Long Island
Long Island runs east from New York City and offers ocean beaches, the Hamptons on the South Fork and wineries on the North Fork.
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Long Island is in New York State, east of New York City. The South Fork has the Hamptons, with sandy beaches and village shops. The North Fork is farm country with vineyards and tasting rooms. On the South Shore, Jones Beach State Park has a long ocean beach. Fire Island, a narrow barrier island off the south coast, is reached by ferry.
Most trips are beach days, wine weekends, or both. Summer is the busiest season for beaches and rentals, and traffic builds on summer weekends, so leave extra time for driving. Plan at least a weekend to see one end of the island. The South Fork and North Fork are a long drive apart, so pick one for beaches or one for wine rather than trying both on a short trip. Early fall is a good time for wine country, when the grape harvest is underway.
Long Island in five
- Beat the weekend trafficOn summer Fridays and Sunday evenings, the roads east are slow. Travel midweek or take the train.New York City
- Take the Long Island Rail Road to towns on the lineThe LIRR runs from Penn Station and Grand Central to many towns, including Montauk and Greenport, with transfers. Check the schedule before you book.
- Use the ferry for Fire IslandMost of Fire Island is car-free and reached by ferries from Bay Shore, Sayville or Patchogue in season. Check timetables and last boats.
- Visit North Fork wineries on a weekdayTasting rooms are quieter on weekdays. Pick a designated driver or book a tour, and check each winery's reservation policy.
- Book summer stays earlyBeach towns fill July to August and weekends cost more. Compare bases before you book, and consider shoulder months.
Things to do in Long Island
See all attractions in Long Island
Need to know
- Airport
- JFK and LaGuardia (in Queens) and MacArthur (ISP) on Long Island
- Getting there
- LIRR from Penn Station or Grand Central; or drive
- Getting around
- A car for wineries and beaches; LIRR and ferries for some towns
- Best base
- Hamptons for beaches, Greenport for the North Fork
- Time needed
- 1 day from New York City; 2–3 days to stay
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-1°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°ThawMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Spring, quietAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Beach season startsMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season starts
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, busyJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Peak beach seasonJulyRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak beach season
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Peak, stormsAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, storms
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Warm, quieterSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Harvest, wineOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, wine
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cool, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberRain11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Cold, holidaysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, holidays
Average daily high and low in Long Island, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Long Island
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Long Island
05:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°6°1%Monday: Clear. High 19°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue19°7°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed20°11°3%Wednesday: Fog. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu21°15°52%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Fri22°17°62%Friday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 62%.
- Sat18°10°50%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 50%.
- Sun14°9°14%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 04:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- SepFeast of San GennaroNew York City, a day trip
Day trips by train
- New York Cityabout 1–2 hours by LIRRThe city is the usual start and end of a Long Island trip.Read the guide
- Montaukabout 3 hours by LIRR or carLighthouse, beaches and seafood. A long day, so consider staying overnight.
- Fire Islandferry from the south shoreCar-free beaches and boardwalks; book a ferry and a return.
Before you go to Long Island
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Long Island, checked
- Travelers from visa waiver countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and check the current fee there.Source
- Declare food, plants and goods above the duty-free allowance on your customs form at arrival. Check current limits on the CBP travel page.Source
- Tipping is expected in restaurants and taxis, and for bag handling. Tip in cash or on the card at payment.
- New York State bans smoking in restaurants, bars and most indoor public places. Some Long Island towns set stricter rules for parks and beaches, so check locally.
Plan around Long Island
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideNew YorkThe city and the starting point for most trips
Read the guideHudson ValleyRiver towns north of the city
Read the guideCape CodAnother beach coast to the northeast
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it, the fee and how to apply
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover for visitors to the US
Read the guideLong Island FAQ
How many days do you need on Long Island?
A day covers a beach or a wine tasting. Two to three days lets you combine the Hamptons, the North Fork and a beach.
Do you need a car on Long Island?
Yes for the North Fork and for most beaches. You can reach some towns by LIRR, and Fire Island by ferry, but a car gives the most freedom.
Is Long Island worth visiting?
Yes, for beaches, wine and a quieter pace close to New York. It is best from late May to September, and summer weekends are busy.
When is the best time to visit Long Island?
June to September for beaches, and September to October for wine and fewer crowds. Winter is quiet and many seasonal places close.
Is Long Island the same as New York City?
No. New York City's Brooklyn and Queens sit at the west end of the island, but most visitors mean Nassau and Suffolk counties and the beaches and wineries to the east.