I think this is the best beach within a reasonable driving distance from NYC. It's clean - the water and the beach... It can get crowded but having gone 3there for years, it usually has a more family oriented crowd than elsewhere in the NY area - this is changing see below. Suggestions: 1. The showers are awful... really awful. If you are lucky the only thing you'll catch is a foot fungus. 2. The beach needs to increase the no lowlife scumbag rules. More and more loud music in areas designated as radio free. This year lots of folks who don't seem to care that anyone else in on the beach. read more

Ok, so this is my first trip to a LI beach since I visited the Hamptons years ago, so maybe I am not qualified to rate Robert Moses State Park, or at least not assert that it is 5-star worthy. In any event, I have spent years going to beaches on the FL panhandle, which are probably some of the best around. This beach is a quick trip on the LIRR, and you can even get a beach package deal when you buy your tickets at Penn Station. With the beach pack, you get LIRR roundtrip tickets and a bus pass to give the driver at the Babylon station for the S-47 bus that takes you right into the parking area for Field 3 at Robert Moses State Park. If you drive, the parking is $10 - which seems reasonable. The one advantage of driving is you can park in a parking lot closer to the Lighthouse (if you want to see it). This beach is really nice, and there are many quiet areas available. The beach in front of any of the parking "fields" is pretty crowded, but you can walk 3-5 minutes farther down and be literally by yourselves. After living in Manhattan, its almost unbelievable you can escape all of humanity at least for a little while. These aren't the soft white sands of Florida, but they are really nice. The dunes also add a nice ambiance. Overall, this is a great beach if you want some privacy. There are snack stands and bathrooms at each field, which is also nice if you want a bite to eat or a beer ($4.75 domestic - not bad for a beach). We will be returning soon! read more

One of my favorite beaches! Field 4 is amazing! My only concern is the majority of the lifeguards are senior citizens. read more

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Growing up, this was my FAVORITE beach (and it remained my favorite until college). During summer vacations from school, I couldn't WAIT for my dad to come home from work so he could take me and my brother here for sun, sand, waves, and boogie boarding. It's a beautiful beach that stretches as far as the eye can see with a picturesque lighthouse, crashing waves, and high sand dunes. I still get that same feeling of excitement and nostalgia when I cross over that first bridge on Robert Moses Causeway. Unfortunately, that feeling goes away FAST after I run into the bumper to bumper traffic that extends from the bridge all the way down to the lighthouse... if I can even make it that far. I blame city dwellers who have inevitably realized that there's life and better beaches beyond Jones Beach. Everyone from the city now drives the extra 10 exits on the LIE to Robert Moses which creates mega traffic. More city people also means more trash. The beaches have gotten noticeably dirtier. Ugh. On top of that, the park is always doing road work? Why are you doing road work during your busiest summer days and closing off lanes creating even more traffic and weird detours? Today, everyone who decided to stick out the traffic and press on to the beach was turned around by a detour that took you west... and then back to Robert Moses Causeway NORTH. That's right. They turned everyone right around and spit them back up to go home. No signs. No Warnings. No one (myself included) was able to drive down to the beach after sitting through almost an hour in traffic. Cars pulled over, people got out, some started walking, and some demanded an explanation from state troopers. What a mess! All this... and they raised their parking fee to $10?!?! COME ON BOBBY MO! Get your shit together. The next time I need a beach fix (probably tomorrow) I'm going to Smith Point (http://www.yelp.com/biz/smith-point-park-beach-shirley#hrid:eRQUHO3qWux3hi48oz7BGA). It's not as pretty, but there's much less traffic, and Suffolk County Residents are appreciated and recognized with a Green Key that allows us to pay only $4 for parking. read more

I heard the other fields offer BBQ grills but I came to field 5 for the first time on my visit and loved it. Clean. 3 Lifeguards in close proximity to one another in the swim zone. Take a walk towards Lighthouse Beach and u even get to sample some franks n beans. (more nekkid men than women in these parts). Even some children which I thought was sort of odd. Loved it here and will definitely be back. read more

