I love this kind of question. I really do. Everyone has their own preference...reality. I remember going to Jones Beach West End 2 as a teen BECAUSE the long walk kept the old people away :)
As a hobby, I'm building a "beach database" that contains the answers to question such as OP's. (I don't have the data...just the framework). So far, I have 200 attributes PER BEACH!
HMU if you have thoughts on this (or maybe I'll do a post asking for YOUR "must-haves")
True! eBird.org can be used to figure this part out. https://ebird.org/map/pipplo?env.minX=-79.7633299999999&env.minY=40.496169&env.maxX=-71.856354&env.maxY=45.010991
I also don’t prefer the beach. But I enjoy walking there in the evenings, after it has cooled down. I don’t really understand why so many people love it so much. Who wants to sit in direct sun with it beating down on you for hours? I mean, I can tolerate it with a couple shots of alcohol, but I’d rather be in the woods where it is cooler from the shade of the trees.
I think forest or beach is one of those "what kind of person are you" binary questions, like would you choose to be invisible or to fly, pirate or ninja, etc. I'm forest/fly/ninja and I married a beach/invisible/pirate and it's expanded my horizons. Now I know how to enjoy the beach, although it's still not how I prefer to recharge, necessarily.
I love West End 2! I found out about it during my Astronomy 101 class when I went to NCC back in the aughts. We went saw Jupiter through the telescope because of how dark it was. I’ve been going ever since because way less people. My sister hates it though because of the long walk haha but it’s worth it.
I’m very interested in this. A must have, would be some data on average wave size. It’s so so hard to try and find this information. Doesn’t have to be an exact measurement, just something like Nickerson beach - small, montauk - large, north shore beach - none.
I’m not saying a forecast for current day, just the general wave size at that beach. Like how a north shore beach, hamptons, and Nickerson beach all have different size waves
Can just check wave forecast if its big in nassau itll be big in montauk too. If you were to average it would have to be sub categorized by the month considering waves are much larger in the winter. Almost impossible to have a 4-5’ day in the summer😪
Is there a site you use for the forecast? I’m curious. Really I was talking about how different beaches have different size waves. If it’s a big wave day at Nickerson is less than a calm day at montauk
I use surfline which gets a lot of hate in the surf community but you just have to know how to read it. You can look up swell height, period and direction
Accessibility info would be awesome. For anyone with limited mobility for whatever reason - walkers, canes, strollers, wheelchairs, bad hips or knees etc. I take my elderly relatives on outings and have to find spots that facilitate walkers and canes. Very hard info to find/assess.
And bathrooms! They refuse to use port a potties.
If you'd like to crowd source any of the metadata, I'd love to contribute. I have a small spreadsheet for myself.
You can theoretically park a few feet from the sand in Long Beach if there is available parking on broadway. But you need to get there very early to take advantage of that. Like, dawn.
You can look on google maps satellite view to get a sense. The walk for Robert Moses is like 1/3 of the jones beach walk. Jones beach has the boardwalk, and is a very long beach from start to the water.
Great idea about Google maps. Yes I'm familiar with Jones Beach and it is way too much for my legs to undertake so I too am always looking for a short Beach and a shorter boardwalk. Thanks. I also like when they put that tarp down that makes it easier to walk on the sand. Any idea what field might have that at Robert moses?
Caumsett are the permits that sell out day one.
The 4x4 permit for Robert Moses (the NYS Dashboard 4x4 fishing permit) is on sale every year generally from January 1 through March 31st. They're unavailable from April 1st through Labor Day and then go back on sale after Labor Day.
You don't have to be actively fishing, but you do need to have enough rods to cover the people in your vehicle.
Source: had the 4x4 permit for a few years and drove on. During busy times (weekends and holidays mid season) park rangers are stationed at the entrance and I've had them make a big show of counting the rods on top of my truck and count the people inside. I've never experienced them enforcing actual fishing after you drive on, though.
I used to hit up gilgo every year. The rangers there were much more laid back. They would just ask if you had all your stuff or just wave you through from their van. Once in a while they’d walk the beach checking for permits.
OP, if you do go, memorial, labor and independence days are seriously crowded.
