7 Best Places To Go Surfing Near NYC This Summer
Cowabunga dude! Sure, we may not be on the West Coast like our friends at Secret Los Angeles but believe it or not…NYC has some gnarly spots to go surfing during the summer. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shredder, there’s some pretty accessible shores you can surf on just outside the city.
Next time you’re looking for a quick little sporty day trip or maybe even a surfing weekend getaway, spend it at these beaches where the Atlantic’s rolling waves make for perfect conditions.
1. Rockaway Beach, Queens
Rockaway Beach is probably the most popular and accessible surfing spot for New Yorkers, thanks to its consistent waves, surf shops, and laid-back beach vibe. There’s actually 3 dedicated surfing zones (between Beach 68th and 71st streets, Beach 87th and 92nd streets, and Beach 110th and 111th streets) which are separated by difficulty, making it easy to figure out where you belong!
This Queens beach is not only the legal spot to ride a surfboard in the NYC metro area, but it’s also full of surf schools too like New York Surf School, Skudin Surf, and Surfs Up NY which offer lessons to those looking to get their feet wet. All in all, this beach is your best bet of getting somewhere to surf within an hour’s time (on the subway too).
Distance from NYC: 1 hour
2. Skudin Surf at American Dream
How about some indoor surfing?! Just right outside NYC at New Jersey’s American Dream mall you can go surfing in a indoor pool. Skudin Surf operates the world’s largest indoor surfing wave pool, and the state-of-the-art facility allows surfers of all experience levels to shred some waves.
Since their wave pool is manual, they easily can adjust the size of the waves, making it easier for beginners and more challenging for experienced surfers. Plus, they also offer both public and private sessions, as well as a selection of over 50 board types to pick from. Public “Learn to Surf” sessions start at only $125! Learn more about Skudin Surf and book your sessions here.
Distance from NYC: 30 minutes
3. Long Beach, Long Island
For a Long Island getaway, head to Long Beach where they have a pair of permanent surfing beaches, Azores and Lincoln Boulevard Beach as well as a rotating schedule of other spots (which you can view here). Overall, Long Beach’s shores are pretty clean and the waves are good…and they even have lifeguards on duty to supervise too.
If you’re looking for another option, head a little more east to Lido Beach which is a little more quiet and the waves equally gracious. Long Beach is also pretty well-known for hosting surfing competitions throughout the year, so you know it’s the place to go.
Distance from NYC: 1 hour 15 minutes
4. Fire Island, NY
Fire Island’s 10 miles of sandbars and jetties offer a more secluded and tranquil surfing experience than others on this list. We highly recommend heading off to Ocean Beach’s east and west jetties which can provide some steep and solid waves during certain times of the year. Some other great spots to go to are Davis Park, Atlantique, Point O’ Woods, and Smith Point.
What’s important to note about surfing in Fire Island is that waves can be extremely unpredictable. Be sure to check out surfing sites like Surfline ahead of time to see what the conditions are!
Distance from NYC: 2 hours 30 minutes
5. Montauk, NY
Montauk is probably the furthest spot on this list for surfing, but it may just be the best of the best. Located far east down the shore of Long Island, “The End” has plenty of spots that are suitable for all levels of surfers. Some spots to put on your bucket list are the famous Ditch Plains, thanks to their long waves in the summer months, as well as Turtle Cove, which really should only be attempted by experienced surfers.
Many say that surfing in Montauk is best later in the summer and early into fall, when hurricane swells pick up and create larger waves.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
6. The Hamptons
Our love for The Hamptons is pretty evident…it’s full of upscale charm, cute homes, and surfing beaches?! Well, yes! If you’re out there, choose either Main Beach in East Hampton, Flying Point Beach in Water Mill, or Cryder Beach in Southampton.
If you’re on the search for an instructor, hit up Hamptons Surf Co, a year round surf school in the Hamptons led by professional surfer Kurt Rist.
Distance from NYC: 2+ hours
7. Sandy Hook, NJ
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Sandy Hook Beach is part of The Gateway National Recreation Area, ensuring that it’s one of the most natural and scenic surfing spots in New Jersey. Of course it’s only a few miles from NYC, so you can even see the skyline while you’re mid-peak. The waves here are usually about chest-high making it ideal to surf, and “The Cove” as it’s called is your best bet for catching some waves.
Distance from NYC: 1 hour 30 minutes
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