Surf Travel Guide: Montauk, Long Island, NY

Montauk sits at the far tip of Long Island, the last stop on the train and the last beach before open Atlantic, where a handful of named breaks have been pulling New York City surfers out to the end of the world since the 1960s.

Why Montauk?

Montauk is the Northeast's best known surf town, a working fishing port with a lighthouse on one end and a lineup of distinct, nameable breaks on the other. It has the rare mix of a real town (bars, motels, a train station) sitting a short walk from a wave that regularly makes international surf media during hurricane season.

→ The best swells are generated by fall hurricanes tracking up the Atlantic, with a secondary season running through winter on steady groundswell and offshore northwest wind.

↳ That same hurricane swell is what turns Turtle Cove from a gentle wedge into a hollow, serious wave, so check the forecast closely before paddling out on a big day.

Getting There & Getting Around

Fly into John F. Kennedy (JFK) or LaGuardia (LGA), then drive or train out to the South Fork.
→ By car, Montauk is about 2.5 to 3 hours from New York City without traffic, though summer weekend traffic through the Hamptons towns can stretch that closer to 5 hours.
↳ By LIRR train from Penn Station or Jamaica, the ride to Montauk, the line's final stop, takes about 3 hours. Summer weekend trains get very crowded.
A car is the easiest way to reach Ditch Plains, Turtle Cove and Camp Hero, which are spread along several miles of headland. A bike works for Ditch Plains alone if you are staying in town.

When to Surf (and Stay Safe)

Fall through winter is Montauk's real season, when southeast to southwest swells line up with offshore wind. Hurricane season, roughly August through October, can deliver the biggest and most consistent waves of the year, though it also draws the biggest crowds to Ditch Plains. Water temperature drops into the 40s Fahrenheit by midwinter, so plan on a 5/3mm wetsuit with hood, gloves and booties from November through April, and respect the real risk of hypothermia if you are not dressed for it.

Montauk's hazards are straightforward but serious: rocky reef and jetty rock at Ditch Plains, exposed cliffs and closeout sets at Camp Hero, and sharks, which are a genuine summer presence on this stretch of coast from roughly June through September. Local surf shops and lifeguards (on duty at Ditch Plains from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9am to 5pm) are the best source for current conditions.

Surf Breaks

Ditch Plains: Montauk's most famous and most crowded break, a peeling right off a jetty with a rock and sand bottom, good for longboards in summer and shortboards on bigger winter swell.
Wave: Peaky, playful, consistent, can hold real size on a hurricane swell.
Level: Intermediate.
Turtle Cove (Turtles): One of the last surfable points on the Montauk headland, a wedging wave that can be ridden left or right and gets hollow when a hurricane swell meets a clean northeast wind.
Wave: Wedging, can get hollow, bigger and more serious than Ditch Plains.
Level: Advanced.
Camp Hero: Reef breaks on the state park headland near Montauk Point, working both directions on a southeast swell, with closeouts common when it is large.
Wave: Reef break, fewer people than the town breaks, rugged cliff access.
Level: Advanced.

Where to Stay (Hotels)

→ Downtown Montauk puts you within walking distance of Surf Lodge, the docks and most restaurants. Prices below are approximate, in US dollars, seen October 2026.

Budget ($)

Ocean Surf Resort, Downtown Montauk (from about $129 per night, seen October 2026)
A straightforward motel-style stay a short walk from town and Kirk Park Beach, with rates climbing fast on summer weekends.

Mid Range ($$)

Montauk Blue Hotel, Downtown Montauk (from about $186 per night, seen October 2026)
A renovated motel with a pool, walkable to restaurants and a short drive from Ditch Plains.

Beachfront ($$$)

Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, Montauk (from about $359 per night, seen October 2026)
The area's landmark oceanfront resort, with direct access to roughly 2,000 feet of private beach and a full spa, for a trip built around comfort as much as surf.

Food & Drink

Cold Lobster Roll: Shark Bar, 2167 Montauk Highway
→ A cold lobster salad roll on a brioche bun runs about $40, seen October 2026.
Warm Lobster Roll: MTK Lobster House, 716 Montauk Highway, Suite A1
→ The Lighthouse lobster roll, warm butter-cooked lobster meat, also runs about $40, seen October 2026.

Photographing Montauk (Surf Snaps)

Ditch Plains on a good fall day, longboards peeling off the jetty with the lighthouse in the distance, is exactly the kind of session worth shooting and worth having shot. If you spend a morning there with a camera, upload your gallery to Surf Snaps so the surfers in frame can find and buy their own photos. If you were one of the surfers, browse Surf Snaps for shots from your session, starting at $8, no account needed to look.

FAQ: Surfing Montauk

Is Montauk good for beginners?

Ditch Plains on a small summer day is the most forgiving option, often used for lessons, but Turtle Cove and Camp Hero are better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers who can handle a hollower, more serious wave.

When is the best time to surf Montauk?

Fall through winter, when southeast to southwest swells line up with offshore wind. Hurricane season, roughly August through October, often brings the year's biggest and most consistent swell.

Are there sharks in Montauk?

Yes. Sharks are a real seasonal presence on this stretch of coast, mainly from June through September. Check local advisories and avoid surfing alone or at dawn and dusk during that window.

How do I get to Montauk without a car?

The LIRR runs direct from Penn Station or Jamaica to Montauk, the line's final stop, in about 3 hours. You will still want a bike or occasional taxi to reach breaks outside of town.

Where can I find photos of my Montauk session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date to see if a photographer caught your wave at Ditch Plains or elsewhere on the point.

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Keep exploring with the rest of this series and our other surf travel guides.