Robert Moses State Park Reviews

4.5

1 of 19 Best Attractions in Fire Island


Reviews

Back to my childhood beach

By Bee9876 |

I spent just about every summer here during my childhood in the 70s and 80s. This is a very nice beach, especially for the Northeast region of the States. There are parts of the sand with broken shells, but there are also parts where the sand is very smooth. It's a nice gathering place for the whole family. It was crowded on a Tuesday, but it is large enough to hold a large weekend crowd.

One of my "Very Happy" places!

By M A |

Plain and simple...just a beautiful place to visit any time of year. From the 4WD acces points on Democrat Point or the Sore thumb, to the Fire Island Light House, the whole Robert Moses Park area is just wonderful. Anyone from LI knows this is the place to be (even over the Hapmtons) Easy access via Ocean Parkway from the West, and the Robert Moses Causeway from the north, (just across the iconic Robert Moses Bridge) A must for all people who visit LI. Park @ field 5 and take the beautiful boardwalks to the Lighthouse. Pack a picnic basket with you!

My Summer of Beach!

By Donna C |

I grew up coming here and the thrill will never die for me. We are blessed as Long Islanders to have access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. Bring a chair, sunscreen,a good read and snacks and you're set! I am already looking forward to next summer!

evening picnic

By marc p |

greatest beach on long island period.Wife and I frequently go for after five picnis and sit on the sand watching gods brilliance. the ocean

2nd best beach on Long Island

By jessykaye |

Robert Moses is easy to access, has clean beaches, and a lot of parking. This is the beach we attend the most.

A Beach of Your Own

By Sweetra |

This beach is easily accessible and not crowded. It's the best option if you want to have a piece of the beach to yourself without all the crowds that Jones Beach and Long Beach attract.

great place to read and turnoff

By Random Travelz |

I drive to RMSP quite often; and I always take my camera and a book, some water and snacks. All fields are great. Sunset from the west side of the island is amazing. There is a small boat dock and a covered sitting area next to police station on the right side off the bridge. All fields have big parking spaces; and in offseason these are literally empty. to avoid crowds go in off hours and avoid touristy times. drive down from southern state/sunrise or from long beach is very pretty. Field 5 towards fire island is my top spot. On this side of the light tower there is a wild life preserve. recommended. I have been driving here for years;

Lovely sandy beach, lighthouse and drive

By lv_roadtrip_4evr |

I have waited so long to see a good beach in NY, Rye beach is a sore sore disappointment. Fire island is a delightful surprise. Great facilities, nice and long sandy beach.

The restroom could have had more rounds of cleaning.

Really great for families

By drp1270 |

Visited here in July of 2015 and enjoyed every minute. While there were a lot of people there it was not so crowded that we could not find a spot to sit and enjoy. We are a family with a small child and there were a lot of other families there (i.e not a skinfest). There is a lifeguard on duty as well. This beach has more pretty sand and sand dunes than other places up into the Hamptons (more stoney). We walked along the boardwalk and visited the beautiful lighthouse. We spoke with several volunteers there and they were all very nice and helpful. We will definitely return!

Beach Day in LI

By BrooklynSun |

Great beach for the family. White sands and high waves. Parking will cost you $10 but the cost puts you right on the beach. Small shop near the fields for beach gear, umbrellas, and food. Look out for the Good Humor guy also.

Very nice

By Jake23 |

Overall, we spent a great couple hours at Robert Moses. The beach was not too crowded and the water was very warm. The crowd at the beach was very respectful. The beach itself was clean, but was noticed some trash in the water. Mainly plastic bags etc. That being said it was still a great experience. There was bathrooms and showers for the public as well. Parking is $10, just a FYI.

Close by the Lighthouse

By seafare74 |

Robert Moses State Beach is just a short walk from the Lighthouse. During our visit the beach was not crowded and we enjoyed the area very much.

By Mark R |

Long island has so much to offer and Robert Moses State park is just one example. The east end beach parking lot has a beautiful nature trail on a beautiful wooden walkway surrounded by nature and wildlife including deer

By Thomas K |

I grew up here and it is the same as when I was young. Great beach, a lot of it, clean nice sand. The water is always refreshing but seems warm once you are in. They have a snack bar, chairs and umbrellas for rent, and basic shower facilities. Look at the different open sections (lots) to look for which one is less crowded before entering. Visit the lighthouse while you are there.

November Sky

By mountainrevin |

It was a long week, we both finished work early and we both needed to relax.
After a bit of throwing ideas back forth we walked out the door, looked up at the sky which looked as if a storm was brewing and said how bout walking at the beach? Being on Long Island we have many choices of beaches to visit so to we packed ourselves up in the truck and took the half hour drive to the south shore.
During our drive the cloud cover behind us was getting darker but clear skies were still prevalent as we crossed the Robert Moses Causeway.
We started our walk and the dredgers were still working on the west end of the beach so we walked in the opposite direction to avoid the big equipment on the beach. We wind picked up a bit as we walked across the sandy beach collecting beautiful moon shells and stones. As we turned to go back to the truck the sky was beautiful as the sun was setting and in the distance you could see the storm moving across the island. We watched the piping plovers, seagulls and waves as the sun was sinking behind the horizon. The wonders of nature and we got to take home gifts from the sea.
The half hour drive was well worth it and relaxing. After the sun set we sat in the truck watching the beacon from the Fire Island lighthouse as it began to rain. The storm arrived and the lightening began to light up the skies which is such a different experience because the open space allows you to see so many different views.
It was finally time to return home before rush hour got too bad and we would be stuck in traffic for an eternity. What a way to slow down and close out a long week.

The beaches year round have a great deal to offer: wildlife, beautiful views, open spaces to enjoy, shell & rock collecting, lighthouses.......... We all need to relax, enjoy and preserve nature.

Fun day trip!

By Natasha C |

First time visiting this beach. Went to Field 2 with my family, 5 adults and 6 kids (ages 4-16), on a Sunday. Although we arrived later than we usually would at another beach, we were able to find a spot large enough for us all and close to the shore to watch the children. The beach was very clean and the water was almost as blue as the Caribbean! Bathroom was as clean as any bathroom near water and sand can be. There was a small shop there in case you forgot a beach essential, warning, its pricey. Also pricey, the mediocre burgers sold at the food concession. You're better off bringing your own food. Overall, it was a wonderful place to finally visit. If you want a relaxing day at a clean beach, come here. If you need a boardwalk and multiple activities, visit Coney Island, although I wouldn't recommend swimming in the waters there.

Beach

By Lolly’s Look |

The Robert Moses State Park has a beautiful public beach on the Oceanside. There’s lifeguards, bathrooms and a concession stand for lunch. There’s a small boutique that sells beachwear and themed items.

Worth spending a couple of hours there.

By Paul M |

We were there today. It was cold but very sunny. There's a very large car park, public toilets, a stretch of beach, and a very nice raised wooden pathway that winds through the sand dunes to the lighthouse. Unfortunately, while we were there, we saw people walking their dogs on the wooden pathway and in the park. Pets are strictly forbidden anywhere in the park. There are signs everywhere. But far too many Long Islanders think that rules and regulations don't apply to them. I spoke to one woman who parked her car near ours, put her dog on its leash, and started walking on the wooden pathway to the lighthouse. I shouted across to her that pets are forbidden, but she turned to me and said "I'm just walking to the lighthouse and back" and continued on her way. Such blatant disregard for rules and regulations makes me sick. There's a lot of wild life in the park (including deer), so there's a very good reason why pets aren't allowed. I also wish that dog owners would respect the fact that many people want to walk in the parks without worrying that dogs will jump up at them, as dogs are prone to do. I would have reported the woman to security, but there were no security guards to be found.

This is another bone of contention. It was a Sunday and there were many cars, but no security patrols. This means that people can do what they want, including walking their dogs, without fear of being caught. These people are like irresponsible children. They think it's okay to disregard rules and regulation as long as they don't get caught. And when you say something to them, instead of accepting that they are wrong and apologizing, they get abusive. This has happened to us so many times over the past few years that we're leaving Long Island. Enough is enough.

The lighthouse is worth a visit in its own right. I wouldn't like to go there in the summer, though. It must get very crowded and there must be a lot of insects. Right now is a good time of year to visit, but we won't be going back again. I don't like to spend my free time with irresponsible people who disregards regulations. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Great Beach

By CarrieNY2014 |

We used to go to Jones beach for years. My friends keep telling me Robert Moses is much better, so we tried today. There are four fields, we picked field 3 because there are some rules in this field ( no loud radio, no ball playing, etc. ) I always like to enjoy the breeze with sound of wind and waves, so the rules are really attractive to me. And other things I like is the shower room and change room, and also the distance is very close from parking to the beach, it is good for families with young kids.

NICE BEACH

By RobsJourney |

Great beach to relax and enjoy the sun and the ocean. The beach is very clean and not crowded at all. I do suggest getting there early like 9am as there is only one lane road into and out of the park. the waves are pretty good to body surf or boogie board. There are bathrooms and a place to get some food if you don't bring your own. Expect to hit traffic leaving the beach as like i said before there is only a one lane road into and out of the park. There are several different lots to park in and i have used both field 2 and 3.It only costs $10 a carload. Well worth it.

Beach Day with the Family

By brailinrtapia |

This was my second time at the Beach in Robert Moses State Park Field 2 and I most say I was impressed with something new that really won me over especially when you have small children and the visit at the beach entails bringing an entourage but not of people but of things for the entire family. Once we arrived and got everything out of the car we were ready to embark on the dreadful walk to a good spot on the beach. But, the beach had a surprise , it was a pathway on the beach. This made it so much easier for me to push the stroller with my 9 month old, finally something that helps beach goers move comfortably through the beach and make it to a good spot with out wanting to leave before actually enjoying the beach. This is a beach that you must visit if you are a native of NY or just visiting. #Love this beach #One of my favs

beautiful as a postcard

By abuben |

On Wednesday afternoon, 08/12, our family of four went to the Robert Moses State Park. With seniors on board, we did not pay $10 fee. It was a treat to drive on the causeway, and was rather easy to park on no. 5 lot, which is closest to the lighthouse. We stopped by the beach, which was neither too crowded nor too empty. The water was bit chilly for comfort even under the sun, and the waves were too big for swimming. The sand was fine and smooth, but did not distinguish itself.

What left an impression was two things: the boardwalk and the lighthouse. A narrow boardwalk allows three people to walk abreast, and connects the beach to the lighthouse. It meanders for about one mile amid reed, pine trees, and other bushes. At several points there were benches for one to take a break. On our way, a doe and a fawn walked around. They looked composed, dignified, and graceful. Having reached the lighthouse, built in the mid-19th century, we decided to walk 191 steps to the top. It costs $19. It was not a difficult task, since there were several flights, but if it is crowded, walking may not be pleasant, because only two people can pass each other, and at the two top flights, only one can climb up or down. The view was fabulous. The curator pointed to landmark buildings in Manhattan, but they were on the horizon, and did not impress. But it was very nice to look at the nearby areas. The observation deck was rather windy and narrow, and I feared for height a bit. All staff we met were nice and professional.

One fact interested me. In the past two centuries, the Fire Island has extended five miles westward. Looking back at the lighthouse, I found a scene as beautiful as a postcard. Against the blue sky and while clouds, the black-and-white stripped lighthouse stands tall. The building under it featured red roof, gray walls, and green windows and doors. I recommend this place to everybody.