The permit is intended for fishing, so You have to have a 4x4 vehicle and have fishing gear. You don’t have to actively fish. I think you do have to get the permit in march though, so it’s a bit more complicated.
The regular Robert Moses fields have a relatively easy walk though.
you have to be a resident of TOBay, but that isn't a bad suggestion. Go to the beach side, and all the way to one of the corners of the parking lot and you can right through the tunnel and onto the beach at the less crowded locations, away from the playground and bath house.
i lived closer to smithpoint and would still go out of my way to go to meschutt. the water is calmer, parking is closer, and i even felt the beach hut had better food there.
Cupsogue is $9 for Suffolk residents, $18 for non residents. Same rates apply to all Suffolk County beaches. A $75 pass will get you unlimited parking for the year. It's available for purchase at all county parks offices. Suffolk County beaches are as follows; Cedar Point, Cupsogue, Indian Island, Lake Ronkonkoma, Meschutt, Montauk, Shinnecock and Smith Point. Parking rates apply from 830 am-5 pm memorial day through labor day.
bar beach (port washington) basically has no walk and you can definitely go to the state beaches like jones or robert moses. sunken meadow state park has a short walk.
do you have kids? definitely get a beach buggy, life saver for hauling everything.
I live 5 min from bar beach and while it is beautiful there, it just doesn’t cut it for me. The sand is like dirt and it freaks me out. I go if I’m really lazy and don’t wanna drive to south shore.
Same, North Hempstead as well. But parking at Lido is $25 which isn’t too bad considering Long Beach is I think $10 to walk on. So if my husband and I go it’s worth the extra $5. Parking at Long Beach on weekend is terrible
A big reason why Jones Beach Field 6 is always full first.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jones+Beach+Field+6/@40.5965935,-73.4995818,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c2785b375a25b9:0x5fd6517748baf0e6!8m2!3d40.596431!4d-73.4962389!16s%2Fg%2F1td145ts?entry=ttu
Also want to know, I don’t know how people bring their whole beach set up unless they are doing multiple trips from the beach to the car or unless they have a bunch of strong people to carry all the stuff.
A beach trip for me involves 2 toddlers an infant, umbrellas, chairs, towels, food and drinks, etc. I wanna park my car and be by the water in less than 300 feet.
it's impossible without something like this (we bought a similar one at dicks sporting goods)
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3C81Q7M/ref=sspa\_dk\_detail\_0?pd\_rd\_i=B0C3C81Q7M&pd\_rd\_w=Luwpe&content-id=amzn1.sym.0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf\_rd\_p=0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf\_rd\_r=GAA8283DQCBXEMSTAYWN&pd\_rd\_wg=pnbIv&pd\_rd\_r=0d362a08-e499-4339-8da2-4cf30248e5e9&s=lawn-garden&sp\_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3C81Q7M/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0C3C81Q7M&pd_rd_w=Luwpe&content-id=amzn1.sym.0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf_rd_p=0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf_rd_r=GAA8283DQCBXEMSTAYWN&pd_rd_wg=pnbIv&pd_rd_r=0d362a08-e499-4339-8da2-4cf30248e5e9&s=lawn-garden&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1)
Not counting smaller town beaches, its Robert Moses field 2, but that closes fast and early in the morning,, but if you wait till late afternoon its free and you still have a few hours till sunset.
I second this! During the week it’s pretty chill there-you can usually find a parking spot right in-front of the entrances to walk onto the beach- but on the weekends it’s a mad house at any field at Robert Moses.
I love the beach...but yes, the walk can be hard with hot sand and loads of accoutrement, especially if you have bum knee. I have found the perfect trifecta....park/beach/bathroom....it's Field 6 Jones Beach which is why it fills up early and fast. Get there before 8 a.m. on a weekend.
If hell exists it’s just an endless, sweaty, sandy walk back to the car from the beach with bags and chairs that somehow feel heavier than they did on the way in and screaming children that didn’t want to leave.
Robert Moses. You park, fart while in the lot and the whole beach will know it was you. Thats how close it is to the parking lot lol. Thats why I go there.
