NYC Beach Safety: Rockaway, Coney Island, Orchard Beach and More

At New York City's public beaches, swim only when lifeguards are on duty (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in beach season) and only in sections that are open. NYC Parks says swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections (opens in a new tab), which are marked with signs and/or red flags.

That one rule matters more than any other. This guide covers the season, where the beaches are, how to check today's conditions, and what to know about rip currents on the Atlantic shore. Dates and hours were checked on official pages on October 18, 2026. Check them again before you go.

NYC's public beaches at a glance

NYC Parks maintains 14 miles of beaches (opens in a new tab), and all of them are free and open to the public. The city's beaches face very different waters:

Source: NYC Parks beach list (opens in a new tab).

The beaches that face the open Atlantic, such as Rockaway and Coney Island, get ocean surf. NYC Parks describes some others, such as Wolfe's Pond Beach, as calm. Calm-looking water is still natural water: CDC says lakes, rivers, and oceans have hidden hazards (opens in a new tab) such as dangerous currents or waves, rocks and limited visibility.

The season and lifeguard hours

• Season: NYC Parks says beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor day (opens in a new tab). In 2026, that was through September 13 (opens in a new tab).
• Lifeguards: during the season, lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (opens in a new tab)
• Outside those hours: no swimming. Before 10 a.m., after 6 p.m. and out of season, there are no lifeguards watching the water.

NYC Parks' water safety tips put it simply: lifeguards are there to protect you, so only swim when and where lifeguards are on duty (opens in a new tab). The same page says never leave children unattended near water, even when lifeguards are on duty (opens in a new tab). Read why swimming near a lifeguard matters.

Closed sections and why they're closed

Not every stretch of sand is open for swimming every day. NYC Parks says closed sections are marked with signs and/or red flags (opens in a new tab).

Sections can close for different reasons:

• Lifeguard coverage and conditions. NYC Parks' beach status map is updated each morning, soon after 10:00 a.m., based upon lifeguard availability and current beach conditions (opens in a new tab).
• Water quality. The NYC Health Department tests the water and posts signs. A yellow advisory sign means swimming and wading not recommended (opens in a new tab). A red sign means swimming and wading are not allowed. Heavy rain is one trigger: the Health Department says high levels of rainfall are associated with higher levels of bacteria (opens in a new tab).
• Erosion and other hazards. At Gateway's beaches, the National Park Service lists some areas as closed due to erosion (opens in a new tab) and says more closures may be needed.

How to check before you go:

• Look at the NYC Parks beach status map on the beaches page (opens in a new tab) after 10 a.m.
• Sign up for "beach notifications" on Notify NYC (opens in a new tab) for real-time openings and closings.
• Check the Health Department's NYC Beaches page (opens in a new tab) for water-quality advisories.
• When you arrive, look for signs and red flags, and ask the lifeguard. See what beach flags mean.

Rip currents on Atlantic beaches

Rip currents are the main danger at the city's ocean beaches. NYC Parks says rip currents occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers (opens in a new tab).

NYC Parks' advice if you're caught:

1. Don't panic. Try to remain calm and begin to swim parallel to shore (opens in a new tab).
2. Once away from the pull of the current, swim back to the beach.
3. Don't swim straight against the current. Even a strong swimmer can tire quickly.

The National Weather Service New York office publishes a beach forecast with the rip current risk (opens in a new tab) for local beaches. Check it before you go. On a high-risk day, the forecast says the surf zone is dangerous for all levels of swimmers. Learn the signs and escape steps in rip currents: how to spot one and how to escape.

Rockaway's surf, fishing and kayak beaches

Rockaway has the city's only legal surfing beaches (opens in a new tab). NYC Parks lists surf beaches between Beach 66 and Beach 70 Streets, Beach 87 and Beach 92 Streets, and Beach 110 and Beach 111 Streets, plus a fishing beach and a kayaking beach.

These are not swimming areas for families. The Rockaway surf beach rules say: surf at your own risk, there are no lifeguards on duty at the surf beaches (opens in a new tab). They also tell surfers to stay away from the jetty. Swim at a lifeguarded section instead. More on board sports in shore break, big waves and beginner surfing.

Gateway (National Park Service) beaches nearby

Two beaches inside the city are run by the National Park Service, not NYC Parks:

• Jacob Riis Park in the Rockaways, Queens
• Great Kills Park on Staten Island

The Park Service says Gateway has three beaches designated for swimming: Jacob Riis Park, Great Kills Park and Sandy Hook (opens in a new tab) (Sandy Hook is in New Jersey). Lifeguards work listed areas between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, and the lifeguarded areas can change during the season.

The Park Service rules are clear:

• Swimming is prohibited at locations without lifeguards and when lifeguards are not on duty (opens in a new tab).
• Red flags mean no lifeguards on duty and no swimming or wading (opens in a new tab).
• Law enforcement rangers are not lifeguards and are not trained to rescue you from the water.
• Strong currents and sudden drop-offs have contributed to drownings (opens in a new tab), so don't enter the water unless a lifeguard is on duty.

Other NYC beach rules that keep you safe

NYC Parks' safety tips add a few more:

• Ease in. The first time you enter the water, ease in or walk in — do not jump or dive (opens in a new tab).
• Buddy up. Always swim with a buddy, friend or parent.
• No alcohol. Never use alcohol while swimming, boating, or supervising children near water (opens in a new tab).
• Storms. If there is thunder or lightning, follow the directions of lifeguards and beach staff and seek shelter in a building or vehicle.

What you can do today

1. Save the official pages: the NYC Parks beaches page (opens in a new tab), the NWS New York beach forecast (opens in a new tab) and Notify NYC (opens in a new tab).
2. Put the 2027 season on your calendar: beaches are due to reopen Memorial Day weekend. Plan beach days for lifeguard hours only.
3. Sign up for swim lessons over the winter, so your family is ready for summer. See free swim lessons in NYC.
4. Learn the flags with the Beach warning flags decoder decoder.
5. Practice the rip current escape in our rip current guide.