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Frequently Asked Questions
Transportation to & on Long Island
Back to Top of ListHow do you get to Long Island?
For air travel, the best way to get to Long Island is to fly into MacArthur Airport (ISP), which will put you in the middle of Long Island, New York. Air travel is also available through John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) Airports in Queens, a borough of New York City. Long Island is also accessible via the Long Island Rail Road, Ferry Service or by road.
How do I get to Long Island from the airport?
To arrive at Long Island after the airport, either drive by car or rideshare service or take the JFK AirTrain connecting the airport to the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica Station for service to Long Island.
Can you get to Long Island by ferry?
Long Island is served by two year-round ferry lines that cross the Long Island Sound, connecting Port Jefferson to Bridgeport and connecting New London and Orient Point. You can also travel between the North Fork and the South Fork of Long Island through Shelter Island via two short ferry rides at Greenport or North Haven.
How long does it take to drive from one end of Long Island to the other?
At 118 miles in length, it can take two to three hours without traffic to travel from Nassau County on the west end of Long Island to Montauk on the east end.
Can you take the subway to Long Island?
New York subway lines do not connect directly to Long Island. Take the subway to Penn Station to arrive at one of the 124 Long Island stops.
How many LIRR stations are on Long Island?
There are 124 Long Island Rail Road connections across Long Island.
How long does it take to get to Long Island from New York City?
The total driving time from Manhattan, New York to Long Island, New York takes about 1 hour of driving to travel 47 miles into Long Island
What train goes to Long Island?
The Long Island Rail Road services New York City to Long Island with the Babylon, Hempstead, Long Beach, Montauk, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Port Washington, Ronkonkoma and West Hempstead Branches.
What airlines fly into Long Island?
Long Island MacArthur Airport flies into Islip and is serviced directly by Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Breeze Airways.
Which airport is closest to Long Island?
Long Island MacArthur Airport lands you directly to the region in Islip. Long Island is also easily accessible domestically and internationally through LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports.
What airport do you fly into for Long Island NY?
Long Island is accessible through Long Island MacArthur Airport, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia Airports in Queens and Newark Airport (EWR) in New Jersey.
What airport do you fly to get to the Hamptons?
Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip is the closest airport to the various areas of the Hamptons. East Hampton Airport is available for public use for helicopters, private jets and seaplanes.
Is UBER available on Long Island?
UBER, Lyft and other rideshare services are available throughout Long Island.
Is Lyft available on Long Island?
Lyft, UBER and other rideshare services are available throughout Long Island.
Is there public transportation on Long Island?
Long Island is serviced by the Suffolk County Transit and the Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) for public bus transportation to attractions and towns.
How long is each ferry ride to Shelter Island?
When traveling from the South Fork at Sag Harbor, take the South Ferry Company to Shelter Island for a 15 – 20-minute ride. When traveling from the North Fork at Greenport, take the North Ferry company to Shelter Island for a 15- 20-minute ride.
How long is the ferry ride to Fire Island?
It is a 20 – 30-minute ferry ride to Fire Island on the Bay Shore, Sayville and Patchogue routes.
Are there packages with the Long Island Rail Road?
Yes, the Long Island Rail Road offers overnight and day pass trips to Long Island.
Long Island Towns & Regions
Back to Top of ListWhat is considered part of Long Island?
The central and eastern portions of the Island containing Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Shelter Island and Fire Island. Brooklyn and Queens are geographically on Long Island but are most often referred to as a borough of New York City. However, colloquial usage of the term “Long Island” usually refers to Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
How do you get to Fire Island?
Fire Island is a car-free island and is accessible by private boat or ferry. Ferries run regularly during season (Memorial Day – Labor Day) from Bay Shore to the West End, Sayville to the East End and Patchogue to Davis Park and Watch Hill.
What are the towns of Fire Island?
Fire Island consists of 17 unique resort communities including private homes and overnight accommodations. Top destinations include Ocean Beach and two internationally known LGBTQ+ resort communities, The Pines and Cherry Grove.
What is Fire Island?
Fire Island is part of Long Island, comprising of 17 unique resort communities including private homes and overnight accommodations.
What are Long Island downtowns to visit?
Long Island has many main streets and downtowns for dining and shopping. These include Babylon, Huntington, Port Jefferson, East Hampton, Farmingdale, Greenport, Patchogue, Northport and Bay Shore.
What is the Gold Coast of Long Island?
The Gold Coast of Long Island inspired Scott F. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The Gold Coast is on the North Shore comprising of 13 mansions open to the public for tours and events.