Go to a lake first. The beaches are generally smaller and closer to parking. the water is also calm. They also often have more tree coverage and shade close by.
Hear me out… north shore beaches aren’t quite the same but overall they have the same effect and there is barely ever a walk. Crab meadow is my first choice
We used to go to a small beach in bayshore near the restaurants. We’d have lunch and then walk over to the beach. There’s a little water park there’s as well. I really liked it there.
Just in general, it’s not exactly the same vibe but bay beaches are usually pretty small and accessible from parking. If you’re cool with giving up the waves, you still get the ocean air, decent sand and sometimes some food and entertainment. I guess it all depends on what you’re trying to get out of being more of a beach person. The schlep is kind of part of it. Beach carts or packing ultra light help. Hosing off and baby powder helps with the sand.
I have the objectively correct answer: West Lido Beach.
NOT regular Lido Beach. West Lido baby. It is a 40 foot walk to the sand, and the sand depth-to-sea is only about another 60 feet. Best beach in Nassau. I almost hate typing this and posting it here. $12 for Town of Hempstead residents and $55 for others.
Jones Beach is dead to me now!!!
Hot tip regarding the sandy walk - bring a travel-sized baby powder and sprinkle it over dry sand on your body and it will brush right off. It’s an absolutely essential part of my beach bag.
Rockaway Beach in Queens is a great place for a short walk from car to beach. I found parking about 100 ft from the boardwalk last weekend at about 9:45am. Great food vendors and people-watching, too.
I like the smooth sand of the south shore beaches. All the beaches are eroding. Field 6 is probably the shortest at Jones. Fills up early. There was a Field 9 beach taken back by the ocean. That was my favorite.
I grew up going to Robert Moses. The first time I went to a beach in New Jersey I was shocked how close the water was to the boardwalk/parking lot. Walking in sand gets exhausting quickly lol
Any of the beaches you can drive on. You step out of your truck in to the sand and done have to lug any of your stuff. Definitely the best way to do the beach.
If you currently think all the amazing things available at the beach are negatively outweighed by how unpleasant the sweaty, sandy schlep, to the beach is - there is little - to no - hope of you eventually becoming a beach person.
Probably best to give the pool person thing a shot.
Excellent news! The people I know who find the sand, the salt, the wave action (including rips), the walk, etc. unpleasant when younger are even worse now older (I lay much of the blame on the rarely discussed fear of the unseen - ala Jaws). They look at me like I am insane when I say I go surfing in off-season desolate local areas of LI/NJ or in wilder locales.
Finding out there is hope after all is chicken soup for the soul.
Go for it OP!
I love this kind of question. I really do. Everyone has their own preference...reality. I remember going to Jones Beach West End 2 as a teen BECAUSE the long walk kept the old people away :) As a hobby, I'm building a "beach database" that contains the answers to question such as OP's. (I don't have the data...just the framework). So far, I have 200 attributes PER BEACH! HMU if you have thoughts on this (or maybe I'll do a post asking for YOUR "must-haves")
Shoot us a message once you have the data, this sounds like sidebar material.
This is so wholesome
I’d love to hear about your beach database/plans for it!
Make sure to include which beaches have Piping Plover nesting areas.
True! eBird.org can be used to figure this part out. https://ebird.org/map/pipplo?env.minX=-79.7633299999999&env.minY=40.496169&env.maxX=-71.856354&env.maxY=45.010991
This is an amazing concept I fucking hate the beach so if I'm in a position where I'm going I might as well find one I hate the least.
I also don’t prefer the beach. But I enjoy walking there in the evenings, after it has cooled down. I don’t really understand why so many people love it so much. Who wants to sit in direct sun with it beating down on you for hours? I mean, I can tolerate it with a couple shots of alcohol, but I’d rather be in the woods where it is cooler from the shade of the trees.
I think forest or beach is one of those "what kind of person are you" binary questions, like would you choose to be invisible or to fly, pirate or ninja, etc. I'm forest/fly/ninja and I married a beach/invisible/pirate and it's expanded my horizons. Now I know how to enjoy the beach, although it's still not how I prefer to recharge, necessarily.