Best beach in NY

By JogNy |

I previously posted a version of this review, which Trip Advisor somehow directed to the section reviewing the upstate Robert Moses State Park. If it was my mistake, somehow a bunch of other reviewers also mistakenly posted there. I meant to be writing about the one on Long Island. Here is a revised version of what I originally wrote:

If you have the money or the connections to stay in the Hamptons or Fire Island, lucky you. If you don't, there's no better beach in the NY area than Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island. It's about 60 miles from NYC and can be reached by car (traffic is bad on summer weekends) or public transportation (bus and railroad). It's a great day trip (go early if you're driving - the parking lots fill up early). A few accidents this summer on the only bridge into and out of the park have resulted in really bad backups and stalled traffic, for an hour or even two of sitting in the parking lot or on the road. Puts a damper on the end of your nice day. If that doesn't happen, it's a wonderful place to be.

There are concession stands and crummy showers, but the best thing to do is to take the long walk east, several miles if you can manage it, toward the Fire Island communities. Eventually you'll reach some civilization, with restaurants and stores, but along the way there's nothing but a long, great beach, with clean water, some fish and endless sun, sand and sky. (You can also take ferries to various points on the island, but there are no facilities except restaurants and bars.)

There's also the historic Fire Island Lighthouse, which is open for tours (about $5). Climb to the top for an incredible view. There's a boardwalk if you want to avoid the sand, and you'll see lots of birds and the occasional deer or rabbit. Also a golf course, picnic tables, fishing and RV access. There used to be a nude beach, past Field 5, but some of the more conservative and prudish people saw to it that "clothing optional" was discontinued. Still, the ever-resourceful nudists manage to bare as much skin as possible while remaining just inside the legal limit, and their suits. If you walk west, you'll come to the tip of the island, where there is surfing and a different view.

Parking costs $10 but it's worth it (no cars are allowed on the island beyond there). Dollar for dollar and pound for pound, there's no better beach in the NY area, and in recent years, the weather has been warm enough to allow swimming into October.

The reason to live on Long Island

By LongIslandLee |

This beach, no matter which field you park at, is always clean and has beautiful sand and views of the bridge. You can also walk to Kismet , Fire Island. Concession stands serve the typical food and bathrooms are fairly clean considering how much they are used.

New food stand “Yummy” is FRAUDULENT!

By Nvi619 |

Person at the register over charged my CC for double the amount of my initial bill. They also tried to over charge me for water until I questioned it. Didn’t noticed the over charge until following day, they refuse to refund the difference!!!

One of the best beaches in the world

By syzygymfl |

This is our favorite beach on Long Island, and we compare all others in the world against it- with most found wanting. We love it for the white sandy beaches, the great waves and body surfing (on the right days) and once a year I drag the family out on Father's Day to play the little par 3 golf course. The beach houses are useful, can change and shower. It has food and drink but I never use them so can't comment on quality. Park at Field 5 and you can walk to the lighthouse at the Fire Island National Seashore. We also routinely walk to Kismet, where you can grab food and drink at the two restaurants (one a little more upscale, one beach-attire casual - and there is a pizza shack, never tried it).

If you like beaches with lots of amenities this may not be your place, but the access to the beach is much easier than Jones Beach, and it is less crowded, too.

Beach

By Lolly’s Look |

Robert Moses state park is a public beach on the ocean side of Long Island. There are lifeguards, bathroom facilities and a concession stand for drinks and lunch.

Very Lively Beach

By Jenny S |

It was really nice out there. You can spend the whole day hanging around the beach. Full of shells, very nice. Nice walk to the light house too.

One of New York's Most Beautiful Beaches

By Lorna-y-Rolando |

Robert Moses State Park on the barrier island Fire Island is Long Island's best kept secret. It doesn't get the attention of Jones Beach or the famous beaches on the eastern end of Long Island but in natural beauty this place might be the best. Even the drive to the beach on the Robert Moses Causeway is beautiful, passing over several water channels and Captree Island dotted with boats and pretty summer homes.

The place is only about 30 miles from the NYC but it feels a world away, peaceful and totally isolated from the city and congested suburban Long Island. Except for holiday weekends, you will find large patches of beautiful sandy beach all to yourself. The beach is divided by 4 fields (numbered 2 to 5), each with a parking lot and bathhouse with rental facilities. As has been stated in other reviews we also recommend parking in field 5, which is the closet to the Fire Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a beautiful attraction and definitely worth visiting.

We think this might just be the best New York Beach.

By ant c |

A visit to this beach is never complete without a leisurely hike to the Fire Island lighthouse. You'll see it's beacon as you approach the beach parking area. The kids love this summer trek. The path to the lighthouse is easy enough for young and old. A great beach to escape the summer heat!

Love Gate 5

By TravelSomeMFS |

I love Robert Moses, I think it is the best, close to the city beach. II prefer gate 5, but over the holiday weekend I was force to go to Gate 1. Gate 5 seems like there are less kids. Also if you walk far enough there is a nude section, not that I am interested, but for people who are interested. You can get snacks and drinks at the concession stand, which is nice, but I prefer to bring my own.

Clean and absolutely beautiful!

By Eva B |

Robert Moses State Park is one of my favorite in New York! The beach is really beautiful and clean. It is a perfect spot for hot summer weekends. Quite far from the city, but it is worth the drive! The sand its white, clean and there are many shells. Great beach!!!

Nice Beach!

By mychrisemily |

This was our first time here and we had a great time. Beach was crowded but clean. Plenty of lifeguards on duty.

The surf was a little rough and the current strong but still had a good time in the ocean.

There is a snack bar and bathrooms there and you're allowed to bring your own cooler on the beach!

Discovering nice Beaches in New York @ Robert Moses State Park

By brailinrtapia |

Robert Moses State Park offers by my standards one of the nicest and cleanest beaches my family and I have visited in New York. Clean, convenient , accessible and minutes away from the Fire Island Light House. If you want to experience a quite and peaceful beach, this is the place to go. Off course keep in mind that many families go with their children therefore you will witness many kids playing and enjoying this very nice beach.

I never leave Long Island in the Summer............

By Bette Z |

I go to the beach at least 2-3 times a week in the Summer........Robert Moses is one of my favorites!! Unlike some other beaches (Ocean Beach on Fire Island) this is NOT the land of NO!! You are allowed to "play" on the beach whether it is tossing a football, a frisbee it is welcomed! I usually go around 10:30 with my sand chair, towels, and lunch and just sit and enjoy reading and mostly people watching. The lifeguards are great and I feel like I am being watched while in the water! The beach is clean, most people are friendly, I always meet a new friend! My only complaint is the Women's Restrooms, they are pretty gross.......... this is my only negative thing I can offer.

A Return to Robert Moses

By Joseph B |

I grew up on Long Island, but didn't discover Robert Moses until I was a young adult. 27 years ago, I moved to Europe. The Mediterranean has nothing on Long Island, when it comes to beaches. Still only $10 to park, per car. Clean and worth the effort to get here.

Changing and not for the good!

By drafty |

This is supposed to be a quiet beach, however, lots of city people, come in with large crowds and play their music very loud. There are signs that clearly state No radio unless using earbuds but they do not care.

If it weren't for them, I'd give this beach 5 stars, but they ruin it for other beach goers who want to come to the beach and relax.

Fire island day visit

By Skyling |

It was great, not crowded on a Monday and visited the light house. It is just so beautiful , we love it and will be back to visit

"Life's a beach"!!!

By Scott W |

Beautiful sublime "hidden gem" of beaches on the shores of Long Island a stones throw from Fire Island and the Lighthouse. Since you've past Jones beach on the way you will find it less crowded less crazy and more of a demure and serene outing. Water is great and beaches are well kept and clean. For ten bucks for parking you cant go wrong. Pack a cooler with cold beverages and a sandwhich and make a day of it. Robert Moses soothes the soul....

Nice beach but can get very crowded on weekends.

By HughHefner |

Spent three hours here on a Sunday in summer. The beach was packed but there is plenty of parking available for $10. Good amenities and very family oriented with active life guard patrol.
I was told that there is a nude section not too far from the main beach but I had no interest. Some people may prefer that option.
When I went the waves were pretty high and the lifeguards were not allowing people to swim. Still a nice place to relax and the price is cheaper than Coopers beach in the Hamptons.

A day at the beach

By Joe P |

Grandkids are visiting from Texas and one of the highlights of their trips is Robert Moses State Park. Field 5 is our go to beach. It's clean, the water is very nice and it's usually not too crowd. I think it's the best beach on Long Island. They even have a handicap ramp off the boardwalk. The bathrooms and the concession areas were just remodeled. Overall you just can't beat it.

Relaxed atmosphere

By LMR1995 |

Beach access reasonable distance from parking fields. Picnic tables and bar queue pits limited, so plan ahead or head out there early to secure a reasonable spot. If all you care to do is hang on the beach and in the water then no worries. What I love best is that this beach is not super crowded at all.

Beautiful Beach and Lighthouse

By JRod69 |

Visited for the first time. The beach was clean, not crowded, and had plenty of nearby parking. Parking costs $10.00. Not too bad for the quality of the beach. Lifeguards on duty during swimming hours. There are a number of "fields" to choose from. We went to field 5 and it was great. The waves were huge and water pristine. The snack bar is reasonable and has a pretty good selection, including alcohol. There are also people pushing ice cream carts on the beach. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. Showers available to get the sand off.

You can also take a walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse. It's about a mile walk along a boardwalk through the dunes. Very nice walk. Not difficult. Several kids and elderly folks walking to and from the lighthouse when I went. It costs $8.00 for an adult and $4.00 for a kid to climb the lighthouse. Lots of stairs! Great view from the top! On a clear day you can see the Manhattan skyline.

Great Beach for a Long walk

By OritOfir |

Parked in Lot 5 of the beach and walked all the way to Fire Island, was fabulous. Def bring water and food, if you do not plan to walk all the way to fire Island (over an hour) or if you do no plan to sit and eat once you arrive to Fire Island by foot.

By CarpeDiem0626 |

We traveled to Robert Moses State Park on Monday, 6/28/10 expecting crowds. Instead we discovered a beautiful, uncrowded white sand beach. We parked at Field 2 near the pavilion with no trouble at 11am. It is an easy walk to the water with all your gear. The surf was incredible that day, and the lifeguards earned their salary by "rescuing" a few people who appeared caught beyond the biggest breakers. But, if you stayed closer, the water was great. We walked west along the beach and within a short distance it becomes just beautiful beach with no one but you, the surf, the shells and miles of unpopulated beach. What a gem.

Now that is a day at the Beach

By Eric M |

Robert Moses beach is a great place to spend the day sunning and playing in the waves. The water is clean and so is the sand. The people have been pleasant and friendly. Must admit you need to be patient if you have to use the rest rooms as the beach does fill with people. The food concessions are good a bit pricey but the food is what you expect at a beach. Hot dogs burgers fries soda. We packed our own picnic. Please use plastic, broken glass is no fun to step on. One caution, if you go to far umm the beach you might run into nude bathers. may not be legal but it is really enforced.

Great Day at the beach

By John H |

Clean beach, warm water. The sand on this beach is soft and easy on the feet. There is about 70 yards of beach before the water.

My Favorite Beach I'm Obessed With!

