New York to Long Beach Road Trip Guide: Hidden Gems on the South Shore

Driving from Lower Manhattan to Long Beach, NY, is a 30-mile journey along the iconic Ocean Parkway. This route was originally designed as a pleasure drive in the 1920s, connecting Brooklyn to the Jones Beach boardwalks. The highway's unusual median gardens and art deco overpasses are a designated scenic byway. The drive typically takes 40–60 minutes without traffic, but weekend congestion on the Belt Parkway can add 20 minutes. This guide follows how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities—turning a short commute into a curated coastal excursion.

• Route: FDR Drive south to the Battery Tunnel, then Belt Parkway east to Loop Parkway, terminating at Long Beach.
• Coordinates: Start at 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W; End at 40.5884° N, 73.6579° W.

The Belt Parkway's 55 mph speed limit is strictly enforced with fixed cameras. The most dangerous section is the merge from the Gowanus Expressway into the tunnel. Family stops include the Jones Beach Marine Theater (no shows until 2025, but the amphitheater is open for photos) and the Long Beach Skate Park. For pets, the Long Beach boardwalk allows dogs leashed before 9 AM and after 7 PM. Rest zones with picnic tables are at Captree State Park (exit S10) and the Mill Pond Park in Freeport.

• Fatigue management: Take a break at the Wantagh Park rest area (mile marker 27, 24-hour fast food and parking).
• Hidden off-route spot: The Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve on Merrick Road—a 55-acre former landfill turned grassy knoll with skyline views.
• Road quality: The Ocean Parkway asphalt is freshly resurfaced; watch for potholes on the Cross Bay Boulevard approach.

Jones Beach State Park is the crown jewel—a 6.5-mile barrier island with dunes, salt marshes, and the iconic Water Tower. The Zachs Bay boardwalk offers views of the Meadowbrook Causeway. For a quieter nature break, stop at Hempstead Lake State Park (exit M22), with three freshwater ponds and a 2-mile hiking loop. The local commerce is concentrated in downtown Long Beach: antique shops on Park Avenue and surf rentals at Long Beach Boardwalk.

• Birding hotspot: Nickerson Beach Park (flock piping plovers in spring).
• Farmers market: Long Beach's weekly market on the boardwalk at National Boulevard (Sundays, June–October).
• UNESCO connection: The nearby Gateway National Recreation Area (Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge) is part of the Statue of Liberty/UNESCO biosphere, 15 minutes off-route.

Tolls apply on the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel ($6.95 with E-ZPass) and the Atlantic Beach Bridge ($0.50). Gas stations cluster near the I-278 exit at Linden Boulevard and along Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre. The Belt Parkway has limited lighting east of Cross Bay Boulevard, so plan daytime travel in winter. Parking in Long Beach is metered (1 hour free, then $2/hour) with a large municipal lot at Edwards Boulevard.

• Best fuel stop: Shell on Sunrise Highway in Wantagh (exit M11).
• EV charging: Tesla Superchargers at the Jones Beach East Lot (free with park admission).
• Restrooms: Clean facilities at Jones Beach Field 6 restroom building (open year-round).