120 miles East of New York City lies the very last town on Long Island, Montauk. It was once a sleepy fishing-surf village, but it has increasingly become more popular with Summer visitors. After Labor Day, the crowds return back to Manhattan, and the waves start to pump with the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s at the very end of Long Island, so Montauk receives some of the best waves in New York. If it is 3 feet in Rockaway or Long Beach, it may be 6 feet in Montauk! We got the scoop on Montauk from our Team Rider, Kristen. Before Kristen turned in her NYC high heels for Costa Rican bare feet and a longboard, Montauk was one of her favorite breaks. AND, Montauk is really the reason that Kristen decided she had to learn to surf!
Surf Guide: Montauk, New York
Where to surf:
Ditch Plains is synonymous with Montauk. During the Summer, Ditch is usually PACKED with beach goers and surfers. However, if you surf early enough you can avoid the crowds and have a great session. Once at Ditch you can surf three spots:
- Poles, which is to the right of the two parking lots towards the cliffs,
- Ditch, in front of the parking lots, or
- Trailer Park, to the left of the parking lots.
During the Summer months the waves tend to be slow rollers, because there’s not much swell in the Atlantic Ocean. The Fall and Winter months are the best, with Hurricane and Winter storm swells.
If you are an experienced surfer, head East of Ditch towards Camp Hero where you can hike down the cliffs to surf at a few spots. This is for experienced surfers only. Try to go with someone who knows the spot. If not, hang back and watch the locals for a bit. The waves East of Ditch tend to be bigger, and there are rocks and boulders to avoid in the water.
Best Tide: Low to incoming Mid-tide
Best Wind: Offshore, out of the NW
Access: If you are not a resident of Montauk, don’t even think about parking at Ditch Plains. Parking is by permit only. However, you can grab a taxi anywhere in town and easily be dropped off at the parking lots.
Best Swell: Southeast
Ability: Beginner to Advanced. Be sure to fall flat as there are rocks and boulders starting at Ditch Plains to all the way East.
Best Season: Fall and Winter
Water Temp: At the end of August, when the water finally warms up, you can rock your MI OLA suit. The rest of the year you will be sporting neoprene, from a 3/2 Springsuit to a 5/4 wetsuit with booties and gloves.
Crowd Factor: High on Summer weekends. Moderate during the week. Very low from October through April.
Other activities:
If the waves are flat, try renting a SUP in Fort Pond. If you like fishing, Montauk is a great place to hop on a boat and go deep sea fishing.
How to get there/where to stay:
Located 120 miles from NYC, Montauk is a three hour drive East on the Long Island Expressway (495) - if there is no traffic (HA!!!). During the Summer, you can spend HOURS in traffic if you leave at the wrong time. The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is a good option, leaving from Penn Station in NYC and dropping you off right in Montauk about three hours later. The Jitney bus is also another great option.
From Summer shares, boutique hotels, to motels, their are a lot of options in Montauk. If you plan to visit during the Summer, be sure to book early as places book up fast. Good options are: Atlantic Terrace, Montauk Manor, Hither House, Snug Harbor, Surf Lodge, or AirBnB.
Apres Surf:
Famished? The Ditch Witch is located right at Ditch and has some great refueling options. If you are looking for a great sandwich with super fresh ingredients, try out Joni’s. Love bagels, breakfast sandwiches/ pastries, and pies? You MUST go to Montauk Bake Shoppe. For great coffee, head to Left Hand Coffee. And my all time favorite are the tacos at The Hideaway. There is a plethora of great restaurants in Montauk - you really can’t go wrong with a bad meal!
We’ve been covering the science of surfing in the past few months, so click here to learn more about swell, how waves are formed, how wind affects waves or what makes a wave a left or a right. We also have super handy surf guides from all around the world, written by our local ambassadors, so if you are headed on a surf trip be sure to check them out!