By SarahCavelyn |

I go to Kismet and Davis Park way to often and it never gets old! Where to begin...
I have family members that live in Davis Park and we own a beach house next to them! We spend half out summer there. We own a very large boat that we go tubing and catch crabs on! The kids and everyone loves it! People of every age would love this. I remeber the first time I went i was 4 years old and we took a boat to Kismet. We went to an amazing resturant, rent bikes and rode them, caught frogs, went tubing, went fishing, crabbing, and of course go to the beach! Kismet definetly has the best beach in Fire Island. It's the cleanest and least crowded. The waves are amazing and when the tide comes you can probably surf them! There are more than enough lifeguards as well. I'm here right now in our beach house and we're about to take our boat over to Davis Park and go through the forests! If you're every looking for a beachhouse or want to go to a beach in NY, get your butt over to Kismet/Davis Park!! WARNING: DO NOT GO TO CHERRY GROVE! ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN!!!!!!!! Oh and btw you can even walk there from Robert Moses!

Our Summer 'Go To'

By Momof2luvs |

Not a summer has gone by that we've not enjoyed Robert Moses. It's just great to go for a walk, grab a snack, or play with kids. Seek Field 5 for the playground and many, many families. Usually very active!

Seek Field 4 for calmer surroundings. Still family-friendly, though. I don't believe there is a playground at Field 4.

For fitness, take walk on the board walk to the sand to Kismet, FI. It's beautiful. There a nude beach on the way to Kismet, if you turn right on the road before the second section of the boardwalk. (I wish someone had told me beforehand! LOL)

I wish other fields had playgrounds, though. But, I understand the logic against it, I guess. Also, everything is so pricey. Bring your own refreshments! The bathrooms can become so untidy, so watch out. Know before you go;)

My favorite beach on Long Island

By LongIslandGirl |

I’ve been coming to Field 2 and field 5 of Robert Moses since I was a little girl, hence the name LIgirl! I not only had so many memories of my life here, it is my yen place that I go to when I need to regroup, summer, fall or winter. There’s just something about the crashing of the waves and the sand between my toes. Ahh....heaven
The beach draws a big crowd in summer, but it’s so big, t is never an issue. Plenty of parking, decent bathrooms usually, and a food court. GreT way to spend the day

GREAT FAMILY TIME!

By Sue |

Had a great time at Robert Moses State Park. There is an area for restrooms, showers, and a complete cafeteria with average prices. It is worth the trip.

A Great Way To Beat The Summer Heat

By CollegeDadFor2 |

We were staying near the north shore but wanted an affordable place to swim and enjoy the beautiful day. Robert Moses was an easy drive and you can't beat $10 admission per car for the whole day.
A nice beach with a concession stand nearby, and clean restrooms and showers easily available. We are so lucky to have such wonderful state parks in NY!

Whether for a few hour swim, or the whole day with your family, we recommend trying out Robert Moses State Park.

Watch the sun go down

By William T |

Robert Moses field five is probably one of the best beaches on Long Island It is not that crowded during the week but on the weekends it is packed If you go to field five you can walk to the lighthouse and go on the tour . Walk further down and go to the first town kismet

A beautiful beach on Long Island's South Shore

By jlm2053 |

I am a 35-year old Long Island native, who until this summer, had never been to Robert Moses state Park. Somehow, I had always though it and Jones Beach were the same thing. I couldn't have been more wrong. Among other things, the approach to the beach with its two causeways over the water is so beautiful, you almost forget about the traffic. For another thing, this beach is considerably less crowded than Jones Beach.

Pros: Soft sand, relatively small crowds, beautiful water, and few buildings marring the horizon are just some of the many pluses.

Cons: Some minuses include - limited choices, almost all fried, at the concession stand, standard dirty bathrooms, $10 parking (thought that's not too terrible), and a single-lane approach and exit which can lead to serious backups on the causeways.

Bottom line: A pleasant beach that's worth a visit and a good alternative to some of the typically packed beaches of Long Island's South Shore.

nice beach

By Laura L |

went last summer with my boyfriend and his family. it was a nice beach and was crowded as usual in the summer.

My place to relax.

By MoneyD |

I have been coming here since 2001. It was less crowded then, but this beach is still beautiful. It's relaxing and there are private showers and dressing rooms which is a big plus after a hot day. I miss it when summer ends. Also, lots of places to eat close by.
It's my escapism.

Beautiful beach day

By mcguirk193 |

We visited Field 5 Beach at Robert Moses State Park on a recent Friday in August. Got there at 11am - still lots of space in the parking lot, which had traffic cones in every second spot to maintain social distancing. Spent several hours on the beach which was not crowded - a mixed crowd of families, groups of teens, and groups of adults. Everyone was pleasant and maintained more than 10 feet between groups even when it got a bit more crowded in the afternoon, there was some music playing here and there but nothing too obnoxious or persistent. I have to admit I was a bit worried given a review from July that showed a very crowded scene but our day was completely chill (maybe because the beaches have now all been open for while?) Brought a picnic lunch so didn't try the on-site concession, although we did buy some ice cream from the roving Good Humor vendors wheeling charts back and forth along the beach. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained (although the toilet water was yellow for some reason - signs indicated that this was normal), water fountains worked fine (water was perfectly drinkable and NOT yellow).

A little after 3pm they got everyone out of the water due to a shark sighting further west at Field 3, with the lifeguards maintaining a 'no one in the water' policy for an hour to be safe. By that time we were ready to leave anyway, to beat the worst of the traffic back to the city. A lovely day....

Place to cool down

By yapmd |

Arrived on weekend at around 10am, and parking field 3&5 were full. Parked at field 4, and walked 50 yards to get on the beach. The sand was soft, lifeguards on site and the water was 70s. It was fine once you get in! The waves were moderate, and lots of kids and adults were playing in it. Stayed 4 hours, then it was time. No bathroom here, closest was field 3. There was a guy pushing a cart selling ice cream on the beach. Parking was $10 per car.

The Absolute Best

By shaney123 |

Robert Moses is a beautiful beach on the south shore of Long Island. We visit every weekend during the summer. You can buy an Empire Pass for 65 dollars and it includes unlimited admission to all long island state parks. It is a big savings as it costs 10 dollars for a single admission. Go early in the morning and enjoy the solitude and relaxing sound of the waves. They all make great egg sandwiches and hot dogs if you don't have time to pack something.

Walk on the beach

By Mark D |

Amazing place! Wildlife (deer, whales, dolphins) serenity, breathtaking views. The lighthouse is historic. The locals are very friendly!

Robert Moses/Lighthouse Beach/Fire Island – Nudist Beach Update

By TitaniumMonkey |

This is a great beach area and justifiably can get busy; a search of the internet will throw references to both topless and full nudity in certain areas. The following is not official guidelines but hopefully a practical guide to social nudity at Robert Moses State Park/Fire Island:

Beware of internet articles about clothes optional/nudist beaches on Fire island, most were written pre their Feb 2014 ban on public nudity. The current situation is that the genitals must be covered i.e. full nudity is not allowed. However, New York law allows topless sunbathing so that is OK on any of the beaches and as long as you are wearing even the skimpiest of g-strings etc you are good to go on any of the Fire Island beaches. Where the issue becomes more clouded is how much cover is required, the requirement is probably to have solid fabric but in reality even if you wear something sheer (see through) you will probably get away with it so long as from a reasonable distance it appears that you are covered. From various web pages it seems that several sunbathers are adopting this stance and see through g-strings, c-strings etc are being worn by several people all be it if you get close you will still see everything but you would have to make a conscious effort.

I visited on a week day in June 2017; there were several people naked around lunchtime (they were easy to spot due to their wind breakers that fully surrounded them but were only half the normal height with their heads sticking up above like Meer Cats looking around for Park Rangers). The “Meer Cats” started within a 100 yards East of Robert Moses parking Field 5. Later on there were several people who didn’t bother with the windbreaks and just went naked and put a shirt etc over their groin when anyone got close, much of this surprisingly close to the textile crowd by Field 5. Walk up to just past the lighthouse and the beach was near deserted so a much more discrete location to get as close to full nudity as possible or bare all if you are brave enough.

So while there are no longer 1,000’s of people naked near the light house on a sunny weekend, there are many people who are willing to take the risk of being prosecuted for sunbathing naked but they have spread out along the beach. In many ways the ban on social nudity hasn’t stopped it, just reduced the numbers and allowed the location to spread as there is no longer a marked area. Perhaps the best solution would be to have a dedicated (and signed) nudist area so those who are offended could easily avoid or better still, lift the ban (it is after all the “land of the free”?). Sensibly managed, nudist beaches can be a great asset to any beach area as demonstrated by Haulover Beach near Miami, it just takes vision rather than banning!

To clarify, there are currently no cloths optional/nudist beaches on Fire Island but there is still plenty of nude and virtually nude sunbathing going on but you need to be vigilant to avoid prosecution. Be sensible, discreet and look out for Rangers, keep away from the crowds and you should be OK but if caught be prepared for the consequences.

Spectacular beach !!!

By marie s |

How lucky to live within a short distance of this magnificent stretch of beach! I have been enjoying this wonderful barrier island for the last thirty years and every year I realize how lucky I am to have this on an everyday basis. In summer we go early (around 8am) and leave in early afternoon when the crowds increase. You can shower and change your clothes if you wish and the bathroom facilities are good. In the Spring and Fall we spend nice leisurely days here strolling the magnificent shoreline and enjoying nature as it should be. Worth a visit for visitors to our beautiful Island. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world.....

Best Beach

By Chris A |

Robert Moses Beach is closer to the city than Jones Beach and never gets as crowded as Jones Beach. There are several big parking lots, and shows/concessions at each.

Long Island

By Lolly’s Look |

Robert Moses State Park is a beautiful bayfront and oceanfront park. The public beach has lifeguards and changing facilities. The snack bar has the worst food so being your own. But overall it's the perfect spot to be in on a summer day.

Lovely.

By labrahams1989 |

Really nice beaches that are full of many recreational activities including volleyball, surfing and golf. Full of great walks up to the lighthouse. The drive in over the bridges if fantastic offering you panoramic views. Great place to see the sunset.

Crowded

By MichalC0664 |

Beach was clean but crowded Bathrooms could have been in better shape but functional It was a nice day at the beach

Short drive, great beach

By gordonsmc |

About 50 miles drive from Brooklyn, some options to avoid beach traffic going to Jones. Close to 5 miles of beach, dunes cordoned off for protection of shore birds. A part of the beach is accessible for driving, some trucks and RVs, not too many, never had any trouble with those - American flags flying, people are fishing and having beers. Ample parking, especially in the morning. 10$ to get in. Also accessible by LIRR and S-47 Suffolk bus (stops by the lighthouse). Restrooms, food and refreshments (including overpriced beer), and beach shops by each parking lot. Fist aid and lifeguards throughout. Fishing - last time saw folks landing flounders like one a minute, good size too. Wildlife - well, it's kinda meh, gulls mostly, and terns. We did spot some oystercatchers and dolphins last time though. In terms of seashore wildlife Orient Point is my favorite park on LI, but that's 2.5 hours drive one way vs an hour-long lazy drive to Robert Moses.

Enjoying the beach

By Eleanor O |

When my famlly come up from NC, we head for Robert Moses beach, Field 5. The boardwalk is repaired from Hurrican Sandy, and the sand has been replenished. Clean, sparkling water, and the waves came crashing in whilst there. We saw quite a few deer along the roadside, even a fawn. I always love coming to this beach. Can't beat the view. The lighthouse is a short walk away, howevr, the boardwalk there hasn't been repaired yet. A nice walk along the beach, and there you are. Lots of history inside the building.
BTW, if you go to the park after 4pm, no charge for parking, and not too much of a crowd.