See my Jones Beach review for a little more in-depth review. The synopsis though: parks like Robert Moses and Jones Beach serve so many people with a quality experience that they must stay protected forever. Sure both have negatives, but I imagine the complainers always return. read more

Robert Moses State Park is the best part of living on the South Shore of Long Island. The beaches are absolutely beautiful for a swim or a walk down the boardwalk. If you have kids, try the Saturn Kid's Kingdom playground in Field 5. You have all the perks of Jones Beach, without the crowding. After a long day at the beach, drive around the Robert Moses parkway during dusk, and you'll see plenty of the local wildlife, including deer, rabbits, and foxes. read more

Robert Moses State Park - Robert Moses Beach - Parks Near Me - Babylon, New York

I'm done with the Rockaways. I'm done with the LIRR/beach tag combo nightmare at Long Beach. I'm certainly done with Jones. It is Robert Moses for me from now on. Beautiful clean beaches. For the most part quiet peaceful crowds. Easy parking. Also if you have the state parks pass (you should get one - they are great) parking is free. And I have discovered my holy grail of shopping nearby, there's a Barnes and Noble/King Kullen/Target/Home Goods complex one exit away. The perfect place to grab your US Weekly, grab your lunch and maybe grab some new linens before you get to the causeway. Also - the corn dog is a good option at the snack bar. read more

In a word, G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S ! ! The natural light and palette of green, tan, brown and blue is a soothing balm to any city-bound soul, anytime of the year. read more

I have been coming here for close to 10 years and made it finally to the beach this season! 10 dollars for parking and on a clear day the drive is part of the fun from NYC. Come mid morning after rush hour and leave around 3:00PM to avoid the rush. The beach is well maintained and the changing rooms are clean. Beach is very close to the lot and if you have small children field 5 has a playground that they will enjoy. read more

I've been to a few beaches on Long Island, not every one just yet and so far this is the one that's impressed me the most. It does come into close competition with Long Beach. For some reason the sky looks absolutely amazing here, you can see a lot of it while you are lounging on the beach. As other reviewers said this place isn't as crowded as Jones Beach so that's a plus, most of the time you can get a spot. Only thing I dislike is paying for parking, although I think I could get around if I brought my bike to the beach. Unless it's off season Long Islanders usually have to pay to get on the beach. I dislike that because I've been to other beaches while traveling in NJ, in Delaware, in PR and passing one in Key West all of the beaches I've traveled to have been free of charge. read more

Ocean Parkway down to Robert Moses beach is one of the most beautiful rides to go on in the early morning. There was a cool mist enveloping the bridge as be crossed over to the beach. It was uncrowded (April) and generally relaxing. I highly recommend. read more

Robert Moses was worth the 2 hour journey to get to it. The beach is gorgeous and cleaner than any other beach i've been to in New York. Let me tell you that there are JELLYFISH in the water, and it freaked us out, but the lifeguards swear that they aren't dangerous. The water is very shell infested so do wear water shoes if possible. The waves aren't as strong as the ones on Jones Beach but they are there. lol. The beach has a food stand, umbrella rentals, and even a gift shop. I am most certainly going back. If you leave from Jamaica in Queens, you will pay 16 for a round trip package to Robert Moses compared to higher prices leaving from Manhattan. Check it out! Seriously read more

For anyone looking to do a day trip to a nice clean sandy beach Robert Moses isn't a bad choice. There are likely beaches that are nearer so do investigate, however if you're making the journey here are some tips: --Trains go from Penn Station and connect at Jamaica. Buy your tickets online to avoid the long lines at the ticket machines (you can get an MTA day drip return which includes the bus fare and train tickets to Babylon). --Trains go about every 25 minutes and take 1.25 hrs. At Babylon you get the S47 bus which makes two stops - the second is Robert Moses Beach. Buses run every 30 minutes. -- You should allow a good 2.5hrs to get to the beach overall and my advice would be - check the timetables and leave early so you get there by 11. The last bus leaves at 6.30 but we were advised to take the 5/5.30 to avoid the end of day crowd/rush. This is a nice beach. There are restrooms, refreshments (although most people bring picnics) and the walk from the bus stop isn't far. A nice place to spend a hot NYC weekend day. We're going to check out Ocean Beach next - it sounded a little more picturesque and quiet due to the lack of cars. read more

