Surfing in Montauk might sound like a novel by Cynthia Riggs but really it’s about finding the creme-de-la-creme of waves on Long Island and New York State as a whole.
An introduction to Surfing in Montauk
There’s not really anywhere in the Liberty State that can match the prowess of Montauk. Wedging itself like the end of a NYC hotdog into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean at the far end of Long Island, this town is a mecca for picking up all those prime winter swells and offshore nor’easterner systems between December and March.
When the waves come, the points and beaches here can really cut the mustard, to continue the hotdog metaphor. They hold well and peel like something out of Sri Lanka – seriously, you can catch 30-second+ rides with more cutbacks and bottom turns than you can shake a Manhattan snow globe at. There’s good variety, too, from frothing A-frames at Ditch Plains to the barrelling sandbars at Terrace.
Summers are a lovely time to be alive at this salt-washed end of Long Island, but not such a great time to surf. They come with the added bonus of rich urbanites on fishing missions, turning the whole place into a Coney Island of curt folk. Wait for fall and winter, when the SE-E swells roll in, the wind switches to offshore, and the sets can be pure bombs.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the USA and surfing on the East Coast
Surfing in Montauk at a glance
The good
- Terrace offers barrels on big days
- Montauk is the swell magnet of Long Island
- A good range of beaches
The bad
- It’s bloody cold – pack plenty of rubber
- Sharks
What’s in this guide to Surfing in Montauk?
- An introduction to Montauk surf
- Montauk surf spots
- Surf hotels and surf camps in Montauk
- When to surf in Montauk?
- Surf shops in Montauk
- Where to eat in Montauk?
A guide to Surfing in Montauk
Here, we list the top Montauk spots going east-to-west.
The Hamptons
East Hampton Main Beach has a good set of beginner waves that are pure beach breaks. Following on from that, you can catch some surf all the way up the line to where Montauk begins, however access is a huge issue – cheers mansion owners and hotels! The surf in the Hamptons is pretty fickle stuff, needing lots of hurricane activity to ever get REALLY good. It’s still decent for the learners, though.
Here’s our complete guide to surfing in the Hamptons
Hither Hills State Park surf
The largely empty run of sand at Hither Hills State Park hosts some of the least-reliable surf in Montauk. It’s generally sucky, shore break stuff that can snap boards in two when it’s large. The only reason to really come here is if you’re after a break from the crowds.
Terrace
Terrace is the given name for the eastern end of Kirk Park Beach. It’s the closest spot of all to the very center of Montauk town, so is no stranger to a crowd. It’s a good spot, too, with enough sandbar shape to hold up even the stronger hurricane swells. SE channels create mainly left waves while direct south swells will be A-frame rights-and-lefts, though too much wind can usher in the close outs. We think this one works best with a northern offshore in the fall, combined with a mid tide and strong, pulsy storm swells on a middling period.
Fortress/Poles
Named after the concrete bunkers that dot the hilltops above the water, this one’s really just a fill-in break for the folk who don’t want to compete at the A-frame peak in Terrace but don’t want to join the crowds in Ditch Plains. Frothy, mushy waves are the name of the game, but there are usually plenty of em’, so beginners eat your hearts out. When it’s bigger, don’t bother – it’s a mess; a breezy, blustery mess.
Ditch Plains
The most iconic break in all surfing in Montuak, Ditch Plains occupies a fine position at the rocky end of all the Long Island beaches. Seriously, there’s not much sand past this point. That begs the question what’s under the water. Cue a low shelf of sand-covered pebble and rock reef that’s perfect for tempering the dominant SE-SW swells into peeling, longboard waves that would look right at home on a Malibu webcam. There are days when it’s bigger but they aren’t the quality. The quality is in the shape and the cruisy style. We hope you like crowds!
Camp Hero
Be very careful over here, this somewhat hidden spot needs some moxie to get to because you’ll have to navigate the rugged cliffs down to the beach. The reward is somewhere with invariably fewer people than the Montauk town breaks. Wave wise, you’re looking at reefs that go both ways on the main SE swells because the inlet is angled a little into that direction. Sadly, that means close outs are common when it’s large.
Turtles/Turtle Cove
We’ll go ahead and say it – there’s nowhere better on Long Island when the wind is offshore (N) and there’s a hurricane swell coming up from the south. Turtles is one of the last points where it’s surfable on the Montauk headland and the waves wedge up lovely like a French beach break, offering big shoulders that you can rip both right and left. It can get hollow and stays clean for much of the fall with the nor’easterner winds to match.
