Sunken Meadow State Park

Sunken Meadow faces Long Island Sound rather than the ocean, with about three miles of beach, a three-quarter-mile boardwalk and views across the water to Connecticut. Lifeguarded swimming runs at the Main Beach off Field 1 and the East Beach off Field 3 from late May into September. The East Beach drops to weekends only after Labor Day, so check the posted hours for a late-season swim.

Directions

Photo: Dougtone · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 75/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 20°C, wind 30 km/h, waves 0.7 m, UV 2. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: New York State park on Long Island's North Shore, reached by the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
Parking & transport: Vehicle use fee of $10 per car from May 23 to September 11, 2026 and $8 on spring and fall weekends and holidays.
Lifeguards: 2026 guarded swimming: Main Beach (Field 1) May 23 to September 20, daily; East Beach (Field 3) daily May 23 to September 7, then weekends to September 20. Hours are roughly 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., longer on summer weekends at Field 1.
Water quality: Suffolk County Department of Health Services monitors bathing beaches, including Long Island Sound beaches, from May through September and issues advisories around heavy rainfall.
Season: Late May through September 20 (2026 schedule).
Facilities: Three-quarter-mile boardwalk · Playgrounds · Nature center

Sources: parks.ny.gov, en.wikipedia.org, suffolkcountyny.gov