Cedar Beach in Babylon, New York

Cedar Beach is a public oceanfront beach and recreation complex on Ocean Parkway in the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County. Located on the barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay, it brings together sandy shoreline, seasonal swimming, volleyball, food and entertainment, and access to a separate bayside marina and campground. Unlike some town beaches reserved for local residents, Cedar Beach welcomes non-residents who pay the applicable entrance fee, making it an accessible choice for exploring Long Island’s South Shore.

One of the distinguishing features of Cedar Beach is the contrast between its two waterfront settings. The ocean side is the place for swimming, sunbathing, walking on the sand, and gathering near the beach facilities. Across Ocean Parkway, the protected bay side supports boating, fishing, camping in approved recreational vehicles, and quieter views across the water. These areas are connected by a pedestrian passage, but they have different operating rules and eligibility requirements.

Where Cedar Beach Is Located

Cedar Beach lies on Jones Beach Island along the Ocean Parkway corridor, west of Captree State Park and east of Gilgo Beach. Other nearby destinations include Tobay Beach, Oak Beach, and Jones Beach State Park. Although the site uses a Babylon mailing address, it is physically on the barrier island, separated from the mainland by tidal bay waters.

Most visitors arrive by car using Ocean Parkway, which connects the beach to the regional parkway network. The town operates parking and entry booths during the swimming season. Drivers should use designated entrances rather than stopping along the parkway shoulder. Those interested in a bicycle outing can also explore the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway, a shared-use path that provides a different perspective on the dunes, marshes, and barrier-island landscape.

History and Development of the Beach

Cedar Beach became part of the modern South Shore recreation landscape as roads and public facilities made the barrier beaches more accessible during the twentieth century. Ocean Parkway and the development of nearby public beach destinations were closely associated with the period of large-scale Long Island park planning often linked to Robert Moses. These transportation improvements changed the shoreline from a relatively remote coastal environment into a place where families could spend a summer day without relying on a boat.

The Town of Babylon’s historical facilities inventory identifies a Cedar Beach bathhouse in a 1948 photograph, a reminder that the site has served generations of beachgoers. Over time, town investment and changing visitor preferences brought additional recreation facilities, a marina, camping areas, and food service. The result is a destination with both traditional beachgoing amenities and a more social atmosphere around its seasonal dining and entertainment venues.

The town continues to manage Cedar Beach as part of a wider system of ocean and bay recreation areas. That system also includes Gilgo Beach and resident-restricted Overlook Beach on the ocean, along with Tanner Park and Venetian Shores on the mainland bayfront. Understanding those differences is useful when choosing which beach to visit, particularly for people who do not live in the Town of Babylon.

Oceanfront Swimming and Beach Facilities

The ocean side of Cedar Beach faces the open Atlantic Ocean, where waves, tides, and wind create the familiar conditions of a Long Island summer beach. During the supervised swimming season, lifeguards monitor designated areas, and visitors should enter the water only when swimming is permitted. Surf conditions can change quickly, including the development of rip currents, so posted flags and lifeguard instructions should take priority over assumptions based on how calm the water appears.

According to the Town of Babylon, the beach offers restrooms, outdoor showers, a playground, picnic areas with grills, volleyball courts, basketball and handball courts, free Wi-Fi, and food service. These facilities make it practical to spend several hours at the shore rather than treating the beach as a brief scenic stop. Availability can vary outside the peak season, and some activities may be limited by weather, maintenance, or special events.

Visitors interested in other forms of recreation can consult LongIslandGuide.com’s guides to surfing beaches, fishing, and birdwatching. Those guides cover opportunities across Long Island; they should not be read as permission to surf, fish, or enter protected habitat at any particular part of Cedar Beach. Follow the rules posted at the facility for each activity.

Cedar Beach Parking, Fees, and Public Access

Cedar Beach is one of the Town of Babylon ocean beaches that accepts non-resident visitors. For the 2026 season, the town listed daily vehicle entrance fees of $25 on Monday through Thursday and $50 on Friday through Sunday and holidays for vehicles without a qualifying beach permit. Town residents with a valid 2026 seasonal beach permit were eligible for free entrance. The town specified credit or debit card payment at the facility rather than cash.

