Rockaway Beach

At a glance

About this spot

NYC's only surf beach — consistent jetty-divided peaks in Queens. Fun and crowded, best on hurricane and winter swell.

Location

40.5800, -73.8133

Photos

Trip overview

Rockaway Beach is the only legal surfing beach in New York City — a stretch of jetty-divided sand on the Queens peninsula where a quirk of geography, a subway line, and the late-2000s migration of Brooklyn surfers turned a working-class beach town into the East Coast's most improbable surf scene. The waves are honest about what they are: a soft-to-punchy beach break, mostly knee- to chest-high and often flat or windblown, that wakes up around the rock jetties (the 'groins') near Beach 90th and Beach 67th Streets. The signature ride is a fast left peeling off the 90th Street jetty when a clean swell lines up. This is not a wave-rich destination — many days you'll paddle out to mush — and you should plan a Rockaway surf trip the way you'd plan one to any fickle Atlantic beach break: come for a window, not a guarantee.

What makes Rockaway worth the trip is that you can ride the A train from Manhattan, step off at Beach 90 St, and be in the water in fifteen minutes — board under your arm, no car, no airport transfer. When a hurricane swell or a winter nor'easter fills in from September through April, the sandbars near the jetties throw up genuinely fun, occasionally overhead peaks, and the whole peninsula buzzes. The flip side is crowds: on any sunny weekend with a hint of swell, the designated surf zones pack out with everyone from grizzled locals to first-timers off the train, and the lineup gets loud.

Know before you go that surfing is only legal inside NYC Parks' marked surf-beach blocks, that those blocks shift, and that the National Park Service's Bay 1 at Jacob Riis Park (the far-western end, separate from the NYC Parks surf blocks) has been closed for safety in recent seasons after submerged early-1900s pilings caused a surfer fatality in spring 2025, and that the water is genuinely cold — a 4/3 wetsuit much of the year, hood and gloves in winter. Stay near Beach 90th–110th if you can, eat your way down the boardwalk taco and burger stands, and treat it as a city-surf adventure rather than a tropical strike mission.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

The 90th Street jetty peak is the most contested patch of water in the city and is known for a real pecking order — a tight crew of locals sits inside on the best bank, and dropping in or paddling straight to the top of the peak on a good day earns sharp words. Hang wide, wait your turn, give respect and it's returned; the broader scene is famously welcoming to beginners who stay in the lesson zones and don't snake. Crowds, not aggression, are the bigger hazard.

In the lineup: Surf only inside NYC Parks' marked surf-beach blocks (recently roughly Beach 67–69, Beach 87–92, and Beach 110–111 — confirm the season's signage, as blocks shift and some western areas have been closed). The best sandbars form right beside the rock jetties; the signature left peels off the 90th St groin. Watch for rip currents pulling along the jetties, sudden sandbar holes, and submerged old pilings at the far west end. Enter and exit on the beach, not over the rocks.

Rockaway is a real, lived-in working-class beach town — Irish, Latino, Caribbean, and a wave of Brooklyn transplants layered over a peninsula that took a brutal hit from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and rebuilt. Off the water it's boardwalk taco stands, beer gardens, bodegas, surf bungalows, and ballfields, not a polished resort. Summer weekends roar; winters empty out to a tight local core. It feels like nowhere else in NYC and nothing like a tropical surf town — bring layers, low expectations on size, and an appetite for tacos.

Getting there

Fly into John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — about 11 miles from the break, 20–35 min (traffic-dependent). LaGuardia (LGA) is ~14 mi / 35–50 min by car and handles domestic flights. Newark (EWR) is far worse for this trip (~25+ mi across the whole city). For most travelers JFK is both the closest and the easiest — it shares the AirTrain/A-train connection straight to the beach.

• rideshare$40–70 per car20–35 min

  Uber/Lyft or a yellow cab from the JFK taxi line. The fastest door-to-door option with boards — request an SUV/XL if your bag is over 7'0". Surge pricing spikes on summer weekends.

• bus$3.00 (MetroCard/OMNY)55–75 min via AirTrain + A train

  Take the JFK AirTrain ($8.75) to Howard Beach, then the A train to Beach 90 St or Beach 98 St — the cheapest way in. Doable with a board bag off-peak, but tight on a crowded train; avoid rush hour with a big bag. OMNY tap-to-pay or a MetroCard works on the subway leg.

• taxi$45–65 per car (metered)20–35 min

  Yellow cabs queue at every JFK terminal and run metered to Rockaway. Confirm the driver is fine with a board bag before loading; most sedans take a shortboard, vans/SUVs anything bigger.

• rental car$45–90/day20–35 min self-drive

  All major agencies are at JFK. Useful only if you'll roam the city — parking near the beach is street-only and competitive on summer weekends. Request a roof rack ahead or bring soft racks for boards.