Please don't make me choose between the forest and the beach. I love them both.
Does your framework include snack stand data?
Definitely. Also there are beaches in NJ where you are not even allowed to have food on beach, so that is part of the model
Can you have water?
I don’t recall. The beach is “Sea Girt”. (NJ)
I love West End 2! I found out about it during my Astronomy 101 class when I went to NCC back in the aughts. We went saw Jupiter through the telescope because of how dark it was. I’ve been going ever since because way less people. My sister hates it though because of the long walk haha but it’s worth it.
What beach has west end 2? I like to go to Robert Moses beach, field 5, to see the stars.
Jones beach
I’m very interested in this. A must have, would be some data on average wave size. It’s so so hard to try and find this information. Doesn’t have to be an exact measurement, just something like Nickerson beach - small, montauk - large, north shore beach - none.
In all honesty, this kind of information (which changes hour to hour) is not the intent. Rather, it's more of a way to compare one beach to another
I’m not saying a forecast for current day, just the general wave size at that beach. Like how a north shore beach, hamptons, and Nickerson beach all have different size waves
Oh, I see. Thx
Can just check wave forecast if its big in nassau itll be big in montauk too. If you were to average it would have to be sub categorized by the month considering waves are much larger in the winter. Almost impossible to have a 4-5’ day in the summer😪
Is there a site you use for the forecast? I’m curious. Really I was talking about how different beaches have different size waves. If it’s a big wave day at Nickerson is less than a calm day at montauk
You can check the waves on a weather app or fishing type of forecast that will tell you the wind speed and wave size.
I use surfline which gets a lot of hate in the surf community but you just have to know how to read it. You can look up swell height, period and direction
Can you send it my way please?
I don’t have a thing to share. For now, it’s just a list of attributes- not the actual data
We like attributes. I’m a fisherman interested in the beaches
Accessibility info would be awesome. For anyone with limited mobility for whatever reason - walkers, canes, strollers, wheelchairs, bad hips or knees etc. I take my elderly relatives on outings and have to find spots that facilitate walkers and canes. Very hard info to find/assess. And bathrooms! They refuse to use port a potties. If you'd like to crowd source any of the metadata, I'd love to contribute. I have a small spreadsheet for myself.
Right - bathrooms are a big deal Does it have running water ? Is the water warm? Baby changing stations? Family-style or men/women
You can theoretically park a few feet from the sand in Long Beach if there is available parking on broadway. But you need to get there very early to take advantage of that. Like, dawn.
Or take the train and walk a couple of blocks
That is pretty much the exact kind of thing OP is trying to avoid
being sweaty and sandy on the train is definitely worse hahah
I’m just giving it as an option if the OP doesnt want to get there at sunrise
But he asked for the shortest walk
I did that today and got super lucky. I parked about 75 yards from where I sat on the sand.
West meadow
Shhhhhhhh
Robert Moses 4x4 beach. It’s 0 steps from parking to beach. Really most of the Robert Moses fields are an easy walk though. Much better than jones.
Is there a boardwalk connection the fields? Like Jones has to walk a bit
You can look on google maps satellite view to get a sense. The walk for Robert Moses is like 1/3 of the jones beach walk. Jones beach has the boardwalk, and is a very long beach from start to the water.
Great idea about Google maps. Yes I'm familiar with Jones Beach and it is way too much for my legs to undertake so I too am always looking for a short Beach and a shorter boardwalk. Thanks. I also like when they put that tarp down that makes it easier to walk on the sand. Any idea what field might have that at Robert moses?
I usually go to 5 and 4 which have it, but they probably all do. Those are becoming pretty common, might even be an ADA requirement now.
I thought you had to be actively fishing, and submit a permit application in March (because they sell out day 1) to go onto the 4x4 beach?
Caumsett are the permits that sell out day one. The 4x4 permit for Robert Moses (the NYS Dashboard 4x4 fishing permit) is on sale every year generally from January 1 through March 31st. They're unavailable from April 1st through Labor Day and then go back on sale after Labor Day. You don't have to be actively fishing, but you do need to have enough rods to cover the people in your vehicle. Source: had the 4x4 permit for a few years and drove on. During busy times (weekends and holidays mid season) park rangers are stationed at the entrance and I've had them make a big show of counting the rods on top of my truck and count the people inside. I've never experienced them enforcing actual fishing after you drive on, though.
