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    Pavilion at Sunken Meadow

    4.1 (112 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Pavilion at Sunken Meadow Photos

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    Chris A.

    The beach is extremely rocky but nice . There is an incredible boardwalk that is great for a stroll or to sit on the benches to view the water. The parking field is large . There is also a concession stand with decent choices . I highly recommend water shoes - the rocks in the water can be slippery and the rocks on the beach are harsh for the feet.

    George C.

    Originally constructed in 1928 on lands that were donated by the town of Smithtown with the promise of an extension of the sagitiokos Pkwy. Later on this would become reality when in 1957 New York completed the extension known as the Sunken Meadow Pkwy. I really enjoyed this park and believe it to be better than Jones beach. Sunken meadow being a north shore beach offers beautiful calm views of the sound along with amazing woodlands and walking trails. Being a fan of hiking trails I found that this park provided amazing views of nature as well as marsh lands and the sunken meadow creek. Sunken meadow truly has lots to offer any nature enthusiast and beach goer. Spend the day here in the sun and beauty of the north shore.

    Li C.

    I came here to go on a walk while my boyfriend played some golf. I was looking for a longer walk and was already at the park, so the 4 miles it listed sounded perfect. The trail was not too busy, as it wasn't the nicest day. As I started the view was already beautiful and continued to surprise me as I explored. The paths were a combination of paved, sand, and dirt of sorts. For me, I was not sure what to expect and the walk was listed as easy to moderate, but it was definitely much more of a hike than expected. There are MULTIPLE paths, so it's definitely customizable, but can also get confusing, especially when you lose service. There were also a few sections that definitely harder and more adventurous. I loved the path, but was incredibly surprised by how difficult it got with the hills and sandy path. Definitely look into it depending on if you are with children or older people who may have a harder time with the inclines and unstable path. I will definitely be back to explore and remind myself it is more of a hike than walk.

    Angela G.

    This review is based off the beach solely! This is one of the only LI beaches I'll go to - the parking entry fee is $10 which is reasonable, there's always plenty of space & the beach is clean & not overly crowded. There's a boardwalk that I always tell myself I am going to walk, maybe next time!

    Tata G.

    I've been to so many beaches in Long island,and what make Sunken meadows stand out is that I can actually swim in it because the waves are smaller & water is calmer. Good for families with small kids. It's a family friendly beach, food & drinks can be brought in. Tents & umbrellas & hard cooler are not restricted. It can become crowded & noisy during weekend & holidays so come early. It's 10 bucks to park / entrance & i believe its free with empire pass. Bathrooms are okey & theres a big parking lot.

    Caroline N.

    Came here for a group meeting for a sunset stroll. There is no parking fee after 6PM. Plenty of parking spots since a lot of beach goers are leaving around that time. While walking on the boardwalk, you saw folks paddleboad, yoga, wedding ceremony, and many other activities. It is neat to see all this going on. Great view of the sky during sunset. Only thing to note, there were plenty of small insects that cause itchiness after biting you. Have to come back and check out the out the areas.

    Pet ban all-year is a bummer.
    Gilbert G.

    This is a lovely beach and park on the north shore of Long Island. If you have young children (ages 3-7 years), the relatively calm waves of the Sound are safer than the ocean waves on the south shore of Long Island. After paying a $10 admission fee per car (in the summer), you will drive for about 1 mile to the Main Circle and the park office (large brick building to your right). From there, you can walk a short distance to the beach or take a scenic hike along the 3-mile boardwalk. Ramps are provided for improved accessibility. I was surprised by how uncrowded the beach seemed. The wide, open space allowed families to spread out. I only had time for a quick 20 minute visit, but if you're traveling on Long Island (near the mid-point at Islip, NY), it's worth considering a pleasant stop here! The only blemish (4 stars) is the park's strict policy on banning pets all year. I understand the need to protect people and minimize cleanup costs for pet waste removal, but it would be nice to see a loosening of the "pet ban".

    Thomas M.

    I agree with Carole, it's a lovely time of year to take a stroll on the boardwalk. Concessions are closed, but I only go after 4pm when it's free. Clean and generally hassle free. Watch out for the spandex crew thinking they're on the Tour de France, but actually just from San Remo.

    Amateur fisherman on the rock jetty
    Gail B.