Getting around

You do not need a car. The A train (and the Rockaway Park S shuttle) connects the peninsula to the rest of NYC, with stops every few blocks along the beach; rides are $3.00 on OMNY/MetroCard. Citi Bike docks and bike lanes line the boardwalk and Shore Front Parkway, making a bike the ideal local ride in summer. Ubers/Lyfts are available but can be slow to arrive on busy beach days. If you do drive, beach-adjacent parking is street-only and fills early on sunny weekends.

Boards: Boards travel fine on the A train off-peak — locals do it daily — but a 6'+ bag is awkward at rush hour or on a packed summer weekend. Boarders Surf Shop (Beach 92nd) rents lockers, so day-trippers without a board can rent on-site and skip hauling. If you're staying multiple days, store your board at your hotel or a shop locker rather than schlepping it on the subway each session.

Where to stay

• The Rockaway Hotelboutique$$ high-end

  ~1 block from the ocean at Beach 108th St; ~1 mi west of the 90th St break · The peninsula's only true boutique hotel — 53 rooms with ocean or bay views, rooftop bar, spa with sauna, heated pool, and a restaurant. The obvious splurge surf base; book a Locals Surf School lesson through the front desk. A short walk or bike to the western surf blocks. (Direct (therockawayhotel.com), Booking.com, Hyatt/Mr & Mrs Smith)

• Rockaway Beach Airbnb / vacation rentals (Beach 90s–110s)vacation rental$ mid-range

  Varies — aim for Beach 88th–110th to be walking distance to a surf block · Most non-hotel lodging here is short-term rental: bungalows, condo units, and rooms in the classic Rockaway beach-house stock. Book one in the Beach 90s–100s and you're a short walk from the jetty peaks and the boardwalk food. Summer weekends book out and price up fast. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

• Beach 90s–100s bungalow / condo rentals (heart of the strip)vacation rental$ mid-range

  Steps to ~2 blocks from the Beach 90s surf zone and boardwalk food · Rockaway has essentially one hotel, so the mid-range walk-to-the-water pick is a short-term rental in the classic beach-bungalow and condo stock right in the food-and-bar strip near Beach 92nd–98th. Book early — summer weekends sell out and price up. Verify the listing is in a marked surf block's walking range before booking. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

• Marriott / hotels near JFK (Jamaica, Queens)hotel$ mid-range

  ~9–12 mi / 20–30 min drive (or A train) to the break · Rockaway itself has very few traditional hotels, so the fallback chain-hotel cluster is up by JFK/Jamaica. Practical only if you have a car or don't mind the train each session — you lose the walk-to-the-water magic. Use as a budget/availability backstop, not a first choice. (Booking.com, Marriott/Hilton direct)

• Far Rockaway / Arverne vacation rentalsvacation rental$ budget

  1–4 mi east of the main 90th St break depending on listing · Cheaper rental stock sits east toward Arverne and Far Rockaway, near the Beach 67th St surf jetty. Quieter and more residential than the 90s strip; fine if you'll surf the eastern blocks or don't mind a short bike/train hop to the main peaks. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Eat & drink

• Rippersbar$ mid-range

  Cheeseburger and a beer right on the boardwalk — The original boardwalk burger-and-beer joint at Beach 86th, slinging burgers since 2011 and a cornerstone of the Rockaway surf-summer scene. Outdoor, casual, packed on sunny days — the classic post-session feed. Seasonal (warm months).

• Tacoway Beach (at Rockaway Beach Surf Club)street food$ budget

  Fish tacos — The fish-taco counter in the back terrace of the Rockaway Beach Surf Club bar on Beach 87th — one of the most beloved bites on the peninsula and an easy walk from the 90s surf zone. Long lines on summer weekends; cash-and-card. Seasonal.

• Sayra's Wine Barbar$ mid-range

  Frosé and small plates — A small Black-owned wine bar near Beach 91st on Rockaway Beach Blvd — one of the area's slightly more upscale, sit-down options, good for a relaxed evening after surf. Wine list plus shareable plates.

• Bungalow Barrestaurant$ mid-range

  Waterfront burgers, frozen drinks and seafood — Year-round bar-and-grill on the bay side at 377 Beach 92nd St, at the foot of the Cross Bay Bridge — outdoor deck, tiki bar, frozen drinks and live music, with sunset water views. Walking distance from the main 90s surf blocks and a reliable sit-down meal when the seasonal boardwalk stands are closed (named USA Today's Best Beach Bar 2026).