Great beach

By Interplanetary Janet |

The beach is iconic. It’s worth the extra drive past Jones Beach. A little more quiet. It’s worth the walk to the firehouse.

Can't wait to go back

By karemore |

I've seen photos and have been wanting to visit for years. We finally made the trip and spent three days enjoying the gorgeous beaches. Robert Moses was our second stop, and we ended up returning on our last day rather than risk going somewhere else that wasn't as great. There was a small gift shop selling everything on clearance as it was end of season. The café was overpriced for us, but we had packed a cooler with all we needed. The restrooms were clean and modern. There was a nice boardwalk along the parking lot to get to different areas of the beach, and a mat rolled from the boardwalk to the lifeguard area if you had a stroller or a beach access wheelchair. There were sunscreen dispensers which was interesting. Water fountains. Plenty of seagulls. It was beautiful, I took dozens of photos. There were no shells to collect and no signs of sea life. The beach was smooth and clear, but the sand was deep and difficult to walk on. The surf was very rough the two days we were there, not good for swimming at all, but we were there for the atmosphere, we swam in our hotel pool. There were surfers and body surfers taking advantage of the bigger waves. The playground area was locked which was odd, but that didn't effect us. We enjoyed walking to the Fire Island Lighthouse while we were here as well.

Great Beach and nearby lighthouse

By Scott |

I visited in May 2021. It wasn't quite Beach season yet, although there were a few people at the beach. This beach has very convenient parking, and nice public bathrooms. Sand is white with flakes of mica. Park here to walk to the fire Island lighthouse. Or, just walk up the beach. I don't recommend the fire Island lighthouse Trail to the North end of the island.

Too crowded in summer with Filthy bathrooms!

By relyongrace |

In the off-seasons, Robert Moses State Park is a very nice, peaceful place to visit. However, during the summer, it's way too crowded for me, and honestly, people are slobs. They mess up the sand with their garbage, and they don't know how to clean up after themselves in the women's bathrooms. Our taxes and admission fees should be used to hire more people to clean the park, but if anyone is caught littering, and there should be more park police watching, they should be fined heavily! We would all like to enjoy a clean park.

Phenomenal Beach

By dnvpaul |

The drive over the bridges to Robert Moses State Park is beautiful. You realize you are really on a narrow island. Even on a major holiday there were many parking spaces available. The sand here is wonderful, very powdery in places. In many areas shells have been washed ashore and polished into little shapes, almost like buttons. The Fire Island light house in the distance is very picturesque. This beach made for excellent outing. We parked in 5 and it was a very short walk to the beach.

Best Beach in Nassau

By blugo |

The beach is clean, the walk to the shore is a hop, skip and jump away from the $10 parking, plenty of lifeguards, waves aren't too strong so its safe for younger kids.

Beautiful beach!

By BrigetteB |

I went here with my sisters and their families. The children range in age from 9 to 25. Everyone had a great time. Field 3 was closed when we got there, but we were able to park at field 2. Just a helpful tip, field 3 has less parking spaces than the other fields. I learned this after we went there and I wish I would have known before because our families were supposed to meet that field 3 initially. The waves are significant, but not overwhelming. There were people surfing. The kids were allowed to boogie board. Swimming has to be done within an area marked off by flags. The lifeguards were attentive. The beach was clean and quiet. It was crowded, but when we went it was a Saturday during a heat wave, so that is to be expected. The bathrooms were close. The enclosed showers are disgusting. There are no shower curtains. The entire area of people can see you shower. There are stalls, but they are wide open. There are separate changing stalls as well, but all are open for everyone to see in which I don't care for. It was $10 to get in without any special town sticker, etc. I would definitely take my family there again.

Nice beach but I prefer Jones and Point Lookout

By Ava J |

Pretty beach at the western edge of Suffolk county. Quieter than Jones and a shorter walk to the Ocean.

Nice beach

By faceofweed |

One of my favorite beaches in the NY metro area. Field 5 is where all the fun is. Parking is only $10 for the whole day as opposed to Long Beach's $15/per person beach fee.

Best beach you can reach by car on Long Island

By Bigfoot410 |

I am not into the Hamptons scene and Montauk is a 2 hour drive away. So when I want a quick visit to the beach Robert Moses is a best bet on Long Island South Shore. Due to weather erosion Field 2's beach is getting larger, while Field 4 & 5 are starting to shrink. My favorite field is 5 since you can also access the boardwalk to the Fire Island Lighthouse and walk further into the town of Kismet for lunch or even quieter beaches. Robert Moses beack gets very crowded on summer weekends, especially since the bridge is only one lane into fire island. If you can, go midweek!

Clean, uncrowded beach with excellent bathhouse

By Laura M |

Last week of June so the water was cold but very clean with nice waves. Life guards on duty. Very nice playground when you park near the light house. They sell food but we didn't get anything. Showers with changing area were great. Can't wait to go back.

Field 3, I think

By Mreiman2 |

Going across the bridege, hang a right, pull a u turn....first field which was the original before the bridge was built is like a private beach club!

Best Beaches

By LongIslandMabel |

A visit to our local Atlantic beaches are always a must when we have visitors from elsewhere. Our Long Island beaches on Fire Island are the most beautiful in the world. A 15 minute drive across multiple bridges crossing the Great South Bay brings you to clean expansive acres of sand and ocean waves. There are life-guards and snack bars with restroom facilities for those who choose to bring a chair and sit. We generally opt to walk from Field 5 to the cut up to the Fire Island Lighthouse, well worth a visit in itself. The tower itself is currently closed for renovations (during the summer of 2013) but the Keeper's house and the Museum for the Fresnel Lens are both open for visitors during the day. There are always exhibits in the Keeper's House to give information about the history of the place and there are often art shows as well. Deer and fox live in the area as well as rabbits and different birds. Although Hurricane Sandy flattened most of the dunes, rebuilding efforts are on-going. There used to be a "clothing optional" beach in the area between Field 5 and the Lighthouse but nudity is now banned. The ocean breezes always make the weather several degrees cooler than on the mainland so visiting is always a treat in the summer but this beach is beautiful is every season.

Nice beach !!

By Frankinny |

One of the best beach that I have visited so far near NYC, we came here on a short ride from Brooklyn, 1.5 hours, the parking is $10 I haven't check the facilities but seems to be very clean and organized, I'll back and I will visit another spot, there are like 5 or 6 different access to the beach, we was at the last one.

Beautiful Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

I prefer this beach over Jones Beach any day of the week. Much cleaner and not as crowded than Jones Beach. Come after 4pm and get in for free.

Great beach/Park

By Teresa S |

My friend and I visited this park and area for the day and had a great time. It was very difficult to find via YELP and MapQuest. However, once we found it, the drive was well worth it from Queens. We paid our $10 for parking and went on our merry way. They have two large parking areas and a restroom area that was sanitary to use. The beach area wasn't crowded and it was clean! We walked on the beach and strolled before checking out the lighthouse and grabbing something to eat. It very relaxed on the beach, there was no loud music and children running rampant.

This is definitely a spot I would return to again for some peace and clean environment.

My beach

By vzescape |

Grew up on LI in the 70s and this was my beach. My parents would take us to Captree to fish and boat and then to Robert Moses for swimming. There was nothing around and very few people. Just sand and trees and the road. It was very quiet and a nice memory. Now I still enjoy to go but it's crowded like Jones Beach used to be when I was a kid. I can't go to Jones anymore because the older people in my family can't make the long walk in the sand. Plus Jones is much too crowded so we stopped going there. We travel 2.5 hours from PA for Robert Moses because it is the best around (can't stand Jershey shore). The waves don't seem to be what I remember as a kid, they are small. Will be back after Labor Day.

Long Island Beaches

By Lolly’s Look |

Long Island Beaches are the best. This beach has a long stretch of white sandy beach. Its the start of Fire Island with parking.

Robert Moses update - summer 2015

By JogNy |

I'm reading some people's various complaints about Robert Moses State Park, most of which I think are unfounded. One person writes, "Beaches are not as clean and pretty as the Jersey Shore. Parking Pass is very expensive and so is the food."

OK, parking is $10. Not going to break the bank, but you can buy a season pass for $65, and if you go to the beach 7 times, the rest is free. Don't know if they still offer it, but I bought a three-year pass for the price of two - a whole year free! As far as Jersey goes, I've never been a fan of the Jersey Shore, I think the water is inferior, the crowds and traffic are as bad or worse, and just don't bother me about Jersey. Robert Moses and Fire Island are beautiful.

Regarding the cleanliness, I've complained about this for years and am told by the state that an upgrade to the wretched bathroom/bathhouse facilities will finally be made, but will not begin until 2016.

About the former nude beach: Topless women? OMG, civilization is crumbling. Men? Well, some of them wear tacky thongs and you will occasionally see someone not even bother with that, but the park and county police do enforce the law (a rather stupid one, I might add). The law has always been in effect but enforced only for 2 years. And you can still walk to Kismet via the boardwalk to the lighthouse and the ranger station, and from there onto the beach to Kismet, avoiding the whole now "clothing required" area. You can also walk to the lighthouse and then to the bayside beach, which will also lead you to Kismet. There is also, of course, another option: Just don't look.

Another thing to be aware of: There have been shark sightings and I have seen some fishermen actually catch and release sharks, small and not so small. Fishing should not be allowed where people swim, but there is no law against it, except the law of common sense and courtesy, which unfortunately no one enforces. The National Park Service is soliciting input on its master plan for the island, and you can contact them to comment about this and other issues.

Robert Moses State Park and Fire Island are great, beautiful treasures of New York and America. Patronize them and do what you can to preserve them.

I loved Robert Moses State Park!

By Janet K |

Having grown up in New York and now living in Tucson, AZ, I do miss the beach. Visiting family who live nearby, we went to the Park twice on my short visit. The devastation done by Hurricane Sandy was tremendous, but they are doing a great job rebuilding the dunes. The beach is very clean and it was great to walk the boardwalks and just breathe in the salt air. We also walked up to Fire Island Lighthouse, which again was great! That's for another review.

Clean, peaceful and beautiful

By Tara B |

Visited the park yesterday and arrived early in the morning which was perfect. It was a Thursday so not too crowded. We parked in lot 5 which was clean and peaceful. There are restrooms, a small gift shop and snack stand. The restroom showers are not open and the bathroom mirrors are covered due to COVID so do not plan on using facilities to clean up. The walking trail is very nice as well. Very happy with our choice to spend a day at this beach.

Beautiful Ocean Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

After being cooped up in the house for two weeks, we decided to spend the evening at the beach. It was a quiet night due to the coronavirus pandemic. The beach was clean but beware of the broken shells. In my opinion a top notch beach compared to Jones Beach.

Impressive

By Lee D |

The state park and lighthouse are all very close. In winter there is no fee for parking that I was aware.

A beautiful sunny day and a walk along the beach was a nice change instead of driving and working and this is just 35 miles from New York.

By justgotravel |

Wonderful walk on the boardwalk to the light house. Enjoy it every time.

