Rockaway Beach, tucked just 12 miles beneath the hustle and bustle of New York City, boasts a seven-mile stretch of sandy beaches and the most solid surf in proximity to Manhattan.
Only an hour ride by train, ferry, or car can transport you from glass-windowed skyscrapers to the glassy walls of the Atlantic peeling down the line in Rockaway Beach.
Rockaway Beach Surf Guide
Photo courtesy Aidan Murray
Waves in Rockaway
Rockaway Beach is an A-frame beach break. Rock jetty groins were installed to strengthen Rockaway’s coastline after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to slowing down erosion and reinforcing sandbars, the jetties have created substantially better waves. Goofy-footers are in luck in Rockaway: you’ll find far more left-breaks peeling off the jetty than right-breaks.
The Rockaways Peninsula juts out of southern Long Island, with the Atlantic Ocean on its Southeastern side. Ideal conditions for Rockaway are North/Northwest (offshore) winds and a swell direction from the East/Southeast.
Low-mid tide is generally best, but if there are great waves, any tide will work.
Rockaway is surfable for beginner, intermediate, and expert level surfers. With the right conditions, it can produce world-class waves. Due to the different groin and sandbar formations, different jetties will produce different sized waves, so it may be in your best interest to check out a few depending on what you’re looking for.
Unfortunately for those who prefer warm water surfing, the best time of year for surfing in Rockaway falls during the colder months, with swells picking up during hurricane season in late August and holding up through March.
One upside of winter surfing is the absence of crowds that fill Rockaway during the summer. This being said, there are still plenty of great days scattered throughout the summer season.
The easiest way to get out to the lineup is by using the rip current next to the jetties.
The rip currents should be used with heed, though. The bigger the waves, the stronger the rip, and they are no joke: I’ve seen them lead to countless near-drownings and trapped surfers with my own eyes.
Photo courtesy Aidan Murray
Surf Culture in Rockaway
Rockaway is home to multiple surf shops, surf schools, and surf-influenced restaurants and cafes.
The surf culture is vital to Rockaway, and has dipped its toe into almost every aspect of the community.
Out in the lineup, localism is as fickle as the waves themselves; it can range anywhere from moderate to extreme.
On smaller days during the summer, popular breaks will be mobbed with beginners, surf-school students on foamies, a few decent surfers and locals, and a huge lack of surf etiquette. For the most part, advanced surfers and locals aren’t wasting their time fighting for waves in these conditions.
If Surfline predicts fair to good waves anywhere from waist-high to overhead, locals will be marking their territory at their favorite breaks.
The line up can get very competitive during good swell days, so practice surf etiquette and respect locals if you get out there.
Gear Needed to Surf in Rockaway
In the summertime, water temperatures are warm enough to surf in just bathing suits and rash guards, although springsuits and shorties may be more comfortable in early June, for early morning sessions or for protection from the sun.
Suit up if you plan on surfing from late fall through the spring, though. The water temperature sinks quickly once fall comes around and doesn’t quite warm up until mid-June. You’ll want to invest in a thick wetsuit, booties, and gloves if you intend to surf through the winter.
The board you take out of the quiver will depend on the conditions. A fish, funboard, or longboard would be best for anything around two to three feet, while your shortboard will be more rewarding in anything in the four foot to overhead range.
If you’re looking to rent or buy a board, wetsuit, or have any other equipment needs, try Rockaway Beach Surf Shop (Beach 116th Street), Boarders Surf Shop (Beach 92nd Street), or Station Surf Shop (Beach 67th Street).
The 3 Best Surf Locations in Rockaway
Beach 91st Street
Beach 91st Street, named Richie Allen Way after the heroic fireman and surfer who lost his life on 9/11, is the most popular break in Rockaway.
The rock jetty has stood there since before Hurricane Sandy, and its formation combined with its adjacent sandbar consistently form some of the best waves in Rockaway.
A Surfline cam records this spot, so it’s easy to check on before making the trip down to the beach. Street parking is available, but if you’re heading down on a summer weekend, you’ll want to get there early to find a spot. It is also down the block from the train station and less than a mile from the ferry.
Beach 67th Street
Beach 67th street, also located down the block from a train station, is another solid surf spot in Rockaway. This break is usually less crowded than 91st street, but surf schools host camps and private lessons around here during the week in the summer.
Typically, there are more out-of-towners than locals, and you may find a more welcoming vibe than at 91st.
Bay 1
Bay 1 is located in Riis Park, on the western end of Rockaway Beach. A long jetty and beach wall separate the two, with better waves on the Riis Park side. This is usually a longer wave than you’ll find in the rest of Rockaway due to the length of the jetty and deeper water. It is more of a local spot and gets crowded on good days.
Photo courtesy Aidan Murray
What To Do in Rockaway When the Waves are Flat
If you happen to visit on a flat day, there’s still plenty to do in Rockaway, especially in the summertime. For a lively beach setting, take a trip to Beach 97th street, where you’ll find the concessions and a jam-packed beach swarming with people from every corner of New York City.
The concessions on 97th street feature a wide array of food and drink choices. Be sure to check out Seany Pizza for the best pizza in Rockaway.
Beaches 106th street and 86th street also have concessions and typically offer a more low-key beach day than 97th street.
Looking for somewhere more surf-related? Check out the Rockaway Beach Surf Club, a popular restaurant/bar space that promotes surf culture, or Locals Collective, a coffee shop and cafe with merchandise and surfboard storage available.
Conclusion: Rockaway Surfing
Photo courtesy Aidan Murray
While not many people would think of putting “surfing” and “New York City” in the same sentence, they fit together seamlessly in the shape of Rockaway Beach.
The small town in Queens lies at the intersection of coastal and city living, creating a unique surf culture against the backdrop of New York City that anyone would be lucky to be a part of.
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