Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach
4.5
About
Plan a fun beach day at this beach in Far Rockaway. With its great surf, it’s the perfect spot for surfers of all levels. If you prefer to stick closer to the boardwalk, check out the area between 90th to 98th street. Here, you’ll find plenty of tasty food options, from tacos to lobster rolls. You can also grab some beach essentials and cute beachwear from the local stores. It can get busy so try to visit early in the morning or on a weekday. And don't worry about parking—you can easily take the subway or hop on the Rockaway Ferry from Wall Street or Sunset Park. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
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How to get there
- Beach 98th St • 6 min walk
- Beach 90th St • 7 min walk
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4.5
222 reviews
Excellent
109
Very good
77
Average
26
Poor
6
Terrible
4
TangoNY
Great Neck, NY1,580 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Rockaways has experienced a huge renaissance in the last 15 years. From a “hood” and “ghetto” riddled area now it has been turned into a NYC riviera and Mecca for NYC surfers. In the summer this beach is so popular that it is hard to find parking. The beach is wide and clean. Lots of space. NYC ferry can get one here from anywhere in NYC. Many good food spots now especially in the Arverne By The Sea section of Rockaways. A great boardwalk that is 5.5 miles long. It is made with cement and it is very smooth for biking. Overall, Rockaways has gotten so much better and it continues to grow and gain popularity every year! Come and experience it all for yourself.
Written 11 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eddie S
Bronx, NY1,350 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Went to Rockaway Beach to visit family and amazed how the area has changed from when I went there every summer. Gone were a number of the bungalows and sand dunes replaced with townhouses and buildings. The beach is still the beach. It was fun to ride the waves. Plus there a more dining options available than there have been in the past.
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas A
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Friends
We had an incredible time visiting Rockaway this summer. What was supposed to be a day trip to the beach turned into 5 days of acting like tourists in our own backyard. We took surf lessons, found out new favorite NYC brewery on the water, rented fishing poles and caught a Porgy we grilled and ate, chartered a sail boat in Jamaica Bay and packed more live music in a week than we would normally all year in Manhattan.
Written 28 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott
San Francisco, CA6,575 contributions
May 2021
Fantastic beach and boardwalk. I visited in May 2021, so the summer beach season hadn't yet started. The boardwalk is PREMIUM for walking, biking, or running. Clean public bathrooms everywhere. And nice-looking refreshment stands just getting ready for the season. This is truly an undiscovered (by tourists) part of New York City.
Written 21 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Epicureously
London, UK1,249 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Well it’s a really good place to come for a day out when the city gets boiling. Massive sandy beach. Sea looked a bit murky. The massive concrete jungle built behind is like a massive Bermondsey council block. Some good bars can be found. Uncomplicated and easy to get to.
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna P
Brooklyn, NY61 contributions
Jul 2023
My family and I went to Rockaway Beach in July 2023. We were there on a Thursday. After looking for about 5 minutes we were able to find street parking a block or two away from the beach. (There is a free public parking on 95th street which was completely full by 11 a.m. on a Thursday. )
We settled near Beach 97-98th street on the beach. While the location was convenient due to a public bathroom and a couple of food places nearby, we were right by the lifeguard’s seat at the beach. The lifeguard was constantly blowing his whistle throughout the day trying to keep the beachgoers safe and steer them off the rocks, other danger.
I would come back to the Rockaway Beach, only this time I would settle further away from the lifeguard’s tower if I could.
We settled near Beach 97-98th street on the beach. While the location was convenient due to a public bathroom and a couple of food places nearby, we were right by the lifeguard’s seat at the beach. The lifeguard was constantly blowing his whistle throughout the day trying to keep the beachgoers safe and steer them off the rocks, other danger.
I would come back to the Rockaway Beach, only this time I would settle further away from the lifeguard’s tower if I could.
Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kitty272727
303 contributions
Jun 2021
You can count on the ocean breeze bringing the temperature easily ten degrees lower than other parts of NYC. Take the ferry at Pier 11 Wall Street (connections from other parts of Manhattan) for a pleasant hour-long ride. Walk to the beach. There are concessions on the boardwalk for food and drink but more serious places two blocks inland, and there is the new Rockaway Hotel with nice options.