Where to stay when surfing in Montauk
Montuak’s hotels don’t come cheap. But there are some places that will have surfers opening the window to the sound of Ditch Plains crashing into tubes. What’s more, some of the stays here are downright cozy and romantic.
The Surf Club Resort
There’s hardly anywhere in town that will get you as close to the epic breaks of Ditch Plains as The Surf Club Resort. It’s also a darn fantastic hotel, with front-on views of the Atlantic, a long run of basically private beachfront, a central pool, and suites that are in spacious cottages, all done out with a hunt of 1950s retro charm. We reckon you’ll love it, especially for the closeness of the waves!
Sunrise Guest House
Talk about charming – the Sunrise Guest House looks every inch the old-school New England cabin that couples on a surf mission up to the end of Long Island are after. The rooms are bright and cozy. The waves are just a short walk over the dunes.
Beach Plum Resort
We just can’t resist the sort of understated boutique style of the Beach Plum Resort. Rooms mingle rough driftwood with rattan rugs and hardwood beds to create somewhere that’s true New England. The beach is a short walk from the door of the suites.
When to surf in Montauk
Fall to the end of winter is prime time to surf in Montauk. That’s when you’ll catch the most regular Atlantic swells in the compass between SW and NW. They combine with nor’easterner offshore winds to get the barrels blowing from Terraces to Turtles. Good stuff. We’d say forget summer. It’s fickle, small and really busy.
Summer (June-August)
The waves in Montauk need some big Atlantic punch to get working over the sandbanks. Summer does not offer that. What’s more, wind is pretty fickle and will blow N, S, E, and W, in whatever direction it pleases, frothing things up to nothing more than mush for the groms. Worth it? Na, not when June-September is the main shark season!
Fall (September-October)
As the Hollywood celebrities jet back to the West Coast, the Atlantic starts to show its teeth on the Montauk shoreline. Hurricane swells are the doozy here. They move up from the southern Atlantic and build up beefy, short-period swells that work magic on the sandbanks of Terraces et al. It’s a prime time to hunt for A-frame peaks and more hollow waves, mainly because the offshores are pretty regular to boot.
Winter (December-February)
Winter is pretty much a continuation of the fall, meaning it’s good-quality surf in Montauk. Of course, you’ll need to temper that with the fact that it gets bitterly cold in the Atlantic around December time. We’re talking 5/3+ mils on the wetty, a hood, gloves, and booties and you’re still at risk of hypothermia sort of cold. Winter is the only time that the waves will hit the heights needed to give real XXL bombs though. When that happens, the most dedicated Long Island chargers will be out to play, you can guarantee it.
Spring (March-May)
Spring isn’t the most exciting time in Montauk if you’re a surfer. In fact, it’s downright sad because you’ll be staring down the calendar at another tourist-filled, relatively flat summer. The better half of spring is March and April, when you might catch the tail end of winter SW/SE swells if you’re lucky.
Surf shops in Montauk
There are about 4-5 surf shops in Montauk these days. Mainly, they’re close to the main beach in the town, on the Plaza, or dot the Montauk Highway running in from NYC.
Air & Speed Surf Shop
Right on the Montauk Highway just past the Plaza that marks the heart of the town, Air & Speed is generally seen as the go-to surf shop in this part of Long Island. They’ve got the lot – surf boards, wetties, surf gear. If he’s in, ask for the owner, Stu, who’s all smiles and always happy to help with board shills and gear tips.
Strictly Surf
Dinged by the Atlantic reefs anywhere along the Montauk highway? There’s nowhere for it but Strictly Surf. These guys are pros at repairing any knocks you’ve given the old stick. They also supply and stock boards if you’re looking for something new.
Where to eat and drink in Montauk
Montuak excels in pretty chic eating, but there are also some casual spots with frothy beers and hearty meals for the surf crowd.
Montauk Brewing Company
The Montauk Brewing Company is always buzzing with drinkers and diners. It’s a hearty Long Island tavern with great beer labels that are made right here in Montauk. We put this up there as the top spot for a touch of apres surf at the end of Long Island.
Muse @ The End
Muse is a cool gastronomic hotspot that fuses creative New American fare with a bit of East Coast traditionalism. It’s chicer than the food trucks and Tex Mex elsewhere in Montauk but you’ll be rewarded with penne primaveras and chicken panzanellas.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the USA and surfing on the East Coast