A Great Beach

By GeorgeH-LI_NY-ExPat |

This is a great beach for families, couples or individuals. It is clean & quiet and has plenty of space for people to lie on the beach and enjoy a nice day of sunbathing. It also has several marked hiking trails to enjoy walking through the Maritime Forest, without destroying the dunes. It is a beautiful ride crossing the bridges to get to this barrier island beach, especially if you travel along Ocean Parkway to and from Jones Beach. It is also very close to Captree State Park where you can stop in and enjoy the fishing boats coming back with their catch.

Great beaches and beautiful park

By Agulec |

Great beaches and beautiful park. If you are lucky, a fox will honor you with his presence... BUT please drive slow as deer, foxes, and bunnies cross the road in the evening!!!!

Fun place to spend the day

By mrshoneybear |

Had fun bringing my 1 year old with our friends. Sand is beautiful and smooth. Field 5 is where we went and there is a playground, bathroom and cafe to get some food at. There is also a mat over the sand by the handicapped spots which helps a lot when you are dragging a pile of stuff with you.

Best state beach on the island

By Greg R |

Best state beach on the island but the main houses need some vital repairs including bath and showers. Rangers need to enforce some of the laws that are getting abused like umbrellas past line, radios, smoking.... etc....
Otherwise still cool for a day getaway !!!!!

a perfect summer get away

By Dennis D |

i have visited Robert Moss's part for the first time the past two weeks , it is about 20 minutes past Jones Beach area, but here it seems more relaxing and not so crowed on the beach's , and you are on this island where the bay side is just walking distance to the ocean side, great relaxing place wonderful to hear and see the ocean waves in front of you to clear your mind and enjoy the out doors.

A day at the Park

By mismarymac |

You can bike, run, walk, jog, or just stroll along the beach here. The sand goes on for miles and miles. The board walk is great if you have a stroller or little kids tagging along. Bike trails are abundant too!! Great place to spend a day outdoors.

Fantastic!

By romey79 |

Robert moses is 1 hour and 15 or 20 mins ride on long island rail road. Then then u get off at babalon station and take a 15 min ride and your there. They have showers and bathrooms. Also a concession stand. Great get away. Beautiful beach. Last bus leaves at 6:30. Bring your own picnic, ice cooler and your set. I love this place!!

Relaxing

By momala11 |

If you can't unwind at home hope over on the ferry and let the sound of lapping waves melt all your cares away. Bring your beach essentials and some money for food.

Great beach day

By MaryBeth S |

I love Robert Moses beach during the week in the summer. Weekends get a little crowded- especially field 5. Go to field 2 in the early morning and hike to Democrat Point.

Great Ocean Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

I love living in close proximity to this beach. It's far less crowded than Jones Beach and cleaner. We prefer to visit in the evening. It's quieter and no fees to park after 4pm.

Beautiful beach and facilities free wifi

By Ravals |

Robert moses is a beautiful beach in Long Island. It's actually very close to the much popular and busier Jones beach, but essentially on the same strip of the island. It is a bit further east and remotely accessible by car. It is less crowded and the facilities are pretty good for bathrooms and picnic tables etc. the beach has free wifi access so it's kinda nice since you won't get any cell phone signal. The water is clean, but pretty cold still in July. Probably warms up in August. There is a $10 entrance fee per car but that's very reasonable for the facilities and beach access. It does close at sunset. Enjoy!

Beautiful Beach

By Julia C |

This is my favorite place on Long Island. The beach is pristine, and is a joy to walk on. When we visit, my husband & I like to see how far we can walk along the shore before getting tired. The beach is always very clean. If you stick closer to the concession building, the beach may be a bit crowded, but just a short walk down the beach (before hitting the topless part...unless that's what you're looking for..) you will find you have the place practically to yourself. There is also a nice boardwalk that leads you straight to the lighthouse. The cost is $10 for your car during the summer season, but it is so worth it.

Maybe the beach public beach on southern shore Long Island...

By Chinapjs |

I like Jones Beach and the Hamptons are great but far away. Just about the best though is Robert Moses on the tip of fire island (the part you can drive too). . Not as developed or crowded as Jones Beach, this is a family place and crowded on weekends but even better during the week. The parking is expensive but if you borrow a residents car or better yet go with them it's cheaper. Pack a picnic and enjoy

My summertime home

By ziegner2017 |

I've been going to this beech for over 50 years. Considering how crowed it gets on a summer day it is still one of my favorites, throughout the world. I've been to beaches in Florida, California and the Caribbean, and while they may one advantage or another over Robert Moses, none was truly better in total. Catch it on rare day in late August when all the kids are back in college, the water is in the mid 70's and for some unexplained reason the water gets very clear, it's almost perfect.

Day at the beach

By bdanino |

Beautiful beach, easy access to all amenities. Great parking compared to Jersey shore beaches. Will definitely come back again on a weekday.

Lovely and clean beach

By Pallavivwadhwa |

Was with my husband on the labor day weekend generally on long weekends American public places are generally packed with people but this one was not...

Clean,family beach look for the good humour gurl to chill in the cold water....

can get super crowded

By BellaFella82 |

It can get super crowded here. To have more a secluded spot you have to walk quite a bit. But, beach is clean, the bathrooms are not however, always super dirty. This trip the umbrella rental was still closed mid-morning so we had to buy one at the shop since we were just planning on renting one. It was pretty pricey for an umbrella, $32.00.

Very impressive

By SpchGrl |

The beach is beautiful and unique. We walked for quite a way and finally settled fairly close to the huge war memorial. The sand was blistering white and the shells were gigantic. There is something akin to a sandbar which allows to you walk quite a ways out. Also, in between the beach and the sandbar was a small shallow area with no waves that is better for smaller kids. This is also where a lot of the really cool shells tended to get stuck. There is a cliff-looking drop off of sand, then more beach, then water. This 4-foot or so "cliff" is very interesting looking - seems from a distance like rock, but it's just sand that will brush away with a stroke of your hand. We went on a Saturday, but traffic was tolerable and the beach was not horribly crowded. It seemed fairly family-friendly.

Nice Beach

By dlelonek |

It's the beach, nothing more and nothing less. It is a nice beach at that but there is little else to do here, except when there is a special show, such as the Air Show, or Fireworks.

fun

By Eugene C |

nice beach for the day . nice wide sandy beach . great lifegaurds. a family fun experience. not alot of bells and whistles just a nice ocean experience

Great Park and Beach

By JP J |

This is one beautiful park.. The beach water is much cleaner than Jones Beach for it is further from New York. And it is the beginning of Fire Island, which is a world to it's own. It is well worth the extra 20 minute ride to get to this park. You will not be disappointed.

best beach ever!

By MauChamz |

I've been to several beaches, but for some reason I always compare them to Robert Moses. Robert Moses is beautiful and clean. I know it's much further compare to Jones Beach but it is all worth it. Field 2 is where we go all the time.

We loved this beach!

By Danielle A |

Much cleaner than Jones beach - water was bluer and sand whiter. Still got quite crowded but the kids loved swimming in the waves while we watched from under our umbrella! Outdoor and indoor showers which was great. Walking to the lighthouse was a nice added extra to our beach day!

A breakdown on LI Ocean beach access. Stay away from Robert Moses if concerned about social distancing!!!

By smlivingston |

Went to the beach on Thursday July 9th with my wife. Yes this is a beautiful beach . But that’s not the purpose of this post. First some background. We are beach people and we have frequented the beaches on Long Island for decades. We live in North Jersey and while we could go to the Jersey Shore, Long Island is about the same distance and usually far less crazy and less traffic too. This year because of COVID LI beaches made a lot of changes. Basically the setup on Long Island is town beaches, county beaches, National Park Beaches (Fire Island National Seashore) and NY State Park Beaches. I’m going to confine my comments to the Ocean Beaches. SO unless you are a resident of the particular town with beaches and you have obtained a permit from the township you won’t get in. That’s different from last year where at some beaches you could pay a non-resident fee and get in. Same thing with County Beaches like Smith Point or Cupsogue in Westhampton they are now restricted to Suffolk County residents as are Nassau County beaches. Fire Island beaches (Watch Hill & Sailors Haven)are open, but you will need to take a ferry and there are very limited facilities open (also these beaches,while stunningly beautiful,are notorious for periodic bouts of biting flies that can make your trip there completely miserable). Long Beach in Nassau County is selling daily non-resident passes until they reach 50% capacity. I have not been there but between town residents and their access to NYC by rail and car I would imagine they could get pretty packed regardless of their rules. That brings me to the NY State Parks. On the ocean side of LI there are two Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Park. They are both enormous and frequented by millions of people every year. They are also beautiful and iconic LI beaches. This year they have limited access to 50%. Yesterday I want to Robert Moses with my wife. 50% or not the beach had wall to wall people. Social distancing was basically not possible. We did wear masks in the restrooms but you can’t do that at edge of the beach when you are swimming in the ocean. And having to wear a mask while sitting in your beach chair is also very uncomfortable and not practical. And we firmly believe in mask wearing. Our hope was to have enough space not to do that but it wasn’t possible because of the crowds. The state would need to cut the access in half (25%) for it to really be safe during a pandemic. Don’t get me wrong I don’t hate this beach, but we need to be careful because of Covid and this isn’t what careful looks like.

Quintessential NY beach experience

By hdbyrne |

This is a fun and easy beach to visit, with plenty of parking, fine facilities, and expansive beach on the western edge of Fire Island. It can be a bit crowded, even during the week, but there's an overall pleasant vibe, and both sand and water are gorgeous.

Robert Moses State Park

By Dorothy L |

Beautiful beach with clean sand and water you would normally find in the Caribbean. You can sometimes see whales breaching in the ocean distance. And the fishing is fantastic. It's a great known place for surfers.

Jones Beach's better other half

By Bernardo F |

I always feel like the NYC people tend to come out to Jones Beach, and it's more Long Islanders at Robert Moses. It's a bit of a drive from the shore, and the causeways are always pretty crowded, but September is a great time to go when the weather is still warm. It's kept pretty clean, with a great walkway for the lighthouse and other trails and walking areas. As well as the beautiful beach.

BEATS JONES BEACK BY A LONG SHOT

By unkownwasthere163754 |

All I have to say is WOW! I DIDN'T KNOW LONG ISLAND WAS SO PRETTY. We went around August and we were astonished. The beach was so clear and one of my friends said she say a dolphin! We also decided to take the trail to the lighthouse and while we were walking we saw a deer.but the real treat was when we got to the top of the lighthouse. We felt like the king of the world and my kid didn't want to leave. We were so surprised and its away from the crowds of jones beach. WILL RETURN

Unique, beautiful

By SpchGrl |

The beach is beautiful and unique. We walked for quite a way and finally settled fairly close to the huge war memorial. The sand was blistering white and the shells were gigantic. There is something akin to a sandbar which allows to you walk quite a ways out. Also, in between the beach and the sandbar was a small shallow area with no waves that is better for smaller kids. This is also where a lot of the really cool shells tended to get stuck. There is a cliff-looking drop off of sand, then more beach, then water. This 4-foot or so "cliff" is very interesting looking - seems from a distance like rock, but it's just sand that will brush away with a stroke of your hand. We went on a Saturday, but traffic was tolerable and the beach was not horribly crowded. It seemed fairly family-friendly.