    I am at the beach, a destination that I chose for my weekly Sunday drive. It was easy to find a parking space on Field One in early May during the Covid-19 quarantine, and parking was free. There are some who are having picnics while listening and dancing to their favorite music, blasting from cell-phone Bluetooths. A lot of beach goers are here, too, and some are not wearing masks. Most are sure though to maintain a six-foot distance from one another, whether it is on the police-patrolled parking lot, the sand or the boardwalk. The air is fresh, the sand appears clean, and people are having fun. There couples of all ages holding hands on the boardwalk. There are amateur fishermen on the rock jetty despite the sign several yards before it that says "keep off jetty". Children appear to be having the most fun. There is a kid in front of me who is being buried in about two feet of sand by two other kids and one of the three adults surrounding her. Swimming is prohibited. The only ones swimming in the water were two swans. Many different languages are heard here, from Polish to Portuguese. Everyone is enjoying the Spring madness by taking "time to sit back and unwind". The scene is similar to how Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince describe "Summertime". If you want to go to a diverse, clean and safe park and beach to have some exercise and fun, go to Sunken Meadow State Park. Wherever you live, it is worth it to come out here for the day.

    Took this photo on 9/22/2019. I couldn't look at it for too long because it made me TWO TENTS.
    Anthony Z.

    All right, listen. When I was very young, in the single digits of age, my mother would take my brother and me to the beach. We called it The Beach, but it was Callahan's, a town (Smithtown) beach in Fort Salonga. We had friends that went to Sunken Meadow, which was practically next door to Callahan's, only beaches don't have doors. That would be insane, for a beach to have doors, right? I mean, other than for the bathrooms. You'd definitely want doors there. Where was I? Oh yeah, so my brother and I always wanted to go to Sunken Meadow instead, but we'd never go there because the state park pass cost more than the town park pass, or something. But to get to Callahan's we go north on the Sunken Meadow Parkway and then, at the very end, when you'd see the toll booths for the state park, we'd turn off at the last exit to go west on 25A. This was always expected but always disappointing. The first time I ended up going to Sunken Meadow was when I was a junior in high school and joined the cross country team because I knew I'd never make the varsity soccer team. It was here where I met my hilly nemeses Hernia and Cardiac, and how I kept my weight at a maximum of 125 pounds. Fast forward a hundred years later (all right, maybe 30) and I finally began to return to Sunken Meadow. You see, I'd discovered the South Shore beaches in my 20s and realized that I didn't have to endure the rocks and the seaweed and other nonsense along the sandy North Shore. But I was no longer 125 pounds, so I wanted to find places to walk long distances, and someone recommended the boardwalk. And what a lovely boardwalk it is. The last couple of years, I'd walk on that boardwalk and along the parking lots to record my steps. Over the past few months, once I ballooned to a weight that I wasn't proud of -- and was in the kind of health where, to quote Norm MacDonald, my doctor said at my 2021 checkup, "Open your mouth and say OINK" -- I started to run. (All right, JOG.) One 5k race turned into several, and now I've been trying to get my workouts in at Sunken Meadow, sometimes as much as seven miles. (Yes, seven miles in a row.) I run along the boardwalk, then over the bridge and then along the perimeter of the lagoon. I'm not yet ready to try to conquer Hernia and Cardiac like the (very) old days. But that time will eventually arrive. If I don't drop dead while running, first. FOUR STARS

    Staci S.

    My favorite local spot for BBQs, boardwalk and beach time but mostly hiking. Hiking in the sense it has enough hills and trails to push myself and to train myself to step out of my comfort zone - if I want or to stay just in my happy place. The beach has the north shore rocky sand with beautiful views. There are a number of trails depending on what your looking for and multiple parking lots Depending on why you are going there. Been there twice this week - one for hiking and one for boardwalk to beach ‍7 miles "walk of pain" in the last few It was one of those times you should have REAL water shoes that's meant for a hike if you want to explore or not step on all the rocks, shells, AND possible future splinters !! Either way when I'm looking for a bit of it all and am local Li - this is on my top 5!

    Boardwalk
    Jack W.

    Wow, today was my first time here. This is such a beautiful place, almost like a hidden gem. It is a little bit up there to drive to, but very much worth it as there's beach and a boardwalk. While I came during the winter season, I still a managed to capture the beautiful scenery. I'd love to come here again during warmer seasons for a walk or a quick run. NOTE: There are usually tolls collected, but fortunately, none were collected today. This is probably a temporary thing due to COVID and the winter season. If you don't mind the cold and you're "negative", come here for some fresh air and nice views!

    Andrew C.

    One of my favorite parks on Long Island is Sunken Meadow State Park. The park offers one of the most impressive views of the Long Island Sound. There are a few bridges that expanse over Sunken Meadow Creek as it runs from the interior of the park to tidal flats at the mouth of the Nissequogue river. There are also acres of undeveloped and heavily wooded rolling hills. Besides the environmental beauty, one can enjoy playing on the ball fields and the open lawn areas. The well-maintained beach provides swimmers an enjoyable plunge in the calm waters of the Long Island Sound. For those who are familiar with the Greenbelt trail, the park is the northern boundary. And for those individuals who love golf, there is 27-hole golf course originally designed by Alfred Tull in 1897. I have played it several times and have always enjoyed every one of my rounds. The east end of the park has salt marshes where one would find many different species of birds and animals freely enjoying the open land. One can find animals or birds such as the s Piping plovers, Diamond-back terrapins, snapping turtles by the creek, Red foxes, and deer along woodland trails of the park. One could have an enjoyable full day and never find themselves bored visiting this park.