The published 2026 schedule listed pre-season beach operations on weekends and holidays beginning May 23, followed by daily summer operations from June 19 through September 7. Lifeguard coverage and entrance-booth hours differed between those periods. Because the beach season has ended, these dates and rates should be treated as a record of the 2026 season rather than a promise of identical conditions in 2027. Check the Town of Babylon Cedar Beach information page before planning a future visit.

The town distinguishes between general admission to the ocean beach and permits for specialized facilities. Paying to park or entering the public beach does not automatically make a visitor eligible to reserve a marina slip or campground space. Visitors should also check whether parking is permitted during an event or outside staffed hours, particularly if they are coming for an evening meal rather than a full beach day.

Cedar Beach Marina and Bayside Recreation

On the north side of Ocean Parkway, Cedar Beach Marina occupies a more sheltered setting along the Great South Bay side of the barrier island. The marina is accessible from the ocean beach through a designated pedestrian route and underpass, allowing beach visitors and eligible marina users to move between the two sides without crossing the parkway at road level.

The Town of Babylon describes 63 slips on the main dock, with electric service, and 36 additional slips on a floating dock. Marina amenities include restrooms with showers, outdoor showers, picnic tables, a playground, a fishing pier, a horseshoe pit, a pump-out station, and Wi-Fi. These features support boaters who want to spend time at the marina rather than simply use it as a place to tie up a vessel.

Docking permits and slip access are restricted to eligible adult Town of Babylon residents, with proof of residency and additional fees required. For 2026, the town scheduled the Cedar marina season from May 22 through October 12, with certain weekend reservations available online and other slips offered according to town procedures. Boaters should confirm current vessel-size limits, permit requirements, and reservation rules directly through the town’s marina docking page.

For a wider overview of launching locations, rentals, and recreational options beyond Cedar Beach, see the Long Island boating and boat rental guide. Cedar Beach Marina should not be confused with an unrestricted public launch or a marina where any visiting boater can automatically purchase a slip.

Cedar Beach Campground

A feature that many casual visitors overlook is the Cedar Beach Campground, located on the bay side near the marina. The Town of Babylon lists 41 campsites with water and electric service, giving eligible residents an opportunity to stay overnight close to the shore. Campers have access to nearby amenities and the pedestrian connection to the ocean beach, making the facility especially attractive to residents who want a longer coastal visit.

Camping is restricted to qualifying Town of Babylon residents with the appropriate permits and reservations. The campground is intended for self-contained recreational vehicles, campers, and trailers with onboard restroom facilities; tent camping is not permitted. A regular beach entrance fee does not grant camping privileges. The town publishes separate reservation procedures, eligibility rules, and seasonal dates, which should be reviewed before arriving with an RV.

Salt Shack, Dining, and Summer Entertainment

The seasonal Salt Shack Seaside Grill is a major part of Cedar Beach’s social appeal. Located on the sand, it has offered casual food, drinks, outdoor seating, and live music in a setting that feels different from an ordinary restaurant. The combination of tables near the beach, warm evening light, and music is also the scene shown in this page’s featured photograph.

Salt Shack attracts visitors who may come primarily for a meal or an evening event rather than swimming. Its calendar, food service, private-event availability, and hours are seasonal, however. The venue has announced that it is closed for the remainder of the 2026 season and expects to return in 2027. Visitors should check the Salt Shack website for future operating dates and event information rather than assume that beach facilities and restaurant services share the same schedule.

Summer concerts and social gatherings have helped make Cedar Beach an especially recognizable destination in the Town of Babylon. The venue can be lively during performances and quieter during weekday mornings or outside peak hours. People seeking a peaceful day on the sand may prefer less crowded periods, while those planning to attend a performance should allow extra time for traffic and parking.

Outdoor Activities Beyond Swimming

Cedar Beach offers more than ocean swimming. Volleyball courts, picnic facilities, playground areas, and the adjacent coastal greenway create opportunities for different ages and interests. On the bay side, the marina’s fishing pier and shoreline views add another dimension to the experience, although fishing locations and permitted methods should always be confirmed before casting a line.

The Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway is particularly useful for cyclists and walkers who want to see more of the barrier island. Its route passes through a landscape of dunes, grasses, and coastal wetlands that can feel remarkably open despite being within reach of the densely populated South Shore. Visitors should remain on established paths, yield appropriately to other trail users, and avoid entering restricted dune or wildlife areas.

