Which beaches have lifeguards?

Many major public beaches on Long Island have lifeguards during the summer swimming season. Beaches with seasonal lifeguard coverage include Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park, Hither Hills State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Orient Beach State Park, Smith Point County Park, Cupsogue Beach County Park, and many town and village beaches.

Lifeguards supervise only designated swimming areas and are on duty only during posted hours. Coverage can change because of weather, staffing, water quality, rough surf, rip currents, or seasonal operating schedules, so visitors should confirm current conditions before traveling.

In Short

Most large state, county, town, and village swimming beaches provide lifeguards during the peak summer season. Smaller beaches, fishing beaches, natural shoreline areas, and beaches outside their regular swimming season may not have lifeguards.

Long Island Beaches That Typically Have Lifeguards

Beach	Location	Lifeguard Coverage
Jones Beach State Park	Wantagh, Nassau County	Seasonal lifeguards at designated ocean and bay swimming areas
Robert Moses State Park	Fire Island, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at designated swimming fields
Hither Hills State Park	Montauk, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguard-supervised ocean swimming
Sunken Meadow State Park	Kings Park, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at the designated swimming beach
Orient Beach State Park	Orient, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at the designated bay swimming area
Wildwood State Park	Wading River, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at the Long Island Sound swimming beach
Heckscher State Park	East Islip, Suffolk County	Seasonal supervised swimming when the designated area is open
Smith Point County Park	Shirley, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at the ocean swimming beach
Cupsogue Beach County Park	Westhampton, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards at the designated ocean swimming area
Nickerson Beach Park	Lido Beach, Nassau County	Seasonal supervised swimming at designated beach and pool areas
TOBAY Beach	Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County	Seasonal lifeguards during posted swimming hours
Cedar Beach	Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards in designated swimming areas
Main Beach	East Hampton, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards during posted hours
Coopers Beach	Southampton, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards during posted hours
Ditch Plains Beach	Montauk, Suffolk County	Seasonal lifeguards in the designated swimming area
Long Beach	City of Long Beach, Nassau County	Seasonal lifeguards at designated sections of the oceanfront beach

This is not a complete list of every guarded beach. Numerous town and village beaches throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County also provide seasonal lifeguards. Access may be limited to residents, permit holders, or visitors who pay a daily admission or parking fee.

When Are Lifeguards on Duty?

Lifeguard season usually begins around Memorial Day or in June and continues through Labor Day, although exact opening dates differ by beach. Some beaches initially provide weekend-only coverage before beginning daily summer operations. Reduced hours or weekend-only coverage may return near the end of the season.

Even when a beach is open for walking, fishing, surfing, or sightseeing, its swimming area may be closed or unguarded. Visitors should check the operating agency’s current schedule rather than assuming lifeguards will be present throughout the day.

Can You Swim When Lifeguards Are Not on Duty?

Rules differ by beach, but many public beaches allow swimming only in designated areas while lifeguards are on duty. At other locations, entering the water outside supervised hours may be strongly discouraged even when it is not expressly prohibited.

Swimming without lifeguard supervision is especially dangerous along the Atlantic Ocean, where rip currents, breaking waves, shifting sandbars, and changing tides can create hazardous conditions. Bay and Long Island Sound beaches may appear calmer but can still have currents, sudden depth changes, boat traffic, and poor visibility.

Why Might a Guarded Swimming Area Close?

A beach that normally has lifeguards may temporarily prohibit swimming because of:

• Rip currents or dangerous surf
• Lightning, thunderstorms, or severe weather
• High winds or unusually strong tides
• Poor water quality or a health advisory
• Marine wildlife near the swimming area
• Staffing shortages
• Emergency rescue activity
• Beach erosion or other unsafe shoreline conditions

Beach flags, warning signs, public announcements, and instructions from lifeguards should always be followed. A red flag, closed swimming area, or empty lifeguard chair should not be treated as permission to enter the water.

Beaches That May Not Have Lifeguards

Not every shoreline location is intended for swimming. Beaches primarily used for fishing, surfing, boating, wildlife observation, or four-wheel-drive access may have no supervised swimming area. Some smaller neighborhood beaches and sections of the Fire Island National Seashore may also be unguarded or have coverage only at specific developed locations.

Visitors should not assume that a beach has lifeguards simply because it is publicly accessible, charges an entrance fee, has parking, or remains open throughout the year.

Quick Facts

Question	Answer
Do all Long Island beaches have lifeguards?	No. Lifeguards are generally limited to designated public swimming beaches during the summer.
When does lifeguard season begin?	Usually around Memorial Day or during June, depending on the beach.
When does lifeguard season end?	Most daily coverage ends around Labor Day, although schedules vary.
Are lifeguards present all day?	No. They work during posted swimming hours, which may differ from the park’s general operating hours.
Can swimming areas close unexpectedly?	Yes. Surf, weather, water quality, wildlife, emergencies, and staffing can affect operations.
Can nonresidents use town beaches?	Sometimes. Residency requirements, parking permits, admission fees, and seasonal restrictions vary.
Where should visitors swim?	Only inside marked swimming areas while lifeguards are on duty.
Should families still watch children?	Yes. Adults should closely supervise children even when lifeguards are present.

For the safest swimming experience, choose a designated swimming beach, arrive during posted lifeguard hours, and stay within the marked area. Visitors can also compare the best beaches on Long Island, find out when beaches are open and closed, review which beaches require permits, or explore which beaches are best for families before planning a trip.