Jones Beach State Park offers six miles of Atlantic Ocean beach on Long Island's barrier island, a classic New York summer destination since 1929. Tidal range is modest on the south shore of Long Island; low tide extends the beach noticeably, improving conditions for swimming and shore fishing.
Atlantic tidal range of 2–3 ft on Long Island's south shore; low tide extends the beach noticeably and is the best time for swimming in the calmer surf zone, a long shore walk, and shelling. The designated surf zone at the east end (Field 6) is surfable at mid tide; surf fishing for striped bass and bluefish in the fall is excellent at low to mid tide near the inlets; shelling is modest. Local note: parking is organized by numbered field (1–6) accessible from the Wantagh or Meadowbrook state parkways; the Jones Beach Theater hosts major summer concerts; the iconic bathhouse towers are Robert Moses–era architecture; no commercial rentals or paid services are allowed on the beach.
Nearby Beaches