How to get to Jacob Riis Beach: Beach Day Trip from NYC

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If you’re wondering how to get to Jacob Riis Beach, keep reading! Below is a guide on how to get to this popular NYC beach and what is available when you arrive. I’ve included plenty of tips to help plan the perfect NYC day trip.

About the Rockaways + Jacob Riis Beach

Many people are not aware of the beaches right here in NYC. The Rockaway Peninsula or the Rockaways are the most popular spots that city dwellers flock to in the summer. The peninsula is divide into 9 neighbourhoods and is in part of the borough of Queens, within Jamaica Bay. Jacob Riis Beach is located at the end of the peninsula and is known as “The People’s Beach.” It is currently run by the National Park Service and is a sandy beach with an Art Deco Bathhouse.

How to get to Jacob Riis Beach

Address: 157 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Park, NY 11694

When deciding how to get to Jacob Riis Beach you have multiple options to consider.

NYC Ferry
Bus/Subway
Drive

NYC Ferry: How to get to get there from New York City

You can take the NYC Ferry from Wall Street Pier 11 or Sunset Park in Brooklyn. The cost is $2.75 each way. Tickets can be purchased through their app or at the dispensers at the ferry station.

Look for the sign to the purple Rockaway line. The journey from here to Rockaway ferry stop is under an hour. If the weather is nice(which I hope it will be on a beach day) you won’t even notice the time! You can sit on the top of the ferry and take in the sights. There are bathrooms on the ferry as well as a little bar with beverages and snacks to purchase.

When you walk off the dock on arrival, there will be a free shuttle waiting to take you down to Jacob Riis. There are two which will go in opposite directions, so make sure you get on the one going to West Rockaway. If you want to go to Rockaway Beach and not Jacob Riis you can just walk from here.

Subway/Bus: How to get there from Manhattan

Take the 2 line to Flatbush Avenue, then take the Q35 bus to Jacob Riis Park OR A line to Broad Channel, transfer to the S to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street then the Q22 bus to Jacob Riis Park. This should take about an hour and half depending on where you are leaving from.

Drive

If you have a car you can drive right to the beach. Parking is available at $10 per day or $20 for oversized vehicles or $135 for a season parking pass.

Amenities at The People’s Beach

Facilities

Spray showers
Umbrellas and chairs to rent
Bathrooms
Water fountains
Shops with beach wear, boogie boards, jewellery and more.

Lido Beach Butlers

Arrive at Jacob Riis Beach with everything already set up for you. You can reserve luxury beach cabanas, sunshades, and umbrellas along with extra items like beach chairs, kids cabanas, ice coolers, beach games and more. The set up was just perfect, I felt like I was on vacation!

Activities at Jacob Riis Park + The Rockaways

Mini Golf
Riis Park Golf Course
Playgrounds
Bike Rental
Walks through decommissioned military installations at Fort Tilden
Nature walks at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Rockaway Jet Ski
American Princess Cruises
Boarder’s Surf Shop + Breakwater Surf Shop
Sail Rockaway
Hot Yoga Rockaway Beach

Food and Drink at the People’s Beach

Jacob Riis Park Beach Bazaar

Location: 16702 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Queens, NY 11694

Hours: Open at 11am 7 days a week, Memorial day thru Labor Day

Jacob Riis Bazaar has taken over much of the boardwalk and offers a variety of food and drink options. Rockaway Clam Bar, The Meatup Grill, Ample Hills Creamery and more!

Of course you can always bring your own snacks if you prefer!

: fish tacos, Rockaway Clam Bar

Stay Overnight

Camp Rockaway

Contact: Info@camprockaway.com

Camp Rockway is a glamping site directly behind the Jacob Riis Art Deco Bathhouse. The tents are fully furnished with beds, pillows, linens and even a cell phone charging station! It’s perfect if you want to be as close as possible to the beach and want to catch a sunrise surf.