The train pulls into Long Beach in under an hour from Penn Station, and the walk from the platform to the sand takes about five minutes. That’s the whole pitch, really — a real beach day without a car.
Day Trip
Train Access
Calm Water
Boardwalk
Long Beach isn’t trying to be dramatic. It’s a short walk from Long Beach Station, the boardwalk is stroller-friendly, and the water is usually calmer than what you’d get at Jones Beach or the Rockaways. For families without a car, or families who just don’t want to spend an hour circling a parking lot, that’s most of the appeal right there.
I’ll say the quiet part early: this isn’t the beach for big waves or a wild day out. If your kids are older and want surf, Long Beach has some good conditions in September, but for most of the summer it’s a calm-water, easy-logistics kind of trip. That’s exactly what makes it work for younger kids and first beach days.
What the water’s actually like with kids
Water conditions at Long Beach are usually calm with fewer waves than the more exposed Atlantic beaches nearby. That’s not a guarantee — ocean conditions shift day to day — but the general pattern here runs gentler than Rockaway Beach, which is the only NYC shore where surfing is actually permitted and pulls in bigger swells as a result.
The sand is soft and wide, and lifeguards are on duty, which matters more than people expect until they’re standing on a beach without one. Entry is gradual sand the whole way — no rocks, no sudden drop-off close to shore, which is the entry type that actually matters for a toddler or a nervous six-year-old.
Shade is limited unless you rent an umbrella, which most people do — umbrellas run around $15 for the day. That’s the honest trade-off with a beach this open: the sand is wide and easy to walk on, but nobody’s bringing natural shade with them.
Beaches and boardwalk activities families can do
The main beach and boardwalk
The boardwalk runs 2.2 miles from New York Avenue on the west end to Neptune Boulevard on the east, and it’s the actual spine of the whole visit — food, shops, benches, a playground, and a volleyball court all sit along it. Bikes and scooters are allowed the full length, which is a genuinely good option if you’ve got a kid who’s done with sand before the adults are.
Beach chairs cost roughly $12 for the day, umbrellas around $15, and neither towels nor water bottles are available to rent — bring your own, since beachside water runs $1 to $3 a bottle. Pack a reusable one and refill it rather than buying repeatedly through the day.
| Rental | Cost |
|---|---|
| Beach chair (day) | ~$12 |
| Umbrella (day) | ~$15 |
| Bottled water | $1–$3 |
If your family is deciding between a full beach day and a shorter visit, the LIRR Getaway Package is worth knowing about — it bundles train tickets, beach entrance, and some restaurant discounts for under $30, though it’s only offered in summer. That’s a meaningful saving if you were going to buy a beach pass separately anyway.
- At the Long Beach boardwalk, keep cash in a zip-top bag for chair and umbrella rentals — vendors along the boardwalk deal mostly in cash, and a soggy wallet is a real problem by mid-afternoon.
- Pets aren’t allowed on the boardwalk, so leave the dog at home if you’re making this a beach day rather than a walk.
- Surfing at Long Beach rotates between specific spots daily — surfers need to check the day’s surf schedule before paddling out, not just show up.
Beyond the sand: shops and food along Park Avenue
Park Avenue, a short walk from the boardwalk, leans toward local businesses rather than chain retail, which makes it a decent stretch to wander if the family needs a break from the sun. For food, Gino’s near the train station does pizza slices for a quick bite before heading back, and The Bungalow covers a wider range — omelets, wraps, tacos — if you want a sit-down lunch mid-visit.
For families weighing whether Long Beach or a Jersey Shore beach fits the day better, the best Jersey Shore beaches for families leaving NYC covers a different set of trade-offs — generally more driving, sometimes more space.
Getting there, fees, and parking
Train is the clear default here, and it’s worth treating that as the plan rather than a fallback to driving. The LIRR runs from Penn Station, Grand Central, Jamaica, and Lynbrook, and travel time from Manhattan is under an hour on most routes — though some sources put the ride closer to 90 minutes depending on the specific train and connections.
| Route | Time |
|---|---|
| LIRR from Penn Station | Under 1 hour to ~90 minutes |
| Driving from NYC | 40 minutes to 1 hour, traffic-dependent |
Driving is roughly 30 miles and takes 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, accessed via NY-878 and the Nassau Expressway. The math tips toward the train for most families — no parking search, no traffic variability, and the walk from the station to the sand is short enough that strollers and beach bags aren’t a real burden.
An overnight stay isn’t really necessary for Long Beach — the whole appeal is that it’s close enough to do as a single day trip, and most families treat it that way. If you’re building a bigger Long Island beach circuit that includes an overnight, that’s a different trip than what this one is designed for.
Gear and prep before you go
Sun protection needs to be non-negotiable here given how little natural shade exists past the rental umbrellas. Reapply sunscreen after time in the water — it wears off faster than people expect, and a beach day here often means kids are in and out of the water repeatedly.
- Reusable water bottles, filled before you leave home if possible
- Cash in a sealed bag for chair, umbrella, and food vendor purchases
- Your own towels — none are available to rent at Long Beach
- Sunscreen you’re comfortable reapplying mid-day, not just once in the morning
- A beach pass purchased ahead through the Yodel app if visiting on a weekend
I’d skip renting a beach umbrella if your family already owns a portable one — at $15 a day, it pays for itself after two or three visits, and Long Beach is close enough to become a repeat trip rather than a one-off.
Questions families ask about Long Beach
Is Long Beach calmer than Jones Beach or Rockaway?
Generally yes. Long Beach’s water tends to run calmer, which suits younger kids better than the bigger swells at Rockaway Beach, where surfing is a bigger draw. Conditions vary day to day, so it’s not an absolute rule.
If your family specifically wants waves for older kids or teens, Rockaway Beach in Queens is the more reliable pick for that.
Do we need a car to visit Long Beach?
No — the train is genuinely the better option. Long Beach Station is a short walk from the sand, which removes the parking search that makes a lot of NYC-area beach days more stressful than they need to be.
Driving is roughly 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, so it’s not a bad option if your family already has a car and prefers it — just don’t expect it to be faster than the train.
What’s the honest downside of Long Beach for families?
Shade. Past the rental umbrellas, there’s very little natural cover, and on a hot, sunny day that matters more than most people plan for. It’s also not the pick if your kids want real surf conditions most of the summer.
If shade and a quieter atmosphere matter more than boardwalk energy, Robert Moses State Park offers more open space with less crowding, though it has even less shade overall.
When are beach passes required?
Passes are required weekends only from late May through late June, then every single day from late June through early September. Outside those windows and hours, the beach and boardwalk are accessible without one.
Buying a pass ahead through the Yodel app avoids a line at the entrance, which matters on a summer Saturday.
Can we bring a picnic instead of buying food on the boardwalk?
Yes, and it’s a reasonable way to cut costs on a family trip, since boardwalk food and rentals add up. There’s no rule against bringing your own food, and the boardwalk benches work fine for an informal lunch.
Just remember alcohol isn’t allowed on the beach or boardwalk, so plan drinks accordingly.
Long Beach isn’t the beach you pick for drama — it’s the one you pick when you want the day to actually be easy, from the train ride to the walk to the sand to the calm water once you’re in it. That simplicity is worth more than people give it credit for once they’ve done the alternative with a car and a parking lot. For everything else worth knowing about a family trip built around NYC, there’s more at the full NYC guide.
Sources
Long Beach — MTA Destinations. Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Kid-Friendly Beaches Near New York for Summer. Penelope’s Oasis, 2025.
Day Trip to Long Beach, NY. Tall Girl Big World.
Long Beach and the Rockaways. Mommy Poppins.