Written 29 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
Brooklyn, NY1,599 contributions
Nov 2020 • Family
We drove from DUMBO, Brooklyn at 2pm for the beach the same day Biden was elected!!! Traffic wasn’t the best getting there, avoid Grand Central Parkway.
The weather was great 75 degrees and nothing but sun. Beach was empty and calm waves.
The weather was great 75 degrees and nothing but sun. Beach was empty and calm waves.
Written 8 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhonda H
4 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
I visited Rockaway Beach for the first time on July 28. I took the Ferry from Mahattan.
The beach is lovely and there's a restaurant that serves fresh juice and a nice variety of food. My only complaint is that the bathrooms were disgusting.
We arrived around 10am and they were clean at that time but as the day went on, the toilet paper ran out and was never refilled. There was trash on the floor, no soap in the dispensers, and the floors were wet and sandy. For a beach this beautiful, they need to do better with keeping the bathrooms clean.
The beach is lovely and there's a restaurant that serves fresh juice and a nice variety of food. My only complaint is that the bathrooms were disgusting.
We arrived around 10am and they were clean at that time but as the day went on, the toilet paper ran out and was never refilled. There was trash on the floor, no soap in the dispensers, and the floors were wet and sandy. For a beach this beautiful, they need to do better with keeping the bathrooms clean.
Written 5 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh D
New York City, NY895 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
I was in the ocean today and I thought of something very important that kind of changed my view on the world!! The thing I thought of was jerk salmon probably comes from the Atlantic Ocean because it’s very salty which is why it’s a jerk!! I have never been called salty because I believe I am a good spirited man!! I go here every summer and I very much like going into the ocean!! I happen to think that oceans are very interesting and it’s crazy that squids and whales and jellyfish all live inside of them!! I am a fan of jellyfish because they look cool but I know they want to sting me so I don’t go near them!! The water was very nice and the lifeguards were very alert to people not being in the right place!! There are a lot of stores and restaurants and things and I got fish and chips which made me feel good!! I enjoy coming here a lot!!
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
are Bonfire allow to built at the beach? If so do i bring my own wood or can i use wood laying around?
Written 2 August 2022
Restrooms are open from 8:00 to 4:00 officially every day after Labor Day, but don’t count on 8:00 AM. Probably 10:00 AM is more likely. There are restrooms at B 116, B106, B97, and further down (I’m not sure where). A few concessions with snacks and nonalcoholic drinks and picnic tables are open . Restaurants are nearby.
Written 16 September 2021
Hi, if I want to walk the boardwalk (for 2 - 3 miles) around 6pm during the week, where is the best place to park? Low 60's?
Thanks
Written 21 August 2020
Around 6pm you should find parking since most people are leaving the beach at that time. I’ve seen spots in the 60s at that time. You may need to look around a little, but you should find something. Good luck and enjoy.
Written 22 August 2020
If lifeguards are on duty...no
You must get a permit...not easy.
Special events office of Parks dept.
Written 24 June 2019
Is it nice for a holiday from 19-26 October?
How much time it takes by public transportation to get to Manhattan ?
Written 30 August 2018
I love it that time of year down there, but it can be quite desolate if you mind that sort of thing.
An hour or so from midtown on the A train.
Written 31 August 2018
Which rockaway beach is best to go to ? With food, and bathroom around plus not so crowded , nice wave and sand. Calm people around
Written 12 February 2018
I love the area near the Dredsurfer Grill on 17th Street. It is relaxing, family friendly and calm. You'll find free parking too.
Written 13 February 2018
Are you able to access the beach in the off season? We will be in NYC this week and hope to do a beach day weds (sep 13). I see the site says beach is closed and no swimming without lifeguard but that is usually a liability statement. Thanks in advanced.
Written 10 September 2017
Yes you are correct just means no life guard on duty
Written 27 September 2017
Are we able to bring a mini grill? I was thinking of doing some BBQ ( Korean style ), and wanted to know if I have to go to a designated area, etc?
Written 19 July 2017
no cooking but if you go up to Riis park you will find people cooking between boardwalk and parking lot
Written 19 July 2017
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