Vibe: Quiet, natural, low-crowd
Good for: Walkers, photographers, nature lovers
Facilities: Very limited, bring everything.
Best time: Anytime you want
Getting there: Walking or biking from nearby access points
Staten Island Beaches
Staten Island’s beaches are much quieter than the ones in Brooklyn or Queens. Many of them have long waterfront paths, open sandy areas, and calm views of the Lower Bay. People often come here for walks, relaxed afternoons by the water, or an easy break from the busier parts of the city. If you want a beach day that feels slower and more local, Staten Island is usually the best place for it.
1-South Beach
Location: Along Father Capodanno Boulevard on Staten Island, stretching from Fort Wadsworth toward Miller Field
South Beach has a long open shoreline with steady views of the Verrazzano Bridge right in front of you. The boardwalk runs along the water and stays quiet enough for walking, biking, or just hanging out without much noise. There’s a fishing pier where people spend hours, and the lifeguards come out during the summer.
Weekdays are the calmest, and even on weekends the place keeps a relaxed vibe. It’s the kind of beach where you can show up, find space fast, and just chill without dealing with crowds.
Quick Tips
Vibe: calm, open, relaxed
Good for: families, older visitors, quiet days, walking, fishing
Facilities: restrooms, summer lifeguards, fishing pier, boardwalk
Best time to go: weekday afternoons or early evenings
Getting there: easy to reach by ride or car; parking is usually manageable
2-Midland Beach
Location: Along Father Capodanno Boulevard near Midland Avenue, right next to South Beach on Staten Island
Midland Beach is known for its peaceful environment, long walking paths, playground areas, and clean, wide shoreline. It has restrooms, a splash zone, and plenty of space for families or anyone looking for a beach day. It’s one of the calmer options in NYC, especially for people who prefer open space without the noise of boardwalk attractions.
The Sea Turtle Fountain and the surrounding park areas make it easy to spend a full afternoon here. For the quietest experience, weekday mornings and afternoons are best.
Quick Tips
Vibe: quiet, clean, family-friendly
Good for: families, picnics, and beach days
Facilities: restrooms, lifeguards (summer), splash areas, playgrounds
Best time to go: weekday mornings or afternoons
Getting there: simple by car or ride; parking is usually easier than at most NYC beaches
3- Wolfe’s Pond Beach
Location: Inside Wolfe’s Pond Park on Staten Island, just off Hylan Boulevard
Travel Time: Typically 35–45 minutes from many NYC areas when using the Staten Island Ferry plus a connecting bus, or slightly quicker by car
Wolfe’s Pond Beach offers a peaceful, nature-focused experience. The beach is smaller and calmer than most in the city, and the park surrounding it adds trails, picnic areas, and shaded spots that make it feel like a full-day escape. It’s a great pick if you want a quiet, uncrowded place to relax by the water.
Facilities include restrooms, summer lifeguards, walking paths, and plenty of park space. It’s especially good for families, couples, or anyone who enjoys softer crowds and natural surroundings.
Quick Tips
- Vibe: calm, natural, low-traffic
- Good for: families, couples, quiet beach days
- Facilities: restrooms, summer lifeguards, park trails, picnic areas
- Best time to visit: weekdays or late afternoons
- Getting there: easy by car or drop-off; parking is usually manageable
4-Cedar Groove Beach
Location: Eastern Staten Island, near New Dorp and Miller Field, reachable from Cedar Grove Avenue
Travel Time: About 35–50 minutes from many NYC areas using the Ferry with a bus connection, or quicker if you’re driving
Cedar Grove Beach is small, with clean sand and a simple setup. You will find lifeguards in the summer and basic restrooms, but no boardwalk or busy food spots, which helps it stay quiet even on warm days. People usually stop by Miller Field before or after their beach time, or they bring their own lunch and sit under the shaded areas near the entrance. Families, couples, and regulars come here when they want a quiet day by the water without dealing with crowds or noise.
Quick Tips
- Vibe: Quiet, clean, very local
- Good for: Families, laid-back visits, reading or relaxing
- Facilities: Restrooms, summer lifeguards, some shaded areas
- Best time: Weekday afternoons if you want the most space
- Getting there: Driving is easiest; parking is limited, so drop-offs help
Bronx Beaches
The Bronx has a calm, outdoorsy vibe when it comes to beach days. Orchard Beach sits inside Pelham Bay Park, surrounded by trees, open lawns, and long walking paths. It feels more like a big park with a shoreline than a busy city beach, which is why families and locals come here to spend a slow, easy day by the water and enjoy the quieter side of the borough.
The Bronx doesn’t have a long list of beaches, just Orchard Beach, but that one spot carries the whole show and gives locals everything they need for a full beach da
Orchard Beach, Bronx
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, off Orchard Beach Road, facing the Long Island Sound
Orchard Beach has a long, curved shoreline and calm water, with a big promenade running behind it. There are bathrooms, showers, lifeguards, and plenty of spots to grab a quick bite. It’s a popular pick for families and groups, and a lot of people come for the mix of beach time and the big park around it.
Quick Tips:
- Vibe: Busy, family-heavy, very local
- Good for: Picnics, relaxed beach days, groups
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers, lifeguards, food stands, promenade
- Best time: Weekday mornings or early afternoons
- Getting there: Transit works fine; parking can fill quickly, so drop-offs help
Why Choose Sable Ride for Your Beach Visit Trip?
Choosing Sable Ride makes the trip easier from the moment the car arrives. Parking near most beaches is either limited, expensive, or gone by midday, and public transport can turn a simple beach day into a long, crowded mission. With Sable Ride, the driver drops you right where locals actually enter, so you avoid traffic pockets, packed lots, and confusing routes. All the usual delays, like figuring out timing and parking, are taken care of before you even step out of the car.
Final Thoughts
After seeing what each beach offers, it becomes clear that there is no single best spot. The right one depends on what kind of day you want. Some beaches are perfect for long quiet afternoons, others are great if you like food stands, boardwalks, or a bit more activity. The good thing is that you don’t have to travel far to find the one that fits you. Take your pick, bring what you need, and enjoy a part of New York that always feels a little less rushed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest beach in NYC to get to without a car?
Rockaway Beach is usually the easiest because of the A train and the NYC Ferry. Both drop you close to the sand.
Does Coney Island get too crowded?
On summer weekends, yes, especially around the rides. If you go early in the morning or on a weekday, it’s much more manageable.
Are NYC beaches actually free?
Yes, all public NYC beaches are free. You only pay for parking in certain areas or if you’re visiting Long Beach (which requires a day pass).
Can you surf in NYC?
Yes! Rockaway Beach is NYC’s main surfing spot, especially around Beach 90th and 92nd.
Is there parking at Coney Island or Rockaway?
There is, but it fills up fast on weekends. Many people use rideshares or drop-offs to avoid circling for spots.
Which NYC beach is best if I just want quiet?
Fort Tilden or Cedar Grove Beach on Staten Island, both feel peaceful compared to the city’s busier beaches.
Do any NYC beaches have a boardwalk?
Yes. Coney Island, Brighton Beach, South Beach, Midland Beach, and parts of Rockaway all have boardwalks.
Are there bathrooms and showers at NYC beaches?
Yes, during the summer, most beaches have restrooms, showers, and changing areas open daily.
Are there lifeguards at all NYC beaches?
Yes, but only during swimming season and only at designated areas. Off-hours or off-season swimming isn’t allowed.