• Uma'srestaurant$ mid-range

  Uzbek plov and pelmeni — An Uzbek restaurant on Rockaway Beach Blvd near Beach 92nd — a distinctive, hearty change of pace from the boardwalk burger-and-taco circuit, walking distance from the main surf blocks. Open year-round, useful in the off-season when seasonal stands close.

• Caracas Arepa Bar (boardwalk)street food$ budget

  Arepas and frozen drinks — The Rockaway outpost of the Venezuelan arepa favorite, on the boardwalk around Beach 106th St — quick, cheap, satisfying, with strong frozen drinks. A short bike or walk west of the main surf strip. Seasonal.

• Goody's BBQ Chicken and Ribsrestaurant$ budget

  Jerk chicken, BBQ ribs and curry goat with roti — A longtime West Indian / Caribbean BBQ spot at 7018 Amstel Blvd in Arverne — jerk chicken, barbecued ribs, mac and cheese and curry goat. A short ride or bike east of the boardwalk, open year-round and worth it for an honest, cheap plate away from the seasonal beach crowds.

• Low Tide Barbar$ mid-range

  Cold beer with a beach view — Boardwalk bar at Beach 96th St, open daily through the warm months — the easy spot to post up with a drink between sessions or at sunset. Casual, busy, right on the boardwalk.

Cooking for yourself

• Stop & Shop (Arverne)supermarket

  Full supermarket at 70-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd in Arverne, ~1.5 mi east of the 90th St break with a pharmacy and everything you'd need to self-cater a rental. The most complete grocery on the peninsula; closest big store to the main surf strip.

• Stop & Shop (Rockaway Park)supermarket

  Second full supermarket at 112-15 Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park, near the western surf blocks — convenient if you're staying around Beach 108th–116th. Pharmacy and gas on-site.

• Bodegas & delis (Rockaway Beach Blvd / Beach 90s)minimart

  Block-by-block corner delis and bodegas line Rockaway Beach Blvd through the Beach 80s–100s for coffee, sandwiches, water, sunscreen, beer, and snacks within steps of the surf zones — the everyday between-sessions stop.

Surf shops & rentals

• Boarders Surf Shopboard rentalboard saleswetsuitslessonswaxleashesfinsding repairapparel~$25–40/day board; wetsuit rental extra

  The anchor surf shop at Beach 92nd St (192 Beach 92nd St), owned and run by Rockaway locals — board and wetsuit rentals, sales, lessons, and a back room with lockers, heated changing rooms and hot showers (clutch in cold-water season). The default rental and gear stop for visitors. Confirm seasonal hours in winter.

• Locals Surf Schoollessonsboard rentallessons ~$80–120 group, more private; board included in lessons

  Long-running Rockaway surf school running group and private lessons on the designated surf beaches, with gear included — the easy way for first-timers off the train to get in the water safely. Bookable online; The Rockaway Hotel front desk can arrange sessions.

• New York Surf Schoollessonsboard rentallessons ~$80–150; board & wetsuit included

  One of NYC's longest-running surf schools, based around Beach 69th St with lessons and summer camps for all levels, board and wetsuit included. A solid alternative lesson provider on the eastern surf blocks.

When you're not surfing

• Boardwalk bike & stroll (Citi Bike)naturefree–$5 (Citi Bike single ride)

  The rebuilt 5.5-mile concrete boardwalk runs the length of the surf zones — ideal for a flat-day bike along the Atlantic. Citi Bike docks dot the strip; bring your own or grab a single ride.

• Jacob Riis Park & Bathhouseculturefree (beach); food/drink extra

  Historic art-deco bathhouse and wide federal beach at the western end of the peninsula, with a summer food-and-bar concession scene. A short bike or drive west — note parts of the far-western beach have access restrictions, so heed posted closures.

• Fort Tildennaturefree

  A decommissioned army fort turned wild, dune-backed federal beach and nature trails just west of Riis — quieter and rawer than the developed Rockaway strip. Great flat-day hike; no lifeguards, so swim/surf with care.

• A-train day trip into Manhattan/Brooklynculture$3.00 each way

  Rockaway's superpower: the A train puts the rest of NYC within reach on a flat day. You can surf in the morning and be in lower Manhattan or Brooklyn by lunch — no other US surf spot offers this.

• The Rockaway Hotel rooftop & spawellness$ (drinks/spa)

  Rooftop bar with ocean views and a spa with sauna at Beach 108th — the obvious unwind after cold-water sessions, open to non-guests for food/drink. A civilized counterpoint to the boardwalk taco stands.

• Surfing the Beach 67th St jetty (eastern peak)waterfree

  The other main jetty break, in the Beach 67–70 designated surf zone toward Arverne — often less crowded than the 90s and a good alternative on a busy day. Same swell rules apply; check which blocks are open before paddling out.

Practical notes

Know before you go — United States

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-17. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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