Robert Moses is the closest beach to the city I will go to. The summer pass is only $60, and it's not too far from the city. Yes, I am the lucky (...or silly?) few with a car. I have noticed that some people are pretty dirty. The bathrooms tend to get gross, not sure if anyone really cleans them during the day, beware!!! read more

Its alright.... I Did community service here all summer long and got a real tour of the place...it was sick! weekday...sneak away to field 4. total ghost town its crazy. Did you know inbetween field 3 and 4 I believe their is a massive burail ground for all the animals that get killed by cars. Good luck finding it though you really cant get to far without someone seeing you. read more

Great park!! Lots of beach to walk on and lots of boardwalks too. The lighthouse is open along with the gift shop. Since it's a State Park there is a fee during the summer season but free the rest of the year. I love taking walks here and the Bird watching is good too. During the fall the hawk watch tower is open with people there to name the birds flying through during the fall hawk migration. All in all a nice park. read more

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Clean white sandy beach, perfect waves (not too rough, not too small), and despite that it can get crowded, people are generally respectful to others. This place was a great find on long island. 45 minute drive from the queens area and well worth it to avoid the annoying crowds of rockaway beach or other city beaches. $10 per car to enter unless you purchase the empire pass (which allows entry to almost all new York state parks for an entire year for $65). If you plan on venturing to even just this state park all summer on the weekends it's well worth the expense. They have your typical beach food for sale but I have not really tried it. It's best to bring your own healthy snacks to save the $$ and ensure you dont eat heavy comfort food while trying to look your best on the beach. read more

Beautiful beach. It's always good to come out here with a group of friends of your family. The $10 for parking isn't bad at all. Gotta come out here when the sun is setting. The ride out from Brooklyn is not that bad either. Will be back!!! read more

Robert Moses State Park - Beautiful day out - Parks Near Me - Babylon, New York

Come summer and all of us really want to head to the beach. We decided to go to the beach one such beautiful summer day. Me and my husband headed towards the Robert moses state park and it was perfect. It was not too crowded even on a weekend. It is clean, with no garbage seen floating around in the water and on the sand.We went to the field 5 and walked to the lighthouse.The lighthouse too is a good place to visit. we just drove to the field 2 & 3 , field 4 was closed . we did not even encounter much traffic on that day. As mentioned by other yelpers we saw a couple of deers and in fact a couple of rabbits too. They have a big parking lot . There are shower areas,restrooms(not so clean) and a place to eat. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Great beach all around. As others state, it can fill up early so plan accordingly. Also, please carry out what you bring in and help keep our shore clean. Don't be that guy. read more

Not many beaches this size on LI any more. It is such a beautiful beach. From the ocean to the lighthouse. It is a favorite of mine. Nice to see they are working on the rest rooms and doing some construction. Was pretty clean after a hot day. It was about 6:30 so clean up crews were arriving to clean up after the nasty humans. read more

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Nice beach and park to hang out. Love the idea of having an area with barbeque grills and picnic tables.. just wish you could see the ocean from that area instead of having to walk back and forth between the areas. Also a word of advice, especially for parents or people with kids, wear flip-flops or sandals in the barbeque area, there are pieces of glass and other debris in that sand. A little kid stepped on something while they were running around with their siblings and got hurt. People at the beach are friendly and share. Very nice etiquette! There are also restrooms and showers in the pavilion which is convenient. Tons of parking. Very relaxing beach/park spot! Not very far from the city and not to far from various locales on the island, very centralized. Not over-crowded which made it more enjoyable! read more

