Many Long Island communities are on the water, including Port Jefferson, Northport, Oyster Bay, Port Washington, Freeport, Babylon, Greenport, Sag Harbor, and Montauk. Long Beach and the communities of Fire Island offer barrier-island settings, while Shelter Island sits between the North Fork and South Fork. The setting varies from oceanfront beaches to sheltered harbors, bayside parks, and canal neighborhoods.
If you mean formal town governments, all 13 towns in Nassau County and Suffolk County include shoreline. If you mean a place to visit or live, the more useful comparison is between individual villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods: a harbor downtown, an ocean beach community, and a canal-front residential area offer very different experiences.
Which Long Island Towns Have Waterfront Areas?
All three towns in Nassau County have waterfront areas: Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. The Town of Hempstead includes southern bay and barrier-island shorelines, North Hempstead includes northern bays and harbors, and the Town of Oyster Bay reaches both the north and south sides of the island.
All ten towns in Suffolk County also have shoreline: Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold. Their waterfronts include the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, bays, harbors, and tidal waterways. That does not mean every hamlet or neighborhood within those towns is beside the water.
North Shore Harbor Communities
The North Shore offers numerous harbor settings along Long Island Sound and its adjoining bays. Port Jefferson has a downtown beside Port Jefferson Harbor, while Northport brings Main Street down to waterfront parks and Northport Harbor. Both can suit a visit built around a village stroll, dining, and harbor views.
In Nassau County, Port Washington overlooks Manhasset Bay, and the hamlet of Oyster Bay sits beside Oyster Bay Harbor. These are examples of bay and harbor communities rather than open-ocean beach towns. The names also deserve care: the hamlet of Oyster Bay is only one community within the much larger town of the same name.
South Shore Bays, Canals, and Ocean Beaches
Along the South Shore, many mainland communities face bays or canals, with barrier islands separating them from the Atlantic Ocean. Freeport is known for its Nautical Mile, a waterfront dining and maritime district along Woodcleft Canal. Babylon offers village marinas and waterfront areas connected to Great South Bay. Neither should be confused with a downtown located directly on an Atlantic surf beach.
For an oceanfront community, Long Beach offers a beach and boardwalk setting on a barrier island. Fire Island has communities including Ocean Beach, Cherry Grove, and Fire Island Pines, with bay and ocean surroundings and extensive travel on foot. Access to these communities commonly involves a ferry or private boat, and ordinary visitors should not plan on driving through the island from one community to another.
East End Waterfront Communities
On the North Fork, Greenport has a village waterfront beside Greenport Harbor. Between the forks, Shelter Island offers an island setting with beaches, shoreline neighborhoods, and ferry connections. These are useful choices to compare if your interests center on harbor scenery and bayside exploration rather than Atlantic surf.
Sag Harbor offers a historic village waterfront and Long Wharf overlooking the harbor. Farther east, Montauk combines Atlantic beaches with the distinct setting of Montauk Harbor. The ocean beach area and harbor district are separate destinations, so choose the part of the community that matches the outing you want.
East Hampton and Southampton also include ocean beaches and other waterfront areas within their broader town boundaries. A house, hotel, or downtown address in either area is not automatically on the shoreline. Check the location of the specific beach, park, marina, or property before planning around waterfront access.
Key Facts & Details
| Community | Waterfront Setting | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Port Jefferson | Port Jefferson Harbor | Harbor downtown and waterfront outings. |
| Northport | Northport Harbor | Main Street leading to harborfront parks. |
| Oyster Bay | Oyster Bay Harbor | Historic hamlet and harbor setting. |
| Port Washington | Manhasset Bay | Bayside setting and waterfront recreation. |
| Freeport | Woodcleft Canal | Nautical Mile dining and maritime activity. |
| Babylon | Great South Bay and connecting waterways | Village marinas and bayside areas. |
| Long Beach | Atlantic Ocean | Ocean beach and boardwalk. |
| Fire Island | Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay | Barrier-island beaches and communities such as Ocean Beach. |
| Greenport | Greenport Harbor | Village waterfront on the North Fork. |
| Shelter Island | Bays between the North Fork and South Fork | Island communities, shorelines, and ferry travel. |
| Sag Harbor | Sag Harbor Bay | Long Wharf and the village waterfront. |
| Montauk | Atlantic Ocean and Montauk Harbor | Ocean beaches and a separate harbor district. |
What Does “On the Water” Mean for Visitors and Homebuyers?
A waterfront community may offer public harbor views without an ocean beach, or it may contain private shorelines alongside public parks. Check the access rules for the exact place you want to use. Beach admission, parking, boat launches, marina slips, and resident privileges are separate considerations; living nearby does not automatically include access to every facility.
For a home search, distinguish a waterfront property from a water-view property or a home merely located in a coastal community. Review the specific location, flood exposure, elevation, storm history, insurance costs, and maintenance needs. Our Long Island Housing & Real Estate Statistics and Long Island Property Taxes: Town-by-Town Comparison guides provide a starting point for broader cost comparisons, while property-specific details require a closer look.
For a day trip, decide whether you want a harbor walk, a beach day, waterfront dining, or a boating outing, then choose the destination accordingly. A marina is not necessarily a public swimming area, and a scenic shoreline may have limited parking or no public path. Confirm seasonal access and any ferry arrangements before setting out.
From the harbors of the North Shore to the bays and barrier islands of the South Shore and the coastal communities of the East End, Long Island offers many ways to spend time beside the water. Choosing between an ocean beach, a harbor village, and a bayside neighborhood will help you find a destination that matches how you want to visit or live.