Rockaway Beach – New York
Rockaway Beach, New York (Queens), United States
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: January–March, September–December
Rockaway Beach runs along a narrow barrier peninsula in Queens, facing south into the Atlantic. Rock jetties every few blocks hold sandbars in place, and the designated surfing beaches, such as Beach 90th and Beach 67th Street, offer peaks for all levels. The best waves come from hurricane swells in late summer and autumn and from winter storms, with northerly winds blowing offshore.
In the lifeguard season, surfing is allowed only at the designated surf beaches. The water is cold from November to May, when a thick wetsuit, boots and gloves are needed. Rip currents form along the jetties, and the rocks themselves are a hazard on bigger days. The beach is reachable by the A subway train and the ferry, and it gets busy on summer weekends.
Spots near Rockaway Beach – New York
- Montauk (168 km)
- Newport, Rhode Island – Narragansett Bay (231 km)