Rockaway Beach
Queens, NY
Rockaway Beach stretches along Queens' barrier peninsula, New York City's only legal surfing beach and the closest thing the five boroughs have to a real surf town, with a rebuilt boardwalk lined with food vendors after Hurricane Sandy. The A train runs straight there, making it the rare big city beach that doesn't require a car.
A genuine surf scene and subway access make this one of the most locally loved beaches in the city, though the crowd on a summer weekend rivals any beach in the five boroughs.
How we score beachesThe surfing beaches are marked and separated from swimming areas, roughly at Beach 87th to 92nd Streets. Check a surf report before paddling out, since the break can get crowded fast on a good day.
Paid parking is available via the Cross Bay or Marine Parkway bridges, around $20 in summer. The subway is the easier option for most visitors.
The rebuilt boardwalk is flat and paved, with ramps down to the sand at regular intervals.
Dogs are banned from the sand and boardwalk from Memorial Day weekend through October 1. Outside that window, leashed dogs with proof of license and vaccination are welcome.
Water reaches the mid 70s by August, inside Atlantic hurricane season, June through November. Fall brings some of the best surf of the year as swell picks up from offshore storms.
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