Ocean Parkway
Ocean Parkway is the scenic spine of Long Island’s South Shore barrier island system, running along Jones Beach Island from Jones Beach State Park to Captree State Park, where it connects to the Robert Moses Causeway for access to Robert Moses State Park and Fire Island. Built as part of Robert Moses’ park and parkway network, it’s a passenger-car roadway with at-grade and circle/loop connections to beach fields, marinas, and park facilities. Cyclists and pedestrians have parallel paths along portions of the route.
Route and Features
- Western Hub: Jones Beach State Park (connections to Meadowbrook State Pkwy, Wantagh State Pkwy, and Bay Pkwy)
- Eastern Terminus: Captree State Park / junction with Robert Moses Causeway
- Length: ~15 miles (within Jones Beach Island corridor)
- County: Nassau (west) → Suffolk (east)
- Restrictions: Passenger cars only on parkway (no trucks/commercial vehicles). Separate shared-use paths in segments.
Access Points (west → east)
(Ocean Parkway has named access rather than numbered exits. These are the primary ramps/turnoffs drivers use.)
| Access | Destination / Notes |
|---|---|
| Jones Beach West End Circle | West End beaches, fishing piers, boat basin |
| Jones Beach Parking Fields (1–6) | Main oceanfront lots for Jones Beach |
| Jones Beach Field 10 / Boat Basin | Marina and bay access |
| Meadowbrook Pkwy / Wantagh Pkwy Connections | North to Nassau communities; southbound approaches to Jones Beach |
| Tobay Beach (Town of Oyster Bay) | Ocean & bay beaches, marina, spray park |
| Gilgo Beach (Town of Babylon) | Ocean beach, surfing area, boat launch |
| Cedar Beach (Town of Babylon) | Ocean & bay beaches, marina, boardwalk |
| Overlook Beach (Town of Babylon) | Ocean beach, seasonal facilities |
| Captree Island / Captree State Park | Marinas, fishing fleet, restaurants |
| Robert Moses Causeway Junction | South to Robert Moses State Park / Fire Island; north toward NY-27A/Southern State/Heckscher corridors |
Notable Facts
- Designed to deliver motorists directly to Jones Beach and the string of municipal/state beaches eastward.
- Popular for fishing, surfing, and boating; multiple launch sites and party-boat fleets operate at Captree.
- Portions include a shared-use path paralleling the roadway, connecting Jones Beach to Tobay and beyond.
- Subject to coastal weather closures (sand/drift, storms, dune work) more often than inland parkways.