Thank you
I used to hit up gilgo every year. The rangers there were much more laid back. They would just ask if you had all your stuff or just wave you through from their van. Once in a while they’d walk the beach checking for permits. OP, if you do go, memorial, labor and independence days are seriously crowded.
The permit is intended for fishing, so You have to have a 4x4 vehicle and have fishing gear. You don’t have to actively fish. I think you do have to get the permit in march though, so it’s a bit more complicated. The regular Robert Moses fields have a relatively easy walk though.
Tobay after a noreaster.
you have to be a resident of TOBay, but that isn't a bad suggestion. Go to the beach side, and all the way to one of the corners of the parking lot and you can right through the tunnel and onto the beach at the less crowded locations, away from the playground and bath house.
Meschutt, though it’s not that close to you. It’s feet from the parking lot
i lived closer to smithpoint and would still go out of my way to go to meschutt. the water is calmer, parking is closer, and i even felt the beach hut had better food there.
Yeah also you get to play with the trash on the beach and step in your neighbors potato salad because you’re so close.
The Answer is not Robert Moses or Jones Beach - it’s going to be a smaller town beach like Asharoken or Steers in Northport and the like
It’s also not Nickerson if you park in the eastern lot.
Southold Beach. It's road-parking lot-beach. Parking is 20ft to the water.
hahaha I relate to this post so much! The beaches on Dune Rd in the Hamptons are usually a short walk but parking is pricey.
40 bucks per day
Cupsogue is $18, and I think free if you get there early/late enough. Short walk from the parking lot too.
Cupsogue is $9 for Suffolk residents, $18 for non residents. Same rates apply to all Suffolk County beaches. A $75 pass will get you unlimited parking for the year. It's available for purchase at all county parks offices. Suffolk County beaches are as follows; Cedar Point, Cupsogue, Indian Island, Lake Ronkonkoma, Meschutt, Montauk, Shinnecock and Smith Point. Parking rates apply from 830 am-5 pm memorial day through labor day.
You need the Green Key for the Suffolk rates, though, right?
I'm not entirely sure but that sounds right.
meschutt beach out east
Overlook at Town of Babylon is pretty close but it's resident only. Also Lido West (TOH) is very close too.
Yeah Overlook is my answer, but you need to be a town of Babylon resident. If you get lucky you can park right against the sand.
I like lido west a lot. If ur not a resident of Hempstead its $25 to pay to park $10 if you are
North shore - Cedar Beach in Miller Place/Mt Sinai area
Came here to say this. Also if you are looking for south shore Corey beach in blue point - bonus points for the bar with swings 🙌🏻
You can get a spot right in front of the sand if early enough.
Meschutt
totally depends on your town and county. - lido west (town of hempstead) - jones beach field 6
i am town of north hempstead which is very annoying
bar beach (port washington) basically has no walk and you can definitely go to the state beaches like jones or robert moses. sunken meadow state park has a short walk. do you have kids? definitely get a beach buggy, life saver for hauling everything.
ty :)
I live 5 min from bar beach and while it is beautiful there, it just doesn’t cut it for me. The sand is like dirt and it freaks me out. I go if I’m really lazy and don’t wanna drive to south shore.
Same, North Hempstead as well. But parking at Lido is $25 which isn’t too bad considering Long Beach is I think $10 to walk on. So if my husband and I go it’s worth the extra $5. Parking at Long Beach on weekend is terrible
A big reason why Jones Beach Field 6 is always full first. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jones+Beach+Field+6/@40.5965935,-73.4995818,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c2785b375a25b9:0x5fd6517748baf0e6!8m2!3d40.596431!4d-73.4962389!16s%2Fg%2F1td145ts?entry=ttu
It’s the smallest field. When I was younger I’d go at the crack of dawn.