I was looking for a clean, quiet beach and a couple of friends recommend this place. After reading the many good reviews on Yelp I decided to give this place a try, mind you I'm not a big fan of NE beaches. We arrived around 11am and paid the $10 per car fee, the parking lot was about half way full. I noticed that right by where the food and bathrooms are located it was pretty crowded on this hot summer day. We decided to walk a little and found that the other side is not as crowded. I really had a good day here, as hot as it was that day and probably more crowded then usual but it was surprisingly quiet. No one was playing loud music or kids running around splashing sand everywhere. I did made my way to the bathroom and was very clean for a public bathroom. I had brought food with me but did end up getting some chicken fingers and an order of fries. The chicken was pretty good but the fries weren't and it's hard to mess up fries. After spending a very enjoyable day at the beach we drop off all of our stuff in the car and took a short walk to the lighthouse. If you come here it's totally worth it and only $7 to go up. read more

My favorite beach. I live minutes from Jones, but when I can, I prefer to take the extra half hour and head down Ocean to Robert Moses. The strip of beach gets only crowded on a few fields, good for when you feel like watching. Walk away from the fields 2 and 3 to alter the density of people around you. On any day of the year, you can walk and walk, be yourself, say nothing, and relax with the water. Is it ever not beautiful? All I ever want to do is walk when I'm here. I never want to get anywhere, there are no real destinations. I just want to walk and walk and walk. Empire pass is worth it if you visit any park (not just the beaches) more than 8 times a year. Also, once you get one you are compelled to go more and more to make the most of your pass. Once I started getting the pass I never stopped. read more

By far one of my favorite beaches in NY. Its kinda far from Brooklyn, but its definitely the perfect summer day getaway. I like its commodities (food stand, umbrella rentals,souvenir shop) and its very clean, I literally walked barefooted in the sand without hesitation. The beach was not overlly saturated with people, like Jones and Long Beach. I heart Robert Moses State Park. I highly recommend this beach for families. Ps-Do not feed the deer roaming throughout the park. read more

Oh dreams of yester year! Field 5 wander to Fire Island, Field 2 for surfing... The only pitfall is the bridge ...if you're not an early riser the bridge and parking can be a bitch.. We used to cut class in High School and hitch to the beach come May and June in West Islip. If those dunes could talk... growing up on Long Island was eased by long summer fun days at the beach. Go early, sleep off the bar til noonish when the sun is high then turn over and baste with tanning lotion. read more

This beach is so much better than its neighbour, Jones Beach. - less crowded, more open spaces - cleaner than Jones Beach - cleaner restrooms - free parking on weekends The only downside is there aren't any food places you eat. Get your folding chair, a nice book, sunscreen and enjoy. read more

Pros: Fresh breeze, clean sand, mineral-like water, more spacious than Jones Cons: 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time from Queens Neutral: Lighthouse, $10 cash-only parking fee read more

Been going here for many years , they now charge up until Columbus Day, FYI, had to pay $8 to get in yesterday, no biggie, first year they started charging after Labor Day read more

Hadn't been to a public ocean beach in a long time. Usually go to a private beach on the North Shore. I desired the rougher surf, getting knocked around by the waves as opposed to the tranquil LI Sound. My main concern prior to getting there was the crowds and whether or not we'd be surrounded by obnoxious people, I got the rougher surf and happily played with the waves all day. Parking (5) was ample. The beach was moderately crowded on this Sunday. The people around us were nice, pleasant to look at, and be around. A great day! We'll make several more trips here by summer's end. I'd travel twice the distance for this beach experience! read more

This beach is probably one of the best I've been to in Long Island. When I saw the water, I thought it was a Carribean Island. But it was Long Island! It was picture perfect. The shore is not rocky, but until you go into the water there are several shells-but it didn't prevent anybody from going into the water. The sand did not get hot-and I was there in the middle of August. I recommend going LIE to exit 53 or Northern State to 44. Sagtikos Pkwy S or Sunrise. The waves were execllent, the children were so excited. The concession stand was also very convenient. The distance from the parking lot to the shore is not far. My only complains are that it was crowded and there was barely any service for our cell phones. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest either. The seagulls also were a problem. They flew very low and pick at your food. But what do you expect for the beach? It's a beach! There was also some minor litter in the ocean but that all depends on the day and which people are there. Disregarding my complaints, I recommend this beach as a family trip! $10 entry. Field 5 is the best one! Please follow my Instagram @mark.nyc read more

