Long Island is a 118-mile stretch of land just east of New York City.
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, it is a great place to check out.
However, much of the travel advice on Long Island on the internet tells you to visit the Hamptons and Montauk. There is much more to this special place than these tourist destinations.
In this guide, we’ll share only a fraction of what makes Long Island special. We will walk you through some ideas for an excellent Long Island weekend getaway, that does not include Montauk or the Hamptons.
How to Get to Long Island By Air
Long Island is very accessible through air travel. It features three airports that are served by commercial airlines.
Best Bet: Long Island Macarthur Airport
When visiting Long Island for a weekend, Long Island MacArthur Airport gives you a hassle-free experience when flying in.
Located in Ronkonkoma this airport will put you right in the middle of what Long Island has to offer.
The airport is conveniently centered between the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway. It is also accessible by mass transit through the Long Island Rail Road.
MacArthur Airport is served exclusively by low-budget-cost airlines like Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Breeze Airways.
The time to get to the parking lot to your final gate will take minutes, something you won’t experience at most area airports.
Long Island MacArthur features three runways coupled with a reduced amount of air carriers means that taxi times are minimum. You will be up in the air in no time.
The major drawback to flying into Long Island MacArthur Airport is that you have a limited choice of air carriers.
These air carriers fly into MacArthur from a select amount of locations, mostly from Florida. You will likely need an inbound connection to access this Long Island Airport.
You can learn more about MacArthur Airport here.
Great Choice: John F Kennedy International Airport
Your next best option for flying to Long Island is utilizing Kennedy International Airport in Jamaica, Queens. This airport is located in Queens County, technically a borough of New York City.
Kennedy Airport is situated right off the Belt Parkway that directly feeds into the Southern State Parkway and is connected to the Long Island Expressway via the Cross Island Parkway.
The airport is probably the most commuter-friendly because it is accessible to the Long Island Railroad through an AirTrain at Jamaica Train Station.
JFK is the most airline-friendly airport because various airlines from destinations all over the United States fly into Kennedy. American Airlines & Delta Airlines both utilize the airport as a hub city while JetBlue Airways uses it as a focus city.
The biggest gripe about Kennedy Airport can be airport congestion. Lines to get through security can take hours to get through on the worst days. You will want to give yourself some wiggle room when flying into Kennedy.
The amount of air traffic arriving and departing the airport can make getting into the air on time difficult. Taxi times can be nearly 40 minutes because of lines for takeoff getting 15+ planes deep.
Worst Case Scenario: LaGuardia Airport
Your last option for flying into Long Island is via LaGuardia Airport.
Laguardia Airport is found in Flushing, Queens. Flushing is minutes away from New York City. Out of the three airports on our list, it is the farthest away from the center of Long Island.
It is also the hardest to get to and from. The airport does not have any direct mass transportation via train. You have to either take an uber, rent a car, or catch the Subway to Woodside Train Station where you can ride the Long Island Railroad.
This airport is small, with two active runways. The runways are short, meaning landings and takeoffs from this airport are uncomfortable for nervous flyers.
The airport is one of the most challenging airports to navigate in the United States.
The only real benefit of flying into LaGuardia Airport is that it is served by plenty of airlines.
Just like Kennedy Airport, it is a hub airport for American Airlines and Delta Airlines.
It also has its fair share of low-cost airlines like Frontier Airlines and JetBlue Airways.
Accessing Long Island Through Rail
Getting around Long Island through the railroad is convenient, thanks to the Long Island Rail Road. The LIRR serves just about all of Long Island’s 118 miles east-to-west length.
The railroad technically begins in New York City at New York Pennsylvania Station and terminates at the eastmost forks at Greenport to the North, and Montauk to the South.
Unfortunately, the LIRR does not have any lines that run exclusively north to south.
Trains on the Long Island Rail Road run basically every hour on the weekends.
For the most part, you will not have any issues finding a seat coming out to Long Island on the weekends.
The one time you may have an issue finding a seat on the train is if you have a late night in the city and catch the renowned “drunk train” (the last train out of NYC at 2 am).
The trains run on several branches across the North and South Shores.
The more popular train branches are:
- Port Jefferson
- Ronkonkoma
- Babylon
Jamaica Station, Hickville, Huntington, Babylon, and Ronkonkoma train stations are some of the more utilized train stations.
You can purchase train tickets at the station or on the MTA Train App. Avoid buying tickets on the train because they are more expensive on the train.
Beat the Traffic by Taking The Ferry
Long Island is notorious for its traffic. There is only one access point through highways through some of the boroughs of New York City.
If you are driving down from the New England area, you have the option of taking the ferry.
The Cross Sound Ferry and the Port Jefferson Ferry are the two ferry options across Long Island Sound. They both allow you to take your car on the boat.
The Port Jefferson Ferry connects you from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport, Connecticut. The trip is about an hour each way. Ferries are scheduled every hour and ½.
The Cross Sound Ferry links you from Orient Point to New London, Connecticut. The trip is about an hour and 20 minutes each way.
Things to do during Weekend Getaway on Long Island
Hiking/Outdoor Activities
Long Island has many fun outdoor activities.
The Island has hiking, scenic locations, hunting, boating, and fishing you can participate in.
State Parks and Hiking Trails
There are 37 state parks on Long Island. These state parks are protected lands and are very clean and have plenty to do on them.
Some of these parks are interconnected through the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. The trail starts at Sunken Meadow State Park on the North Shore and terminates at Heckscher State Park on the South Shore.
Another great Long Island hike is visiting the highest point on Long Island at Jayne’s Hill in Melville, NY.
From Jayne’s Hill, you were able to see the Great South Bay to the South and the Long Island Sound to the North.
Today, Jayne’s Hill is largely covered with trees and vegetation but if you squint, you can still make out the Great South Bay!