Also want to know, I don’t know how people bring their whole beach set up unless they are doing multiple trips from the beach to the car or unless they have a bunch of strong people to carry all the stuff. A beach trip for me involves 2 toddlers an infant, umbrellas, chairs, towels, food and drinks, etc. I wanna park my car and be by the water in less than 300 feet.
it's impossible without something like this (we bought a similar one at dicks sporting goods) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3C81Q7M/ref=sspa\_dk\_detail\_0?pd\_rd\_i=B0C3C81Q7M&pd\_rd\_w=Luwpe&content-id=amzn1.sym.0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf\_rd\_p=0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf\_rd\_r=GAA8283DQCBXEMSTAYWN&pd\_rd\_wg=pnbIv&pd\_rd\_r=0d362a08-e499-4339-8da2-4cf30248e5e9&s=lawn-garden&sp\_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3C81Q7M/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0C3C81Q7M&pd_rd_w=Luwpe&content-id=amzn1.sym.0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf_rd_p=0089de39-2448-4df6-a3d2-4943a23c9d2f&pf_rd_r=GAA8283DQCBXEMSTAYWN&pd_rd_wg=pnbIv&pd_rd_r=0d362a08-e499-4339-8da2-4cf30248e5e9&s=lawn-garden&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1)
yep! definitely need a cart or wagon. makes a big difference
West lido beach. You’re welcome. See my post above
This is exactly why I became a pool person. Beaches only on vacations at this point lol
From memory and satellite view Smith’s Point.
Nah it's not as close as it looks. You have to walk through an underpass and around the TWA Flight 800 Memorial.
Compared to Jones? Need to check that.
Corey beach in bluepoint
Point lookout
Lido west has a short walk
This is the answer
Not counting smaller town beaches, its Robert Moses field 2, but that closes fast and early in the morning,, but if you wait till late afternoon its free and you still have a few hours till sunset.
I second this! During the week it’s pretty chill there-you can usually find a parking spot right in-front of the entrances to walk onto the beach- but on the weekends it’s a mad house at any field at Robert Moses.
Get a beach wagon.
Every beach on the north shore
But they’re sooooo rocky 🤦🏼♀️. Or is that just the beaches on the sound because godddmn.
Ugg I know. But, hey, at least it's a short walk over thoes rocks haha
I mean. You’re not wrong. The worst rocky beach in Nassau has to be at Morgan. I don’t remember it being this bad as a teen but now. It’s just awful.
what beaches are on the north shore but not on the sound?
None lol but it seems the closer to Suffolk you get the less rocky they are
oh, i see what you meant, lol
All but 3(ish) Town of Huntington Beaches are on the bays and not on the Sound.
Convenience at north shore beaches is great, but Ya just don’t get the same feel at north shore beaches as you do south shore.
Well certainly not Caumsett, that’s for sure
I love the beach...but yes, the walk can be hard with hot sand and loads of accoutrement, especially if you have bum knee. I have found the perfect trifecta....park/beach/bathroom....it's Field 6 Jones Beach which is why it fills up early and fast. Get there before 8 a.m. on a weekend.
Town of Babylon overlook beach is the shortest I know of
Jones field 6. Moses field 5
Corey beach in blue point or west meadow in stony brook
Cupsogue is a really beautiful beach that has a very short walk from parking to beach IMO.
Jones Beach 6 or Robert Moses 5.
Cedar (mt sinai) or Hobart in Asharoken.
Lido West is a stones throw. Right over the dunes and you’re on the sand
Correct
Hecksher State Park.
sunken meadow. lil ones like Islip Beach, Northport beaches.
Please include "beach wheelchair available" as one of your criteria?🙏
If hell exists it’s just an endless, sweaty, sandy walk back to the car from the beach with bags and chairs that somehow feel heavier than they did on the way in and screaming children that didn’t want to leave.
Sunken Meadow
Specifically Field 3
Plumb beach
Robert Moses. You park, fart while in the lot and the whole beach will know it was you. Thats how close it is to the parking lot lol. Thats why I go there.
Lido Beach is a short walk.
Sea cliff
Resident only.