A Classic NY beach

By yeahwhynot |

Love Moses beach!
the pros: soft clean sand. a food stand. $10 parking per car(that's cheap). short walk to the beach from parking lot. beautiful waves and water is quite clean too (imo). ice cream seller on the beach.

the cons: the bathrooms!!!! they are horrendous. limited food stand food. weekends are crowded(typical). traffic on the causeway going into the beach(lasts about :30 at 10am on a sunday)

I've been to a lot of NY beaches and this one is my beach of choice. Once you arrive, the sights and sounds of a beach just lull you into that wonderful Beach Coma!!

Beautiful beach

By Rebecca P |

This beach is beautiful. We were there 2 days in a row. The second day had a strong on shore wind and the waves were quite large. We really couldn't go in and swim but we sure had a blast playing in the big waves. The beach is very large. It is nice and well maintained. The people working there were noticeable everywhere.
We saw them driving on the beach emptying the garbage cans. No litter anywhere on the beach.

There is a place to buy food, it is expensive and not great. Not bad, but not great. It is cash only as well. They did have an ATM so if you forgot cash you could get some. It was kind of spur of the moment for us and we didn't bring lunch because another review said there was a place to eat there at the beach. Next time we will pack a lunch.

There are showers outside so you can rinse off before leaving. There are also separate men's and women's shower areas. It is walled off but has no roof. The shower only has cold water, but on a hot day it really didn't matter. We just wanted to get all of the sand out of our bathing suits and off us!! With the wind blowing it was hard to keep the shower curtain from blowing around. I held it closed for my daughters. The same with the dressing areas. Those curtains were blowing all over the place. One woman brought her "tween" boys in the shower area with her. That made it a little difficult for people who were alone to hold the curtains and get dressed without being watched by the boys.

All in all a wonderful place to spend the day. It is worth the hike to the lighthouse. It is lovely there. We climbed to the top and were rewarded with a beautiful view. We plan on going back next year as well.

Beautiful beach!

By DayTripper42 |

Okay, I guess I'm biased because I live here, but our beaches are absolutely beautiful! Robert Moses is one of my favorites, and as other posters have written, you can walk to the lighthouse and Kismet by parking at the far end of Field 5 and following the wooden walkways. By the way, the wooden walks to the lighthouse are a lot of fun, and you WILL see deer (does and bucks), so keep an eye out. You may also catch a glimpse of a red fox. Be careful not to walk into the brush because of ticks. Try to visit the lighthouse if you can, it's a great experience to go to the top - you can see the coastlines for miles.

Early fall outing

By Roger92071 |

It had been over 20 yrs since I was at Robert Moses State Park, however the place has not really changed. One of the nicest beaches you can go to. This beach is on Fire Island a barrier island off Long Island's south shore. There isn't a pier nor any amusement rides/games which in my opinion makes this a better beach than most. Plus there is a lighthouse here.

Oceanfront Beach on the Atlantic!

By emilymaehood |

The ocean waves are great for swimming, surfing and boogie boarding. There’s room for everyone and the Lifeguards are top notch, ever vigilant. If you prefer to sit and relax, the sounds of the crashing waves will lull you into a peaceful state. Collecting miniature sea shells along the shore line can easily become a relaxing hobby. Occasionally, you might see someone surf casting from the shore. There are designated areas for all of the activities.

The beach area is large. There’s plenty of room to hang back or get real close to the shore. People bring blankets, chairs, tents, and even portable gazebos. Some groups really look like they’re day camping! The point is that you can definitely find room for your entourage at this beach without having to worry about getting chased off by the incoming tide.

This beach does allow food. You are welcome to bring your own and picnic on the beach or purchase something from the indoor concessions. Either way, PLEASE dispose of your trash properly

A Beautiful Beach

By LongIslandMabel |

How fortunate we are to live in close proximity to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! From wide sand beaches that are always clean, we can enjoy watching the ocean on its quiet days as well as those times of ferocious waves. A snack bar and restrooms are available but our favorite activity is walking down the beach and back along the lovely boardwalks with a possible stop at the beautiful Fire Island Lighthouse along the way.

Beach

By miki |

Not much to see there, just a typical New York beach, although no white sand and clear water, it's rather clean. Didn't get to see the light house because it closes early.

Perfect Day

By Heather C |

I brought my 2 children to this beach for the day. It was a beautiful beach and my kids loved every minute of it. It was clean and natural even though it was busy. The lifeguards are top notch! Patrick a lifeguard, saw me struggling a bit and helped me! I’m from Western New York but eastern NY is awesome too!

Lazy Day

By Theresa O |

Beaches are not as clean and pretty as the Jersey Shore. Parking Pass is very expensive and so is the food.

Looking for that New England Feel

By Silvereagle |

In this review, I can only comment on beach section of Robert Moses State Park. The beach is always clean and it draws a diverse, easy-going, respectful bunch of sun worshipers. It's, also, one of the few beaches on the east coast that has a clothing optional section (go to section 5). There is a beautiful, old fashion, light house that and a bird sanctuary adjacent to the beach which gives it that old New England landscape feel that I love. There was some major beach erosion early in the summer season, but that problem was fixed during my latest visit.

Lucky to have a beach like this ….

By suzanne Pajonas |

I love going over the bridges on my way to Robert Moses. The beach can get crowded but very nice people for the most part. Rough waves at times but a beautiful place. October I saw the butterflies migrate south.

Great Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

This beach is far less crowded than Jones Beach. It is also much cleaner than the other large ocean beaches on Long Island. Best of all, free admission after 4pm.

FYI - There is a great pitch & putt golf course here.

Top Notch Best Beaches Anywhere!

By FloydRocco |

We have the best beaches in the world! Robert Moses is the western part of Fire Island and the scenery and atmosphere cant be beat! True Long Island Beach with all Long Island locals! Clean and quiet. No dogs allowed though!

Great place, but the new showers???

By rwdavis320 |

I love this place, a true treasure. One of my favorite places on earth. It was rebuilt wonderfully almost to what it was before the damage from the hurricane. But I must complain about one thing: The new Showers! they made it a single hallway with private showers on one side and an adjacent private stall on the other, both with pull curtains for privacy. That's happened to our culture? I guess its another example of the CP thing where persons of other gender will not feel threatened. Must we really?

best beach in New York

By Roberto L |

Beautiful beach! Very natural and clean. Only a short walk from parking lot to the beach. :) Spent the afternoon at field 4 Not as crowded as Jones Beach and only 15 min further out. Sandbar goes very far out into the water. Even kids can stand up at 75 or more yards out. One of my favorite beaches in NY!even you have a BBQ area that is great

Favorite Long Island Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

We came to the beach in the evening. Not too many people. The beach was very clean for that time of day. During the day, Robert Moses is less crowded than Jones Beach. Can't wait to come back with the boogie boards!

Uncrowded and clean

By Deborah W |

Loved this beach. Super clean oasis outside of NYC. A bit of a long drive, though, even when coming from eastern Queens... Bring cash for the $10 parking fee. They don't take credit cards.

Our Favorite Long Island Beach

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

We love this beach. Yes, people from the city have discovered this beach. There are not as many NYC residents at Robert Moses like there are at Jones Beach.

This is a quieter beach than Jones Beach and Long Beach. I prefer visiting in the evening when the parking fees are waived. We had a nice picnic on the beach. Why should someone have to pay to see the ocean?

Nice Beach / close by

By FLDSETTER |

This beach has the wild life and the beach access that most don't , it's a wonderful place this time of year fishing instead of swimming , no crowds . If your lucky enough to have a beach permit to drive your 4x4 the fishing is excellent . The beaches any time of year are clean and well kept . This beach has multible parking lots . And gets packed fro June through Sept . They have improved the rules to try and keep the noise down while letting folks enjoy beach volleyball and BBQ . Very close compared to its counterpart Jones beach / don't expect a Boardwalk there is none . But is 30 min closer than Jones beach . This is a Beach used more by Suffolk Residents because of its location . Enjoy that walk on the beach this time of year : it could be just you a few deer and Fox ....

Relaxing

By Bob R |

Went during the week mid-June. Place was very empty. Nice place to stroll. Check out the birds and vegetation. Since I am a senior, there is no parking fee during the week. Can't beat it. Love coming here.

Best Beach in L.I.

By beachdreamer3 |

Robert Moses is my favorite spot in the metro area in the summers. It is by far the best beach you can drive to in Long Island. You can even walk to Kissmet on Fire Island and walk to wooden trail to the Fire Island light house. The beach is absolutely beautiful. Beware of walking to fire island via the beach though, I was quite surprised when I walked past the "clothing optional" beach areas! Didn't know they were so accessible. Robert Moses is great for everyone and you can find spots that are either extremely crowded or pleasantly private.

A little better than

By al p |

A little better than Jones Beach BUT still NOT BETTER than the Jersey Shore
This beach is far far away.
Its another 30 minutes by car to get to from Jones Beach.
The drawbridge in and out is HORRIBLE. Two to three lines merge into one and its a nightmare getting thru. And if there is an accident there you can forget about getting out.

Fire island view

By Pathik P |

Every year we visit with our friends and family always. Its such a nice place to visit and see this beech and fire island next to it. Kids have a lot of fun always. Its good that they have securities as well as and to park the car they have a big parking lot.

Beautiful unspoiled beach

By elandja |

I spent many years of my life going to the beach at Robert Moses and took it for granted. When I moved away and found myself traveling to more commercial beaches for vacation, I realized how lucky I was to have quick access to this unspoiled beautiful beach. A recent trip back reminded me again. I took some friends down Ocean Parkway, bypassing Jones Beach to show them the beauty of Robert Moses. We visited Field 5 with easy walking access to the lighthouse. A gem of a beach.

By Ajay_Malhotra |

Visited fire island and Robert Moses state park, very much felt like being 100's of miles away from the hustle of Manhattan. Fine white sand and waves crashing in made it a fun and tumble experience. Park in lot 4 or 5, less crowded and hence shorter walk from lot to the water.

My favorite beach!

By Madie R |

Always a great time there! Very clean, nice playground at section 4. Just bring suntan lotion & a towel they have a nice concession stand.

Great place to take the family.

By E G |

This was our first trip to any Long Island beach. Very impressed with the overall facilities. Clean beach, plenty of parking, even offers free parking to the over 62 folks.
A lot of people, not a secret location, but then again there's plenty of sand to go around.

Walk from field 5 to kismet

By Friedante1 |

We enjoyed an awesome walk along the boardwalk to the lighthouse and then to kismet. Cute town! We walked back along the beach with hundreds of piping plovers! Just beautiful!!! Robert Moses never disappoints.

Stunning State Park and Beach

By Luvs2TravelAnywhere |

The drive out to Robert Moses State Park is the first treat - the Robert Moses Causeway is non-stop stunning scenery. It is my mini - seven mile bridge. The Fire island Lighthouse and the five miles of beautiful beaches make it one of my favorite beaches. It is $10 a day for each car and there were plenty of spots available at the end of June.

Very Nice, Big Public Beach

By TravelDeer |

Great public beach with soft sand and shells galore, plenty of parking. It gets busy during summer weekends, but generally less so than Jones beach. Lifeguards, bathrooms, and food are available. The food selection is slightly more varied than at Jones Beach and includes fried clam strips.

Parking is $10. As a tip, if you go to NY beaches and parks often (including Niagara Falls), you may want to look into getting an Empire Pass which gives you unlimited parking for the year for $65. There are also multi-year passes and a life-long pass as well.

Beach Day!

