Long Island beaches for kids
Long Island has 67 kid-friendly beaches in our guide: bay beaches with calm shallow water for little ones, North Shore stretches with tide pools, and ocean beaches for older kids who want waves.
Checked September 2026
The North Shore beaches sit on the calmer Long Island Sound; the South Shore faces the open Atlantic. Bay and harbor beaches in between are the gentlest for toddlers. Use that as your compass: bay or Sound water for the littlest kids, ocean beaches for confident swimmers.
In Nassau County
In Suffolk County
Common questions
What are the best beaches for kids on Long Island?
For little kids, the calmest water is on the bay, harbor, and North Shore beaches rather than the open Atlantic. Those are the safest bet for toddlers; the South Shore ocean beaches suit older kids who want waves.
Do Long Island beaches charge for parking?
Most town and county beaches charge for parking in season, and many restrict entry or resident-rate parking to town residents through the summer. State park beaches charge a per-car fee open to everyone. Most listings link the beach's official page with current rates and resident rules.
Which Long Island beaches have calm water for toddlers?
The bay, harbor, and Long Island Sound beaches on the North Shore are generally calmer and shallower than the open-ocean South Shore beaches, which makes them better for wading toddlers.