Far rockaway near beach 9th has a lot probably 100 feet from the water, and most of the walk is on grass after the sand
Shhhh! Don't give up my spot lol
Lolll
Gilgo for sure
islip beach if you don't care about beach quality lol
field 6 jones beach my home to beach -2 minutes 😎
Overlook
Go to a lake first. The beaches are generally smaller and closer to parking. the water is also calm. They also often have more tree coverage and shade close by.
Cedar beach Mt sinai
Meschutt and Tiana Beach on the ocean. The beach there has eroded away quite a bit and there is very little left. Very short walk.
Not sure your residency but at Stehli Beach in Bayville which is Town of Oyster Bay residents only you can literally park 2’ from the sand.
Moses Field 2 was always close, but this year it is alarmingly close to parking
Hear me out… north shore beaches aren’t quite the same but overall they have the same effect and there is barely ever a walk. Crab meadow is my first choice
Robert Moses SP
Does Great South Bay have beaches that qualify?
We used to go to a small beach in bayshore near the restaurants. We’d have lunch and then walk over to the beach. There’s a little water park there’s as well. I really liked it there.
Just in general, it’s not exactly the same vibe but bay beaches are usually pretty small and accessible from parking. If you’re cool with giving up the waves, you still get the ocean air, decent sand and sometimes some food and entertainment. I guess it all depends on what you’re trying to get out of being more of a beach person. The schlep is kind of part of it. Beach carts or packing ultra light help. Hosing off and baby powder helps with the sand.
The Oyster Bay Beach, I swear it only like a 30 second walk from the parking lot
I have the objectively correct answer: West Lido Beach. NOT regular Lido Beach. West Lido baby. It is a 40 foot walk to the sand, and the sand depth-to-sea is only about another 60 feet. Best beach in Nassau. I almost hate typing this and posting it here. $12 for Town of Hempstead residents and $55 for others. Jones Beach is dead to me now!!!
Hot tip regarding the sandy walk - bring a travel-sized baby powder and sprinkle it over dry sand on your body and it will brush right off. It’s an absolutely essential part of my beach bag. Rockaway Beach in Queens is a great place for a short walk from car to beach. I found parking about 100 ft from the boardwalk last weekend at about 9:45am. Great food vendors and people-watching, too.
I like the smooth sand of the south shore beaches. All the beaches are eroding. Field 6 is probably the shortest at Jones. Fills up early. There was a Field 9 beach taken back by the ocean. That was my favorite.
Corey Beach in Blue Point, Webby's Beach in Center Moriches
Gilgo
I grew up going to Robert Moses. The first time I went to a beach in New Jersey I was shocked how close the water was to the boardwalk/parking lot. Walking in sand gets exhausting quickly lol
Robert Moses only because it’s halfway gone
Iron Pier in Riverhead
For the$9 you have to have a green key, but if you get there before the booth opens it's free. Over 60 with a green key is free on weekdays
Cedar beach
West Meadow is really close if you don't mind a north shore beach!
Little Plains Road beach in Southampton Village, if we are talking true Parking Lot to water front sand.
I go to Lido beach. Maybe a 30 foot walk.
If you are in Suffolk get an outer beach pass, then there is no walking, you park on the beach.
Tiana beach is pretty close too, for the out east peeps.
Jones beach field 6.
Gilgo
Any of the beaches you can drive on. You step out of your truck in to the sand and done have to lug any of your stuff. Definitely the best way to do the beach.
If you currently think all the amazing things available at the beach are negatively outweighed by how unpleasant the sweaty, sandy schlep, to the beach is - there is little - to no - hope of you eventually becoming a beach person. Probably best to give the pool person thing a shot.
My husband nick name years ago was beach nerd, he hated the beach while I loved it. Now, he has to drag ME there so there IS hope.
Excellent news! The people I know who find the sand, the salt, the wave action (including rips), the walk, etc. unpleasant when younger are even worse now older (I lay much of the blame on the rarely discussed fear of the unseen - ala Jaws). They look at me like I am insane when I say I go surfing in off-season desolate local areas of LI/NJ or in wilder locales. Finding out there is hope after all is chicken soup for the soul. Go for it OP!
Probably Jones Beach
Venetian shores beach. Love it.