Best Public Beach in New York? Robert Moses State Park

Admittedly, when you think beach, New York is probably not the first place that pops into your mind. There are actually quite a few beaches within the borders of NYC, though none really qualifies as notable, and, honestly, contamination and dangerous rip tides are an ongoing concern. However, New Yorkers, who enjoy a good beach, know that they don't have to travel too far outside of the city to get to one of the best beaches in the northeast and arguably in the US.

Robert Moses State Park, is an 875-acre (3.54 km sq.) park in Babylon, NY (in southern Suffolk County). It is on the western end of Fire Island which is one of the central barrier islands off the southern coast of Long Island (view google map). There are plenty of beaches on the south shore of Long Island, e.g Jones Beach and Long Beach, but what makes Robert Moses in particular so noteworthy? Foremost, it is really a beautiful beach. OK, the water is not as picturesque as the Caribbean or Hawaii, but there are very few places on earth that can lay claim to sand that is in such a perfect state of erosion. It feels great under your feet. The shore line is not at all rocky, which is an unwanted feature of many beaches in the northeast. It is also in a very serene location. You will not see any tall buildings or homes from the beach, the vistas are amazing, and it seems very, very distant from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Because of its distance from the city, it also tends to get a little less traffic than other beaches. It is truly the perfect day escape from NYC.

The water is warmest in August, usually by the second or third week. Though not a problem this year, August is also usually a peak time for jellyfish in the area - so be careful. Note that pets and alcohol are not allowed on the beach; and the police patrol the beaches on dune buggies regularly, explicitly looking for these infractions. There are several different beaches to choose from (a.k.a. fields). We have found fields 4 & 5 to be less crowded, though field 5 is sometimes closed due to ongoing beach erosion.

When we go, we tend to make a day of it and cap it off with a nice seafood dinner. Food is also available at each of the field houses, but why eat a hot dog when you can have some of the best seafood on the eastern seaboard? There are plenty of places to choose from, but the two we have personally visited and thoroughly enjoyed are Legal Seafoods in Huntington and Peter's Clam House in Island Park. In addition to the beach, you may want to also check out the lighthouse, and if you one to squeeze in a bit of pseudo-golf the Pitch and Putt, which is actually in a wooded area and quite scenic. Also, Fire Island in general is known for it's nude beaches so be forewarned or take this as an opportunity to check them out.

For the history buffs out there, this is the oldest state park on Long Island. Originally named Fire Island State Park, it was renamed for Robert Moses and is one of 2 state parks to bear this name (the other being Robert Moses State Park - Thousand Islands). If you haven't already, definitely check out The Power Broker which chronicles the impact that Robert Moses had on New York State and the national park system in general - though I assure you that you won't be able to finish it in one sitting; it's quite a thick book.

The park is accessible by car from the Robert Moses Causeway, and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and vehicle fees vary by season ($8.00 peak, $6.00 off-peak). (Get driving directions here.) Folks aged 62 and over are eligible for free entry during weekdays (holidays excluded) with their NYS driver's license. This beach and others are also accessible via public transportation (more info here) so it is quite tourist friendly, though not many tourists seem to make the trip out. If you are in the NY area in the summer, and haven't been, you don't know what you are missing.