    You can have it all here: water & woods

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    I really enjoy visiting this park with my family. I created a lot of lovely memories in this place with my family

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    Ask the Community - Pavilion at Sunken Meadow

    Is this a good place to take kids tide pooling? Are there any starfish?

    Hi Linda , I'm not exactly sure what you're saying with "ride pooling" but if you mean swimming ? Then yes , it's a good place to go swimming but you may want to use some type of water shoes like crocks as This beach is very rocky being its on the… Read more

    Dog friendly ? Is dog allowed to play on the beach?

    As far as I know , sunken meadow is not dog friendly , I didn't happen to notice any beach goers with dogs in the sand or on the boardwalk while I was there .

    Is there a snack bar?

    Yes, there's s one on the boardwalk.

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pavilion at Sunken Meadow

    The best part is sometimes you get to see weddings at the far end of the boardwalk where they have the venue.

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    Nissequogue River State Park

    Nissequogue River State Park

    4.1(20 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Purchased in 1885 by kings county asylum of Brooklyn, the property went on to become a self…read morecontained community of sorts offering mental help and care as well as a home to the patients that lived here. Being completely self sufficient, Kings County Asylum boasted its own Vegetable gardens and dairy at its height, it also supplied its own power through a small private electric plant on the premises. Eventually through modernization and improvements in medicine and health care the property eventually started to decommission buildings and no longer took on new patients. Completely closing around 1996 it eventually was turned over to the state becoming a park in 2000. I found Nissquogue river state park to be a very interesting park to visit, the north end of the park offers a nice walking trail as well as beautiful views of the Nissquogue river with over looking bluffs and a small beach front not for swimming. You will find a marina on the property offering boat slips as well as a boat launch if you choose to trailer your boat in for the day and many places to launch your kayak from and travel the river. Most of the property appears to still be in a developmental stage as far as parks go. Walking the property is an explorers delight allowing you to check out the decommissioned hospital buildings and infrastructure some of which dates back to the late 1800's and early 1900's.

    Beautiful state park. Free now but use your Empire pass or pay $8 or $10 per car during the summer…read more Was a mental hospital for veterans in its early years. The abandoned buildings and sad history may turn off some. It's not as popular as other nearby parks probably because of its history but the wraparound water views and green make this place a gem. Bathrooms open daily until sunset. Clean and well maintained. On a Spring rain day, I dined Al fresco with a friend and enjoyed being outdoors under cover.

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    Nissequogue River State Park
    Nissequogue River State Park
    Nissequogue River State Park

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    Callahan's Beach

    Callahan's Beach

    3.8(5 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I've passed this hidden gem THOUSANDS of times, and while back in NY for a long weekend finally…read moredecided to check it out. Though I grew up less than 15-20 min. away, this beach was not in my township (Huntington) so we stuck to our own local N. Shore Long Island Sound beaches (rather than pay a craaazy entry fee). Off season, everyone's a resident of everywhere/anywhere, so a beautiful, sunny February afternoon was a PERFECT opportunity to check out Callahans. We had the whole place to ourselves, and my sister and I checked out the upper picnic area, the new/improved playground, and the wonderful views around the perimeter of the parking lot. Rumor has it there are other trails, but we did not see them, so we ventured down to the entrance to the beach to get a closer look at the BEAUTIFUL views... NOTE: I don't believe you can park in the little circle near the stairs leading down to the beach, though strangely enough, there are handicapped parking spaces there. This beach is many things: scenic, secluded, convenient if you live in the area, great for families, picnics, and golf fans, but it is definitely NOT handicapped friendly, unless you just plan to enjoy the view from above. There are MANY steps to get down to that beautiful beach, and you'd better be in reasonably good shape AND not forget anything in your car, because it's a TRIP up and down those stairs. While my sister and I didn't find the hiking trails that are supposedly there, we did hike the full length of the beach, a WONDERFUL walk all the way to neighboring Sunken Meadow State Park beach and back. BEAUTIFUL, invigorating, and very do-able, nearly 3 miles back and forth. Well worth the "ride!!" Some of the best things/places on Long Island are still free, especially if you go off season... Check this place out!!

    Nothing good to say about this beach.Parking is far from beach area the. After walking to beach…read morearea you have to tackle the stairs going down then after a few heart attacks the beach area is dirty and water dirty with floating it looks like used condoms. Where did my tax dollars go besides the steps and the asphalt area above where lifeguard station is. My last time there!

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    Callahan's Beach
    Callahan's Beach
    Callahan's Beach

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    Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - parks - Updated May 2026

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