What is Long Island’s Wine Country?
Long Island’s Wine Country is on the North Fork of eastern Long Island which has over 60 wineries, breweries and distilleries.
How many towns are on Long Island?
There are two cities and 13 townships (as well as two Indian reservations) in the bi-counties of Nassau and Suffolk, and the 13 townships (3 in Nassau and 10 in Suffolk) are further sub-divided into 96 villages (municipal corporations) and 195 hamlets (unincorporated areas), yielding 293 communities.
What is the biggest town on Long Island?
Long Beach is located in Nassau County off Long Island’s South Shore is Long Island’s biggest town.
What is the North Shore?
The North Shore of Long Island is the area along the northern coast of New York’s Long Island bordering Long Island Sound, known for its wealth and lavish estates.
What is the South Shore?
The South Shore of Long Island is the area along Long Island’s Atlantic Ocean shoreline, known for its white sand beaches.
What is the South Fork?
The South Fork of Long Island is a peninsula in the southeastern section of Suffolk County on the South Shore comprising of the towns and villages of The Hamptons and Montauk, known for its beaches and celebrity homes.
What is the North Fork?
The North Fork of Long Island is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeastern section of Suffolk Country on the North Shore, known for its many vineyards and farms.
What is the East End of Long Island?
The East End of Long Island includes the areas of the North Fork and the South Fork including The Hamptons and Montauk.
Is Long Island and Long Island City the same?
Long Island and Long Island City are not the same. Long Island City is a residential neighborhood along the East River in Queens. Long Island represents mainly Suffolk County and Nassau County and geographically includes the New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn.
Long Island Beaches
Back to Top of ListDoes Long Island have beaches?
Long Island is bordered by 120-miles of coastline and famous for white sand beaches, fishing, kayaking and more water sport activities.
What beaches are free on Long Island?
Long Island public beaches can be accessed for free after Labor Day and before Memorial Day. There is a cost in-season of $10 per vehicle at Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park collected 6am-6pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays and collected between 8am-4pm Monday through Friday.
What beaches are open to the public?
Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Heckscher State Park, Wildwood State Park, Orient Beach State Park, Hither Hills State Park, Cupsogue Beach
What is there to do at Jones Beach?
Jones Beach State Park includes 6.5 miles of white-sand beach, fishing, surfing, playgrounds, swimming pool, visitor center, food court, gift shop, golf, marina, nature center, showers, WildPlay Element Parks, Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Gatsby on the Ocean Catering & Dining, two-mile boardwalk, picnic areas, bandshell for live music, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and paddleball courts are also available.
How big is Jones Beach State Park?
Jones Beach State Park comprises of 6.5 miles of white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean of Long Island’s South Shore and is made up of over 2,400 acres of maritime environment. There are six fields for beachgoers to park at and visit.
What is there to do at Robert Moses Beach?
Robert Moses Beach includes five fields totaling 5 miles of beach. Fishing, an 18-hole golf course is available at Field 2, food court, marina, playgrounds, showers and surfing are also available.
How do you get to Fire Island from Robert Moses State Park?
Robert Moses Field 5 is the public getaway to Fire Island. Take a 3/4-mile nature walk that leads directly to the Fire Island Lighthouse and the Fire Island towns of Kismet and Saltaire.
How big is Robert Moses State Park?
Robert Moses State Park is an 875-acre state park located on the South Shore of Suffolk County on Long Island. The park lies on the western end of Fire Island, beach goers can walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse and mainland of Fire Island from Robert Moses State Park.
What is there to do at Sunken Meadow?
Sunken Meadow State Park is on the North Shore of Long Island. Here, you can swim, bike or walk the boardwalk, picnic, play on the playground or hike the bluffs.
How big is Sunken Meadow State Park?
Sunken Meadow State Park is a 1,287-acre state park located in the Town of Smithtown on the North Shore of Long Island.
Why is Cooper’s Beach famous?
Cooper’s Beach is a public beach located in Southampton and often ranks in America’s top 10 beaches list. Cooper’s Beach's scenic background includes large sand dunes covered in beach grass paired with extravagant mansions further in the distance. Amenities include lifeguards, beach showers, picnic tables, snack bar serving lunch and drinks, umbrella and chair rentals.
What is the best beach on Long Island?
The most popular Long Island beaches include Robert Moses State Park, Jones Beach State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Long Beach, Cupsogue Beach and Cooper’s Beach.
How old is Jones Beach?