By jjsum |

Robert Moses is a great alternative to Jones Beach. The best part is you don't have to walk a mile to get to the water! If you are up to the hike, you can park in field 5 and head out to the Fire Island Lighthouse. Bathrooms and food are available. Captree Island is on the approach to Robert Moses and a good sized fishing fleet is stationed there. 1/2 day party boats are great.

Nice Walk

By BeachFan |

We were visiting relatives and were looking for something to kill a few hours one Sunday afternoon so we went to Robert Moses State Park Field 5. Quite an unexpected and surprising experience. The beach is easily accessible and was not crowded on the day we went. We took a walk along the Fire Island Lighthouse boardwalk to the lighthouse complex then onto the beach then west to the Field 5 Pavilion. A very pleasant walk and great views of the lighthouse and the beach.

WARNING - we did run across some nude sun bathers on the beach, so perhaps this loop is not recommended for families with young children.

But all in all it is a large beach and we had a great experience.

By Melissa L |

If you park at Field 5, the one closest to the lighthouse, you can actually walk past the lighthouse to Kismet, Soltaire and other Fire Island beaches/villages. Keep in mind though, it's a long walk and it's also an interesting view along the way. Here's the deal: If you walk from the closest part of the beach to the lighthouse, and walk along the beach (passing the lighthouse), you will be walking in the non-clothed area. Yes, this is the area where it's completely nude. People are very nice there, but if you don't know about it, it may be shocking if you have never seen a nude beach. This is about a 15 minute walk from field 5. Continue past this and you will see a second nude beach. Continue walking for another 15 minutes and you'll arrive at Kismet (you'll see houses on the beach). You can exit the beach at any point through the wooden stairs by the dunes. This will take you to the villages. You can walk by the beach houses, visit the market in soltaire, or just go down to the bay (directly straight from the ocean). You can also see where the ferry boats arrive.

To avoid the nude beaches, walk to the lighthouse via the boardwalk path from field 5. It winds through a nature trail. Once you reach the lighthouse, follow the road that the police travel on (it's a dirt road) for about 20 minutes and you'll reach the village of kismet. This road continues to wind around all the villages. Bring a bike if you can! It makes for a great ride. You can't ride on the path by the lighthouse, but you can exit towards the road from field 5 and take that dirt path down to the lighthouse and kismet with your bike. ENJOY!!!!

Great Place for Beachophiles One Hour Off Manhattan

By NYCBookMark |

Robert Moses State Park is a gorgeous, beautifully maintained stretch of oceanfront just beyond the more popular (and more raucous) legendary Jones Beach. It's just $8 per car which is generous of state park system. Even at low tide, the ocean is a relatively short hop from the dunes. There are shells and stones to be collected, sandcastles to be made, and the surf is just enough for low-key surfing and boogie-boarding. Lifeguards are in position during the season. However, even when it looks mild, the tide can turn tricky and tug suddenly, so follow their directions and only swim between the flags. There is a basic cafe (we pack a picnic but get iced coffee on site), a beach shop, bathrooms, changing facilities, and outdoor showers. Nothing fancy, but you can rinse off in deliciously cold water before heading back to the car. We like to go early and leave by 2 to beat traffic both ways and park close to the entrance. The only caveat this past Labor Day Saturday is that they did not have the umbrella rentals available. We had to buy a stunted cheesy umbrella because one of our group craved shade. Having rentals available is a service to visitors and a revenue stream for the park. Bring back the umbrellas, please, and thank you for prohibitting radios and boomboxes.

Best beach in the world

By marie s |

I truly mean that is the best beach in the world. I have traveled extensively and although Hawaii comes quite close, Robert Moses beach is still number 1 in my book. I say this because of our proximity to this magnificent shoreline, the miles of pristine beach available to you, the beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the forethought of Robert Moses to preserve this for all the people.
I especially like this beach in the Spring and Fall because the crowds are mostly thinned out and you can enjoy almost a private feeling to the beach. Even in summer if you walk away from the concession stands and bathrooms you can get the feeling of being more remote.
We get an Empire Passport access to the state parks but you can also pay a $10 a day fee to park here.

Beautiful

By pukasch |

Simply beautiful minus the construction of course. But I won't hold it against them for putting money into this state park. Beach had litter but clean up crews were out picking up after the dirty humans. It was sunset so it was truly beautiful. Clear and calm night tonight. Loved seeing the light house. It had been many years since I had been here, I did not remember how close the water was to the bridge. Freaky. It was nice to see how large the beach still is. The distance to the actual water is huge! I love this beach!

Excellent Beach

By Marciahi |

What I love about this beach is that it is away from the maddening crowd. Beautiful beach but the waves can be a bit much for young children.

Great place to get to the beach!

By NationalParksTrails |

We were visiting the lighthouse at Fire Island National Park and had to park in this park.
On the way out I walked through the beach area and saw what a great recreational area this is. Nice boardwalk to the beach from parking, full pavilion with snacks and drinks is available lifeguards are also present.

crowded nightmare

By peter o |

tried taking my grandkids there and could not get near the beach with a chair to watch them...crowds blocked view.Oh the lifeguards had huge empty(except for there family)areas roped off. Chairs all set up and each family member had lifeguard T-shirts on. Its a free beach so what can be expected? Maybe a bad tide but surf was very hard to get thru..impossible is more like it

Friendly place and great beach

By Edward O |

Please be careful for the wildlife here as the deer are very friendly and run in front of you. And why is the beach great is because we put it back after the storm.

How to find seclusion on a public beach in mid-summer

By Chessplayer17 |

We went for pics of the Fire Island lighthouse and found an isolated area of beach near the lighthouse that is awesome for photography and sunning. Like anything good, it takes a bit of effort, and the road into the area is better accessed on foot or jeep.

A day at the beach

By Martin |

Surprisingly beautiful beach near New York. Lots of visitors, but also plenty of space. Great location to spend the day by the sea! Often waves for surfing or bodyboarding. Current is not to be underestimated. Delicious ice cream in the restaurant;)

The Last Great Beach Deal in Suffolk County

By James P |

Ok Note to TripAdvisor and readers-a majority of the reviews for Robert Moses park in MASSENA, NY which is upstate NY, are for THIS Robert Moses. SO Tripadvisor might want to clear up this confusion. Being from Long Island, this has been my beach my entire life. It is still $10 to get in, considering it's the same county and Ocean as much more expensive beaches in the Hamptons. It's Long Island in all of its natural geologic beauty, although Hurricane Sandy destroyed some of the Dunes-but the restoration efforts have been whole-hearted and effective. I am a long time visitor to Long Island's East End (Amagansett, Montauk) but in recent years the crowds from the city (and wherever else, sigh) and all the build up has made the place intolerable on summer weekends-not to mention the traffic getting there and back...I save my time and money, and go to Robert Moses, beautiful Ocean beach in suffolk county!

Fishing

By P Brian S |

Better than Jones Beach simply because of the lack of certain types of clientele. We do not go to the beach here, as Babylon has their own beaches. We go to field 5 and early am or early on surf fish. Great location if you're wi to walk.

Robert Moses State Park is on the Most Beautiful Beach in New York State and one of the Ten Best beaches in America!

By Ed P |

The park is part of the Fire Island Seashore. Closer to New York City and also serving Long Islanders it tends to be crowded and is accessible by car, bus and Long Island Railroad. There is a large public pool as well as the Atlantic Ocean. There are food concessions and an outdoor theater for concerts and plays. B hers who might wish a calmer atmosphere need to go further south to the 2 communities on Fire Island and to the wealthy beach scene of the Hamptons.

Lighthouse Tour

By MrMCNY |

Awesome beaches at Robert Moses but we visited the Lighthouse. You have to park at Field 5 and walk 2/3 mile to the Lighthouse. On the way, you may see wildlife up close (we saw a deer, a turtle and a fox). The walk is all boardwalked so it’s pretty easy. Lighthouse has 186 steps to the top. The views are extraordinary as you would guess. From the lighthouse, it is a little less than a mile to walk to Kismet, where there are a couple of restaurants and more awesome beaches

Great beach

By John D |

This review refers to Robert Moses Park in Babylon, Long Island NY (not the park upstate). Beach and ocean were clean. The dunes are built up high so you need to climb down the dunes to get to the shore line. Tip-Someone older or who has trouble walking may want to get assistance from a friend. I parked in lot 5 and had no problems though I went on a weekday. There was a nice mix of families and adults. The drive on Ocean Parkway to the causeway was nice and you definitely felt as if you were traveling outside the NYC area. I'm glad this beach recovered after Sandy.

Nice raised walkway to the lighthouse

By sandy c |

I only spent an hour here and wanted stretch my legs. I was told there was a nice raised walkway to the lighthouse so that's what I chose to do. There are little red foxes but I didn't see any when I was there.

If I had more time, I would have laid on the beach. The sand is really fine and a beautiful white color. I'd like to come back when I have more time to enjoy it.

Sun, Sand, Surf

By john w |

Great public beach not too far from NYC. It's at the westernmost edge of Fire Island, but you can still drive to it. Not from from the beach is the Fire Island lighthouse, which was a hit with the kids. Did see some topless sunbathing, so be warned...

By vex3000 |

A visit to this beach is never complete without a leisurely hike to the Fire Island lighthouse. You'll see it's beacon as you approach the beach parking area. The kids love this summer trek. The path to the lighthouse is easy enough for young and old. A great beach to escape the summer heat!

Quiet Sunday Morning

By The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳 |

We went to the beach on a Sunday morning. The beach is usually calm at that time. Plenty of space at that hour to choose the perfect spot. This is one of the cleaner beaches in the area. Plenty of social distancing which begins in the parking lot.

Fantastic in all respects

By JasonLaw_UK |

We spent three family days on the field #5 beach during summer 2012 and loved it very much. The beach is well managed by attentive life guards with clear bathing areas. Despite being busy, the beach didn't feel over crowded and despite allowing 'radios' at this field, I don't remember any loud music from fellow guests ruining the experience. We rented a good beach umbrella for $10 and used both the shop (forgotten trunks) and restaurant which had good, reasonably priced (to a UK visitor anyway) simple food and drink. It's $10 a day to access any part of the park, which is pretty reasonable.

Not quite the Caribbean, but seriously - it's an hour from downtown Manhattan ... !!

Great Beach

By Geri R |

I went this past Sunday- now for starters it had been raining all week and this was the first 90 degree day in days so I expected it to be crowded- I got there at 12 noon and in the only field that was open was field 2, so we had no choice at this time, we paid the $10 bucks found parking in the huge parking lot and proceeded to find a spot on the sand. The sand was white and pretty, the water was cold but not blistering cold- it's NY so we know what to expect- but compared to other beaches it was very very clean. One thing I noticed is it was very deep water so not safe for small kids and the waves were hitting hard so be careful.

Our Summer Place

By janetr996 |

We live in Suffolk County and have been going to Robert Moses for 40 years or more with our children and now our grandchildren. It’s an easy drive even from the North Shore and the place is clean and comfortable. The only drawback is that we have to pay $10 to get in. The concession stand could use an update..

Favorite beach on long island

By gnp67 |

The beach here is so nice. We went on Labor Day and it was busy but fun. The water had big waves which were fun for us and the sand was a lot better than beaches on the north shore. Also the restaurant in field 5 has delicious gelato that is worth having. There can be heavy traffic leading up to the bridge however when leaving the beach so watch out for that.

Best Beach in U.S.

