How do I get to Sunken Meadow Beach and is parking available?

Sunken Meadow is located off Route 25A/Sunken Meadow Parkway in Kings Park, approximately 50 miles east of Manhattan. By car, take the Northern State Parkway or Long Island Expressway to Sunken Meadow State Parkway north. Ample parking is available in three main lots near the beach. Parking fees apply daily year-round (typically $8-10, higher on weekends and holidays). Arrive before 10am on summer weekends to secure spots. No direct public transportation serves the beach; driving is the most practical option.

What food and amenities are available at Sunken Meadow Beach?

The beach features a seasonal concession stand offering burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and snacks during summer months. Picnic areas with tables and grills are available throughout the park—many visitors bring their own food for cookouts. Restrooms, outdoor showers, and changing facilities operate seasonally. The boardwalk has benches and overlooks. No hotels are on-site, but Kings Park and nearby Smithtown offer chain hotels and restaurants within 10-15 minutes. Bring beach chairs and umbrellas as rentals aren't typically available.

What is the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow Beach like?

Sunken Meadow features an iconic elevated wooden boardwalk extending roughly half a mile along the shoreline, offering panoramic Long Island Sound views. Popular with walkers, joggers, and photographers, it's accessible year-round and particularly stunning at sunset. The boardwalk connects to the park's extensive trail system, including wooded walking paths totaling over three miles. It's stroller and wheelchair accessible, making it family-friendly. The structure provides excellent vantage points for watching sailboats and, on clear days, views across to Connecticut's shoreline.

Kings Park · New York · USA

Sunken Meadow State Park Beach

You'll smell the salt marsh before you see the water—a brackish funk that gives way to the sight of families staking umbrellas in coarse sand while runners trace the three-mile boardwalk overhead. The Sound laps gently here, warmer and murkier than the Atlantic, framed by woods thick enough to forget you're forty minutes from midtown.

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Kings Park·New York·USA

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8 captures from Sunken Meadow State Park Beach

About this beach

Sunken Meadow sprawls across 1,266 acres of shoreline where the Nissequogue River empties into Long Island Sound, its beach stretching wider than most North Shore strips. The sand is tawny and gritty underfoot, studded with pebbles and clamshells, and the water wades out shallow for fifty yards—ideal for kids but less so for serious swimmers. Above, the elev…

Where it is

Sunken Meadow State Park Beach

Kings Park, New York, USA

40.9127°, -73.2611°

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Top things to do

At Sunken Meadow State Park Beach

Wade the Sound

Shallow, calm water for kids

Boardwalk Three Miles

Elevated path through coastal woods

Bluff Sunsets

Purple skies over distant bridges

Grill Picnic Areas

Charcoal pits overlook the water

Near this beach

Places, rentals, tours and events within walking and driving distance of Sunken Meadow State Park Beach.

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Good to know

Questions people actually ask about Sunken Meadow State Park Beach.

Is Sunken Meadow State Park Beach safe for swimming?

Sunken Meadow Beach is generally safe for swimming, with lifeguards on duty during summer season (typically late June through Labor Day). The Long Island Sound waters here are calmer than ocean beaches, making it family-friendly. However, always check posted flags and signs before entering the water. Water quality is monitored regularly by New York State Parks. Swimming is only permitted in designated areas when lifeguards are present. The beach has a gentle slope, suitable for children, but supervise young swimmers closely.

When is the best time to visit Sunken Meadow Beach?

Summer (June through August) offers warmest weather and full amenities, with temperatures ranging from 75-85°F, though weekends can be crowded. For fewer crowds, visit weekdays or shoulder seasons (May and September) when weather remains pleasant but cooler. The beach is technically open year-round for walking and picnicking. Sunset visits are particularly popular due to westward-facing views over Long Island Sound. Arrive early on summer weekends, as parking fills quickly. Off-season visits offer peaceful beach walks and scenic winter photography opportunities.