This beach is very clean and is family friendly. Located in the very end tip of Long Island, good getaway from the city.Not too crowded when we went which was nice. This beach is only accessible by car and you pay $10 per car. Their are clean bathrooms and also food concession stands. The water surf was pretty high so good place for surfers and there were alot of kite flyers as the beach was windy. I do highly recommend trying this beach as its very relaxing and clean. A nice day trip from NYC. read more

Robert Moses State Park - Robert Moses beach - Parks Near Me - Babylon, New York

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I don't know why, but my visit to Robert Moses felt like I was going back in time. It just felt like classic New York, with the old buildings, lighthouse, lifeguard towers, etc. However, despite the old feel, everything is clean and well kept! I seriously don't think I went to the restroom without finding some cleaning up in there. They do a great job. On an early August Friday, we drove to Robert Moses from Harlem and it took about 1.5 hours. We used Waze and traffic was minimal, except for the bridge leading to the park which took about 5 minutes to get across - not really a problem! We headed right and parked in Field 2, which we found fairly empty at 9am. The beach quickly filled up until it was pretty packed by around noon. Note: The areas for swimming are marked by the flags and they can be pretty narrow. As a result, visitors congregate in front of those areas. If you want a little more space, walk down the beach away from the lifeguards, though you will have to walk back in order to swim. I loved this place! Go early - it's worth it. read more

FYI - there is like nooooooo service in this area so I couldn't check in from location... bummer. Went to Robert Moses beach on 7/30 for the first time. With it being a Saturday the beach was packed but that didn't deter me from having fun. It was a family trip and my children had a blast. Although it was packed with everyone trying to cool off on such a hot summer day, no one seemed to be bothered. When going to the beach I always go with food, a cooler full of ice and drinks, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc. but this is the FIRST beach I've been to that provides everything you need. They have chair and umbrella rentals, a cafeteria that sells food, beers, ice cream and whatever else you need. This is perfect! As stated in other reviews, there is a $10 entry fee and if you do not live in Long Island, the drive is pretty far. I came from Brooklyn but I think it was worth it. On the other hand, Drew (fiance) thinks it is way too crowded. What do you expect on a hot weekend?! I guess next time we go back it'll be on a weekday... read more

Peaceful pristine beach if you look out at the water. Lots of trash blowing in the wind up on shore, considering it was a day with few crowds. No reason to complain though! It's the beach! New Yorkers: don't get sand in the car. Some guy in Kansas: I wish I had sand in my car because it would mean I lived by the beach! Me: poured my sand-filled shoes out onto my Porsche driver's mat to celebrate my first east coast beach visit as a grownup. read more

Robert Moses State Park - Parks Near Me - Babylon, New York

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$10 Parking fee, FREE for seniors 62+ Family Bathrooms separate from shower rooms, with nice size sink and diaper changing station Went to Field 5. Clean beach with soft sand (only the part that close to the ocean), a lot more people than we anticipated, but not crowded. Had a nice time there. read more

Clean beach kid friendly I was a happy camper. Keep in mind if u walk a long the beach there is a NUDE beach in which u can stumble upon. Not a sexy nude beach a beach full of old men who just pee in any direction. This ACTUALLY happened to my friend. No no no. Other than that it's any really nice beach better than jones. Will return. Definitely. read more

Taking the added time to go to a beach that is further away from home is not crazy; it some ways it might be better. On a mid weekday during the middle of the summer, the beach was still crowded on lot 5, the one closer to the lighthouse. However, the beach was well kept, the water was cool and lifeguards were plentiful and professional. While they have all the amenities you may need for a great day at the beach, we brought everything we needed including a medium size tent which got a couple of comments as I did not see any others (are they not allowed?) I have been to Robert Moses a few times over the years and while I have had better days, I am still a fan. read more

Robert Moses is great! It's just a short drive from Jones Beach and I can for sure say that the drive is worth it. Robert Moses is not as crowded as Jones and definitely a lot cleaner. It's a great place for a nice summer bbq. There are picnic areas with grills and tables by the beach. The picnic area to the water is a short walk so it's the best of both worlds. I'd try to get to grill early since the picnic areas tend to fill up fast. read more