karebear4567

Hi, I am interested in going to the beach sometime soon, but do not have a car. has anyone ever taken public transportation to the beach from NYC? If so, where did you go and how did you get around once you got there?
thanks!

Brooklyn_Bomber

Just go to Penn Station...

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/lirrmap.htm

mclaurie

Karebear there's a bus that goes to Jones Beach but don't know the details. You can take the LIRR to Long Beach & the beach is not far (but you have to bring your own chairs etc.)from the station.

2 ways to get to the Hamptons-the Hampton Jitney (a bus) leaves from stops along Lexington between 86th and 40th (they have a website) or the LIRR (half the price of the Jitney but service not as frequent). But once you're in the Hamptons you do need a car or taxi to get to the beach and it's a LONG trip just for the day. Fire Island is another option-LIRR to Bayshore (I think) then taxi from train station to ferry then ferry (lots of trouble IMO but others do it

suzanne

Take the LIRR from Penn Station to Long Beach. I've done it several times. The ride is about an hour, and the LB train station is a few blocks from the beach. There is a small market across the street from the train station where we always pick up food & drinks for the day.

Long Beach is great because the sand is very soft & white...and there is a boardwalk under which you can sit if you are a shade-lover like me (no lugging a heavy umbrella!)

JohnD

You can get around Jones Beach by foot, however, it does get crowded there.

Nicest beach area is Hamptons to Montauk, but you need wheels once you get there, at least a bicycle.

Jones Beach Info:
Transportation
Train: Long Island Railroad to Freeport of Wantagh. For schedules please call
(212) 739-422 or (212) 526-0900.
Bus: Schedule bus service from mid-Manhattan call Recreation Lines, Inc.
at (718) 788-8000 for information.
Queens & Nassau (various locations) call MSBA at (516) 766-6722 for information.

karebear4567

thank you everyone. i will look at all those options.
John, if i took LIRR to Montauk, do you think i could get around the town w/o a car? someone told me i could so I wanted another opinion.

JohnD

http://www.onmontauk.com/html/howtoget.asp
I have not taken the train to Montauk, but from the map on the above website it looks like what I would consider the town of Montauk is located about a mile from the train station, and there are hotels with beach access there.

The beaches I personally would go to in Montauk(by car) are a few miles from the train station (i.e. Hither Hills State Park).
Hope this helps.

bugswife1

I believe there is now a ferry that goes from East 34th Street to Riis Park Beach.

Gekko

I've tried most of the day-trip beaches over the years. In my opinion, the best beach to go to for the day is Long Beach. The LIRR goes to Long Beach from Penn Station (express train still??) in about 30-45 minutes and you can walk to the beach from the station.

Jones Beach is a pain because you must get on bus at the train station, and it takes longer to get there.

Of course, there's always Coney Island . . .

Gekko

Forgot to comment on the Hamptons. You can certainly get to the Hamptons from NYC by bus (Jitney) or train (LIRR), but once you're there it's tough without a car. You'll be forced to take a cab to and from the beach, plus it takes a few hours to get out there. The Hamptons are too far for a daytrip, in my opinion.
Good luck & Enjoy!

missjanna

You can always go to the Rockaways...which if you go down far enough you should have most of the beach to yourself....take the A train to Beach 116th Street and see if you can either walk or I believe there's a bus down towards Beach 125th Street. It's not as crowded there.

Also you can take the W train to Coney Island (although my recommendation in that area is Brighton Beach which is about a 10 minute walk east of it and less crowded and more quiet).

You can take the 6 train to the last stop I believe (I might be wrong on this) and there is a bus that goes to Orchard Beach in the Bronx. I've never been there, but I hear it's been cleaned up recently.

McSmith

What about the Jersey Shore!! NY Fast Ferry has a ferry to Sandy Hook on the weekends (they also go to the Highlands). You can also take NJ Transit North Jersey Coast line train to Sping Lake, Bay Head and other towns. Sandy Hook is a beautiful and very large National Park at the northern end of the Jersey Shore. Spring Lake and especially Bay Head are quaint summer beach towns. Have fun!

liza

Long Beach is a good one. You can walk right to the beach from the train but there are also public buses running from the far east (Lido) to the west end, and taxis that are not unreasonable, both can be gotten at the train station.

The west end is where most of the nightlife is (meaning bars mainly), should you feel like sticking around for that after the beach day.

Long Beach is only an hour too.

Elizabeth

Brighton Beach by subway is wonderful. Go early in the morning if you can, like at 8 -- after 11 it gets crowded but the morning is beautiful and it's amazing to get off the subway and walk one block to the Atlantic Ocean. Plenty of restaurants & grocery shopping (Russian) too.

Then I think Fire Island is a great day trip. Ocean Beach, which has restaurants etc., or Watch Hill -- it is a national park and one of the most beautiful public beaches I've been to. I have not been for several years but at least some years ago, if you walked about 1/2 mile (10 blocks) you could be completely alone.

A ferry goes to Watch Hill and it is also accessible by the ferry to Davis Park, which runs more often.

Seems to me you really need a beach where you can get to the beach itself by public transportation. I think the Hamptons is out of the question if you don't have a house or a car as your base. Or - stay overnight at an inn at Montauk, but there it's real time and money.

Long Beach suggestions look good, I'll try it.