Jones Beach opened in 1929 and receives six to eight million visitors per year.
Do you have to pay to get into Long Island beaches?
Long Island public beaches can be accessed for free after Labor Day and before Memorial Day. There is a cost in-season of $10 per vehicle at Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park collected 6am-6pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays and collected between 8am-4pm Monday through Friday. Public township beaches including The Hamptons and Tobay Beach can be accessed through a higher cost visitor pass.
What time do Long Island beaches close?
Long Island beach access ends at sundown. Some beaches allow for camping, walks on the boardwalk and fishing.
What is the best beach in the Hamptons?
Cupsogue Beach, Tiana Beach, Ponquogue Beach, Cooper’s Beach, Shinnecock East County Park, East Hampton Main Beach and Meschutt Beach.
Long Island History
Back to Top of ListWhat is Long Island known for?
Long Island is a year-round destination with easy access to New York City and diverse attractions from the famed beaches of the Hamptons, Fire Island and Jones Beach to historic Gold Coast Mansions, award-winning vineyards, boutique shopping and charming downtowns.
How many lighthouses are on Long Island?
There are over 25 lighthouses on Long Island including the iconic Fire Island Lighthouse and Montauk Point Lighthouse.
Can you go up in the Montauk Lighthouse on tour?
Yes, the Montauk Lighthouse is open for tours between May and November. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children, climb 137 steps to the top.
What celebrities are from Long Island?
A number of actors, musicians, artists and other famous names were born and raised on Long Island. Some major names include Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Alec Baldwin, Lindsay Lohan, Pat Benatar, Billy Crystal, Ashanti and Dee Snider.
What food is Long Island best known for?
Long Island is best known for pizza, oysters, Peconic Bay scallops, rosé wine and lobster rolls.
Does Long Island have good seafood?
Long Island’s rich maritime and agricultural heritage spans more than 400 years. The region is shaped by 120 miles of coastline. Shellfish aquaculture is one of New York State’s oldest industries. Long Island’s docks, marinas, ports and fisheries provide sustainable fresh fish sources that feed people regionally and afar.
Long Island Castles & Mansions
Back to Top of ListCan you sleep at Oheka Castle?
Yes, you can stay overnight at Oheka Castle. There are 32 unique guestrooms and suites.
Where is the "Blank Space" mansion in Taylor Swift’s music video?
The "Blank Space" music video was shot at Oheka Castle in Huntington on Long Island’s North Shore.
Where is the mansion used in Royal Pains?
Oheka Castle in Huntington on Long Island’s North Shore served as the mansion Shadow Pond in the television show Royal Pains.
What is The Great Gatsby inspired by?
The Great Gatsby was inspired by the mansions on Long Island's Gold Coast that were built in the early 20th Century.
What was filmed at Old Westbury Gardens?
Hitch, American Gangster and Cruel Intentions have been filmed at Old Westbury Gardens.
What are the mansions at Sands Point Preserve?
Tours are available of the Hempstead House and Falaise at Sands Point Preserve. The other mansion on property is Castle Gould modeled after Ireland’s Kilkenny Castle.
Long Island Vineyards & Wineries
Back to Top of ListHow many vineyards are on Long Island?
Long Island Wine Country is home to over 60 award-winning vineyards and tasting rooms.
Are Long Island wineries open in the winter?
Yes, Long Island wineries are open year-round for indoor and outdoor tastings and tours.
What is Long Island’s Wine Country?
The North Fork of Long Island is often referred to as Wine Country.
Long Island Weather
Back to Top of ListWhen is the warmest month on Long Island?
July is the warmest month on Long Island.
Does it snow on Long Island?
Yes, it snows on Long Island during the winter season. Long Island experiences less snow than most places in New York State. Most Long Island snow totals about an inch while snowstorms occur a few times a year. Average yearly snowfall ranges from 20 – 35 inches.
When is Long Island’s summer season?
Long Island experiences warmest temperatures between May and September.
When is Long Island’s winter season?
Long Island experiences coldest temperatures between December and February.
How cold does it get on Long Island?
The low temperature on Long Island averages 25°F.
How hot does it get on Long Island?
The high temperature on Long Island averages 85°F.
Long Island Sports
Back to Top of ListAre there any professional sport teams on Long Island?
The New York Islanders is Long Island’s professional NHL team, the Long Island Ducks is Long Island’s minor league baseball team, the Long Island Nets are Long Island’s G League basketball team and the Long Island Rough Riders and New York Cosmos are Long Island’s professional soccer teams.