By zooyLongIsland |

Often overlooked, Robert Moses State Park, the ugly sister of Jones Beach, offers one of the best beaches in the world. Set about 1 mile further out than Jones Beach, any trip to Robert Moses is like a vacation, with the only noise you'll hear coming from the gulls and crashing of waves. Tranquility at its best

Information for Cyclists

By KTBNY |

My friend and I were on our way back to the City from cycling in eastern Long Island. Having never been to Fire Island, we decided to check it out. We started in Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park, which is where the boardwalk to the Fire Island Lighthouse is. With road bikes, we were limited as to where and how far we could ride. We walked our bikes on the boardwalk until we reached the start of a gravel road. We were able to ride our bikes for about the next half-mile until it became sandy and impossible to ride with our thin tires. Once in Saltiere, the first "town" you hit on Fire Island, we were able to ride on a series of cement and wood-planked "roads". We were only able to ride to Lonelyville where the "roads" stop. It ended up being about a 3-mile one way ride. In order to reach Ocean Beach, which is the touristy area, you'd have to walk your bike (or ride your fat tire bike) about a mile on the sand. Instead of doing that, we decided to enjoy the beach, which was beautiful and clean. Fire Island is an interesting group of small communities with an island feel. There is a limited number of residents who are permitted to have cars with restricted usage. The island speed limit is 8 mph. We met several people who were willing to offer suggestions or talk about life on the island.

Great beach

By Amanda C |

This beach is very nice and has a great view of the sunset! Also they have nice live music at the beach hut. I like this beach way better then Jones beach.

Beautiful October day at the beach!

By dlschoen |

October 2 and there are hundreds of people getting their last days of sun worshipping in!! Gorgeous beach, clean, nice bathrooms and a snack bar (which is still open!). This is field 5, as most of the other fields are closed for the season. The lighthouse is in walking distance. Be advised that there are many semi-nude (a few nudes) sunbathers closest to the lighthouse, so head the other direction if this is bothersome to you.

A Beautiful Day At The Beach

By Cruzin917 |

My husband and I had a wonderful day at Field 2 yesterday. There was plenty of parking just a close walk away from the entrance. The sand was clean, the waves a bit rough even for advanced swimmers. The lifeguards were quite diligent making sure the swimmers were safe. We came with our own lunch and refreshments so we cannot comment on the concession stand. My only complaint was the condition of the Womens bathroom. Shame on the "ladies" for leaving behind such a mess, however the maintenance staff needs to pay closer attention to keeping it sanitary.

Fire Island

By MissAmieG |

Nice beach, cleaner than most other beaches in NY. Light house was okay, long walk, can't really drive anywhere, must take water taxis if you want to go further.

Beach OK, not a BBQ Place!

By Shaheen H |

Robert Moses State Park is a non-crowded beach with ampel parking space. Couple of our families went there last weekend. We wanted to do BBQ and then may be in the beach. UNFORTUNATELY, state park is sort of misleading since there was no park. The only dry place was full of sands and with no trees or shades. So, we had to leave the place and end up going to Belmont State Park where there were plenty of places for BBQ.

Rebuilt beach

By John F |

I grew up going to Robert Moses and spent many days at Field 5. After "Hurricane" Sandy, the beaches were decimated and the Army Corp of Engineers literally rebuilt them by pumping in sand from the ocean floor several miles out.
I'm very happy that the shoreline has been reestablished but visitors should be aware that there is now a 1' - 2' drop off between the "beach" and the water. (It's not a gradual slope; this is a bit odd and disconcerting if you have little children.)

I love Robert Moses

By Vanessa C |

For the people complaining about the "topless" beach, it's legal to go topless in New York, so get over yourself. Robert Moses is just about my favorite beach to go to in New York. It's not much further than Jones Beach and so much cleaner.

Fun

By Jmt0419 |

The golf course here is great it is a par 3 course and I go here all the time. It is great for begging and for better players .

By hiltonpointcollector |

I nice expansive stretch of beautiful white sand -- and this is on the southern coast of Long Island!!! I live in Connecticut and decided to take a few days off to explore the Hamptons and other parts of Eastern Long Island. This beach is a gem that we found. The beach itself is perfect, nice and broad and extremely long. Facilitaties are all in place. The beachgoers are well behaved and friendly. Lots of people watching. The cost of admission (parking) is quite reasonable. There is an added benefit: the Fire Island Lighthouse is a short walk through a beach wildlfe area. After climbing 192 steps, visitors to the lighhthouse are rewarded with a spectacular view that goes all the way to NYC on a clear day. One important thing to bear in mind if you like to take long walks on the beach: Once you leave the statepark beach and head east into the federal Fire Island National Seashore, you will encounter a "clothing-optional" area. These "au-naturale" folks are very respectful & pretty much just minding their business, but if full nudity offends you -- turn around!

Nice Beach - Good Facilities - But Crowded

By Lori L |

Mid-week 11am to 3pm visit was fun, but crowds arriving in droves around Noon made this an incredibly crowded place. Parking is great and bath/concession/picnic facilities are good. Beach chair & umbrella rental is pricey at $10/item for low-quality items. $10/car park entry fee. A good day, as long as you're OK with the next beach-goers being 5-feet from your beach towel.

Park your car almost near the Ocean

By Emer58 |

Easy to reach, we've enjoyed a few beach days at Robert Moses State Park. But there aren't many facilities for guests. A plus is that you can easily find a quiet spot to sit, but there is just one store behind the dunes that sells refreshments.

Adhere to the Rules

By snappy |

All good. Very nice clean beach. The beachgoers were on the teen side. Lots of young people. However, most were well behaved aside from a few loud ones.
After 11 am, people arrived with radios on a no - radio beach. This should be enforced with a ticket. There is no reason to play a radio at a No-Radio Beach. It's time to enforce these rules. Distance must be followed more closely.

Favorite Beach

By Lisa L |

I love nothing better than going to the beach. Every year I purchase an Empire pass for $65 which allows for unlimited access to any NY State Park. I live within 7 miles of Jones Beach but travel the extra 14 miles on ocean parkway to go to Robert Moses parking field 5. The things I love most about his Beach is the close proximity from the parking lot to the waters edge, the rest room and concession stand, and the nature path which is. A beautiful walk

Grew up on Long island!

By Laura P |

This was one of the many beaches I've been to while growing up on Long island!
Fun beach for families and friends

Everyday it is a different experience

By DnDvn |

The one thing I love about living on Long Island is the beaches. And Robert Moses beaches are some of the best on the island. The facilities at Field 3 and Field 5 are very convenient and clean. You can get food, snacks, sun screen etc and the showers and bathrooms are open after sundown for those that like to make the most of their day at the beach.
My family and I alway enjoy our relaxing time on the beach no matter when we go. My kids enjoy the differences in how the water is from time to time and I enjoy how attentive the lifeguards are. As a father of 3 I always worry about their safety but at Robert Moses I feel they are safe. I would highly rec these beaches for any family outing.

By Cynthia P |

I grew up in Freeport and always spent summers at Jones Beach as a kid. It wasn't until I bought my own home in The village of Babylon did I come to learn of the beauty of the beaches along this strip. Never overly crowded, clean beaches, and easy access to the sand and water. I've visited several area beaches, including Robert Moses, and all are wonderful. Never again would I venture west to Jones Beach. If you want to have a calm, relaxing day with the family or even a more daring streak (if you travel east enough to the national shore, you'll find a more - uhm - natural setting) than this is the place to be.

Nice beach

By p321rich |

We visited field 5 at Robert Moses, the beach and water is clean, with very nice waves, but the main reason we went to field 5, is because we wanted to see the Fire Island Lighthouse and visit the Town of Kismet, its a bit of a walk, but there is a boardwalk to the Lighthouse, which is very beautiful and very educational, then we walked on a sand road to the Town of Kismet, which is a beautiful Fire Island beach town, no cars are allowed, on foot or bike is the only way around, I highly recommend doing this, you can also get to Kismet by ferry boat but its $19 roundtrip from Bay Shore, so if your up for the walk, I highly recommend doing it this way, its also costs $10 per car load to park and enjoy the beach at Robert Moses.

Best public beach near NYC area

By ciocio1 |

RM State Park is just about a stone's throw from Jones Beach but it takes an extra 20 minutes to drive there. The beach is always clean and tends to be much less crowded than Jones, too. Years ago, there was an area set aside in one of the fields for grilling - it may still be there, and if it is, it's a great place to bring some food and grill your day away.

The snack bars sell the typical assortment of snack bar food - burgers, fries, hot dogs, beer, soda, ice cream, etc., and the kiosks sell clothing, knickknacks, and beachwear (including suits, boogie boards, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc.). Prices are reasonable considering that if you've forgotten anything in your beach bag, you're pretty much hostage to the kiosk. Showers and rest rooms are above par for a public beach and tend to be pretty clean. Caveat: showers only have COLD water! The ladies' shower rooms were recently renovated to provide more privacy in the dressing areas - some of the dressing stalls used to open toward the entrance area, but now they all open toward the center instead. One very nice aspect of the shower area is that it's set on the concrete walkway, right next to the parking lot, so you don't have to lug your clean things onto the sand

RM is just across the causeway bridge from Captree State Park, and any parking stub from any NYS Park can be used on the same day at any other NYS Park. Technically, you can only re-use the stub once, but occasionally the gatekeepers don't bother to collect them. Captree has the fishing piers and a bird sanctuary, plus a small beach (not on the ocean) that is unguarded. It also has a typical snack bar on the bottom level and a rather nice restaurant up top. On a beautiful, sunny, not-too-too-hot day, it's wonderful to sit by the open windows and look out onto a water vista and watch the fishing boats come and go.

One of the reasons that RM is so much better than Jones is that RM is not accessible by public transportation - you need a car. The nearest railroad station is about 7 miles away and the only way to get there is either bicycle or take a cab. Jones is included in an LIRR package deal where you can pay a flat fee that includes your transportation to and from the beach plus entrance to the beach, so a LOT of people from the City (mostly Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan) go on weekends. RM can occasionally become quite crowded (sometimes the unthinking among us place their blankets almost directly on top of yours) but whatever crowd you see at RM, you can be sure the crowd is 2x-3x bigger at Jones.

So - go early in the morning - get there between 9 and 10 (the lifeguards come on duty at 10 so wait for them before you go in the ocean!), stay until 1 or 2, drive over the bridge and have lunch at the Captree and take a walk on the docks. It's a great day. You'll love it.

Nice beach

By RH13soccer |

First time here, usually go to Jones. Went to field 5 twice this weekend. Lots of people right in front of the station. Park at the far right and walk a bit to have some space.

Nice beach, but a bit overrated

By Sofia |

Very clean for such a big beach. There are four different fields to pick from. Bathrooms, food and drinks offered. However, there were way too many people here and it felt like we were all on top of each other. Traffic to get out of the beach is also a bit rough. I still had a great time, I just don’t think I would come back when there are so many other beaches on Long Island to explore.

By TheresaP |

This is a really great beach. Unlike many of the beaches on Long Island there is still beach left. You can even at night take the drive around and see the deer and enjoy the fresh air. My only complaint about this beach is if you go on a weekend and you are not there at the crack of dawn you will wait on the bridge for upwards of 2 hours before getting into the parking lot. Go in the winter for a walk, in the summer during the week or early early am on the weekends.

By Danpengillmer |

Hour and a half to get there. Don't go sunrise highway fr NYC. Go southern state