9 of the Best Beach Trips From New York City

A Fire Island beach getaway from NYC is a perfect sunny day activity; however, this barrier island off the coast of New York’s Long Island is best visited in summer when everything is open, and the atmosphere is lively. Known as an LGBTQ+ favorite, especially the Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines areas, Fire Island is ideal for anyone looking for a relaxing beach weekend getaway from New York.

Once there, head to Great South Bay for water sports or try surfing at Atlantique or Smith Point; hike to Otis Pike; and explore the Sunken Forest in Sailors Haven. (And know that you can take a train here from Manhattan’s Penn Station, then pick up the ferry.)

Related: 9 of the Top Day Trips from New York City

If you’re looking for day trip beaches near NYC that are reachable by train, opt for Jones Beach Island, home to Jones Beach State Park. It’s an easy day trip from the city; take the train and then the bus, or drive to the island in under an hour.

In case you're not familiar with this spot, Jones Beach State Park is a 6.5-mile (10-kilometer) stretch of fine white sands, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing. And the park also features a boardwalk that is a popular spot for cycling, dining, drinking, and playing mini golf.

A Hamptons beach escape from New York makes for a sophisticated coastal vacation, best suited to those prepared to splurge on accommodation, meals, and activities. And though summer is the Hamptons’ busiest time, you can also visit in the other seasons for a crowd-free and more affordable beach getaway.

Whenever you happen to visit, keep in mind that the most popular stretches of sand here are Coopers Beach and Main Beach, though there are plenty of other activities to experience—think: shopping, exploring art galleries and nature reserves, and visiting museums.

Insider tip: The best way to get here—it’s just under 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Manhattan—is to book a ride on the Hampton Jitney, a bus that runs between New York City and the Hamptons.

Home to some of the top Long Island beaches near New York City, Montauk is a little more laid-back than the nearby Hamptons and features many scenic areas. It’s also a great destination for anyone traveling with kids, thanks to its array of family-friendly beaches close to NYC, including Gin Beach, which has calm waters ideal for little ones.

Here, visit the Montauk Point Lighthouse, one of the oldest active lighthouses in New York state, or hit one of the area’s vast beaches, such as Ditch Plains Beach, a popular surfer hangout. You can easily arrive via car, Jitney, or Long Island Railroad from New York City—it’s about 120 miles (193 kilometers) away.

Cape May was designated a National Historic Landmark 50 years ago, and much of its architecture features late Victorian-era design trends. The town also boasts several beaches that run for about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) parallel to Beach Avenue, each named for its intersecting street.

But beyond the sand and water-based activities, you can explore the Cape May Lighthouse, enjoy a drink at the Cape May Winery, or take a nature tour to spot whales or birds.

Insider tip: As one of the most popular Jersey Shore weekend trips from NYC for families, you can arrive in Cape May from Manhattan via the New Jersey Transit 319 bus from Port Authority or by driving on your own (both options take around four hours).

If you’re willing to take a short flight from NYC to the beach, head to Nantucket, an island off Cape Cod. Fly for around 80 minutes to reach this all-American paradise, which has a relaxed, luxurious feel.

Once you touch down, you can tour Nantucket’s historic cobblestone streets, visit the blustery dunes of Mandaket Beach, or roam the sands (or take a 4WD) to reach the Great Point Lighthouse. Additionally, the island was once known as the whaling capital of the world, and an excellent rainy-day activity involves wandering around the Whaling Museum, a kid-friendly educational space with a variety of exhibits, including a giant whale skeleton.

The most popular tourist attraction in Ocean City, Maryland, is the Ocean City Boardwalk—a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) walkway along the shore dotted with shops, eateries, and kid-friendly attractions, including rides. The boardwalk is more than a century old and features a few museums, including the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Nearby, you should also consider boating over to visit the famous Assateague Island National Seashore, where you can swim, kayak, ride bikes, or catch a glimpse of the wild horses that gallop across the island. It’s best to drive to this summer beach weekend getaway from New York City; it’ll take about four hours.

Head to Newport for a Gilded Age–inspired summer beach escape, just under a 4-hour drive from Manhattan. Tour the area’s impressive mansions, such as the regal Marble House and The Breakers, a National Historic Landmark that’s part of the Bellevue Avenue Historic District. After that, there’s also the Chateau-sur-Mer, an Italian-style villa, and The Elms, which feature stunning gardens.

Here, the best way to take in all the glitz and glamour is via a trolley tour that covers all the magnificent mansions. And once you’ve seen how the other half lives, it’s easy to find a sandy beach for relaxing and swimming: the Newport area has more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) of coastline.

One of the largest and most popular beach resorts in Delaware, Rehoboth Beach has a seafront walkway, the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, which is popular with cyclists—bike rentals are easily available—and for coastal strolls.

At the end of the boardwalk, if you're traveling with kids, you should definitely stop at Funland, where you can brave a haunted mansion, ride the carousel, and play one of the many games. There’s also plenty of nature to see, as Rehoboth Beach is sandwiched between Cape Henlopen State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park.

Insider tip: It takes about 3.5 hours to drive here from Manhattan.