The surrounding landscape can also appeal to people interested in shorebird observation and coastal photography. Birds may use beaches and marshes for feeding, resting, or nesting, and sensitive areas can be subject to seasonal closures. A longer lens and a respectful distance are better choices than approaching wildlife closely or stepping across protective fencing.

Barrier-Island Environment and Coastal Protection

Cedar Beach is part of a shifting barrier-island system shaped by Atlantic waves, storms, tides, and sediment movement. The beach and its dunes form the exposed ocean-facing edge, while the calmer waters toward Great South Bay support marsh and estuarine habitat. This combination of ocean and bay environments helps explain why the site is both a recreational resource and an ecologically sensitive landscape.

Major storms, including Hurricane Sandy, have underscored the vulnerability of Long Island’s low-lying coastal communities and infrastructure. Dune restoration, shoreline maintenance, drainage, and storm recovery are continuing considerations along Ocean Parkway. Beachgoers can help protect the landscape by using designated dune crossings, respecting fenced-off areas, and taking litter away from the shore.

Because this is an exposed coastal destination, conditions can be markedly different from those in nearby mainland neighborhoods. Strong winds, intense sun, rapidly changing weather, and high surf are all possible. It is sensible to check weather and surf advisories before visiting, bring drinking water and sun protection, and follow instructions from town personnel whenever access is restricted.

Planning a Visit to Cedar Beach

For a classic summer beach day, arrive during staffed hours, confirm that lifeguards are scheduled, and allow enough time to park and walk to the oceanfront. Families may want to use the restrooms, playground, and picnic facilities, while people interested in dining should verify whether Salt Shack is operating on their chosen date. The beach’s large open setting makes it appealing for both short visits and full afternoons by the water.

For travelers exploring several South Shore destinations, Cedar Beach pairs naturally with Gilgo Beach and Captree State Park, although the experiences differ. Captree is better known as a fishing and boating departure point, while Gilgo is another Town of Babylon ocean beach. Tobay Beach is operated by the neighboring Town of Oyster Bay and follows its own rules. Cedar Beach in Babylon should also not be confused with the separate Cedar Beach on the Long Island Sound in Mount Sinai.

For official questions about beach operations, the Town of Babylon lists the Cedar Beach seasonal telephone number as (631) 669-5948 and the Parks Department at (631) 893-2100. For marina questions, the town lists (631) 786-2381. Seasonal numbers may not be staffed year-round, so the town’s website is the better starting point for information outside the summer season.

---

Cedar Beach, Babylon

---

Key Facts & Details

Detail	Information
Location	Ocean Parkway, Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, New York
Geographic Setting	Barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay
Managed By	Town of Babylon Parks & Recreation
Public Beach Access	Open to residents and non-residents during the operating season; entrance fees or a qualifying resident permit apply
2026 Daily Vehicle Fees	$25 Monday–Thursday; $50 Friday–Sunday and holidays without a beach permit; credit/debit cards only
2026 Swimming Season	Pre-season weekends and holidays beginning May 23; daily summer season June 19–September 7; lifeguard hours vary
Oceanfront Amenities	Seasonal lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, playground, volleyball, basketball, handball, picnic areas, grills, Wi-Fi, and food service
Marina	63 main-dock slips and 36 floating-dock slips; docking permits restricted to eligible Town of Babylon residents
Campground	41 sites for permitted, self-contained recreational vehicles; eligible Town of Babylon residents only; no tent camping
Seasonal Dining	Salt Shack Seaside Grill; closed for the 2026 season as of October
Recreation	Swimming, volleyball, boating, fishing, picnicking, walking, cycling, and birdwatching where permitted
Nearby Destinations	Gilgo Beach, Tobay Beach, Oak Beach, and Captree State Park
Official Information	Town of Babylon Cedar Beach page; Parks Department (631) 893-2100

Cedar Beach remains one of the most versatile oceanfront destinations in the Town of Babylon, combining a traditional South Shore beach experience with bayside boating, resident camping, outdoor recreation, and seasonal entertainment. Its appeal lies in being able to enjoy the open Atlantic shoreline and the calmer Great South Bay landscape in the same visit. With the right permits, an understanding of seasonal schedules, and respect for the fragile barrier-island environment, visitors can experience a distinctive part of Long Island’s coastal character.