The Best Fishing in the Northeast
If you enjoy fishing, Long Island has some of the best saltwater fishing in the Northeast. With access to the Long Island Sound to the North and the Atlantic Ocean to the South, you have endless opportunities to catch many fish species.
If you like party boats, you can catch a weekend trip on the Laura Lee and others at Captree State Park.
Huntington, Freeport, Port Jefferson, and Orient Point have party boats that you can walk on a fish for a couple of hours. No fishing license is involved.
For the surf casters out there, there are endless beaches and jetties you can utilize. The best time of year for surfcasting is during the Fall run when Striped Bass and Bluefish are on their migratory run down South.
Other Outdoor Activities
If you are more of an adrenaline junkie, Long Island is home to Splish Splash water park, and its slides that top nearly 300 feet in the air!
Maybe jumping out of an airplane is more to your taste, go to Brookhaven-Calabro Airport and see Skydive Long Island and they will be more than happy to help you out.
Indoor Weekend Activities
A fun weekend indoors is very much achievable on Long Island.
Unfortunately, Long Island can be prone to weather which might force you indoors, however with all the indoor activities, you do not need to worry.
Long Island’s Historical Sites, Tours, and Museums to Visit on a Weekend Getaway
Long Island is home to lots of historical sites that can be toured.
President Theodore Roosevelt called Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay for a while. You can tour his house and bear witness to all of the animal artifacts taken from his hunts.
The North Shore of Long Island was known at one point as Gold Coast because of the extravagant mansions built in the rolling hills there.
Several mansions are available for tours like Oheka Castle and the Vanderbilt Mansion.
Learn more about mansions you can visit on Long Island’s Gold Coast.
Long Island was also known to be “The Cradle of Aviation”. Particularly around the Hempstead, Garden City, and Uniondale areas where the Roosevelt Airport once lived.
That area served as the original point of Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic ocean.
In that location today is the Cradle of Aviation Museum which tells Long Island’s story in aviation. From its role early on to the manufacturing might of the Grumman airplane factory that helped change the course of World War 2.
Sports & Entertainment
Long Island is served by mainly three large arenas that are the home to many concerts and shows.
UBS Arena in Elmont
UBS Arena is the newest sporting and concert venue that opened in 2021 in Elmont and is home to the National Hockey League’s, New York Islanders.
It fits 16,000 people and provides excellent sightlines no matter where you sit. The best part of UBS Arena is how easy it is to access. The Long Island Rail Road brings you directly to its footsteps. No need to worry about parking.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum was the former home to The New York Islanders. It went through a massive revitalization in the early 2010s and reduced its seating capacity but is home to a more intimate venue setting in comparison to the other arenas located on the Island. The New York Nets, the Brooklyn Net’s farm team, is the only tenant of the arena.
Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn
Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn is a great concert and basketball venue. The large ceilings make sounds sound so crisp and clear.
The arena is home to the Brooklyn Nets and has hosted several large boxing fights and Ultimate Fighting Championships cards.
Shopping
For the shopping lovers out there, Long Island is home to great shopping.
You can visit the main street across the various towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and you will be able to find nice mom-and-pop stores.
Long Island is home to several shopping malls.
The Roosevelt Field Mall is located in Uniondale and is Long Island’s most popular shopping mall.
It is over 2 million square feet of real estate for shopping with stores like Neiman Marcus, Microsoft, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom.
In Suffolk County, the premier shopping Malls are Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington and the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove.
The Walt Whitman Mall can be considered a bit more high-end than the Smith Haven Mall. However, the Smith Haven Mall is slightly larger.
If outdoor shopping is more your thing, Suffolk County features two Outlet centers in Deer Park and Riverhead.
Here you will find discounted merchandise from brands like Nike, Under Armor, Tommy Hilfiger, and much more.
Food/Nightlife
You cannot come to Long Island and not have a Long Island Bagel or a slice of Pizza. Every town on Long Island claims they have the best bagel spot or pizza place. You will have no problem finding a good bagel or pizza.
Head down by the shores to get the best seafood Long Island offers. It cannot get any fresher than that.
For expensive dining, you can head to places like Huntington’s Prime Steak House with has beautiful views of Huntington Harbor.
After a night out, you can head to any of Long Island’s 24/7 diners. A recommended diner to try is the Lake Grove diner off 347 in Lake Grove for breakfast.
If you are looking for a good night out on Long Island, it is recommended to head to some of Long Island’s best bar towns.
Towns like Long Beach, Rockville Center, Farmingdale, Huntington, Port Jefferson, Bay Shore, Babylon, and Patchogue have bars that feature good drinks, great music, and dancing.
If you are a craft beer person, Long Island has lots of craft beer breweries. Great South Bay in Bay Shore, BluePoint Brewery in Patchogue, and Sand City in Northport are top breweries here on Long Island.
Recommend Places of Interest to Visit during a Weekend on Long Island
It is impossible to highlight every single feature of Long Island but we narrowed down some areas that can pique your interest in exploring what the site has to offer.
North Shore
The North Shore of Long Island is truly a unique place. It is very hilly and rocky in contrast to the South Shore, which is flat and sandy.
The landscape offers prime real estate with views overlooking Long Island Sound and Connecticut. That fact alone is the reason America’s wealthiest settled along the North Shore, also known as the Gold Coast.
The North Shore is also home to some of the close-knit towns Long Island has to offer.
Northport and Huntington
Northport and Huntington both have downtowns that are their main attractions. You can go watch a play, do some shopping, or grab a bite to eat at some of the many restaurants they offer. They are both located near harbors, so in the summer when the locals have their boats in the water, it creates a beautiful sunset picture.
Port Jefferson and Stony Brook
Port Jefferson and Stony Brook have a similar relationship akin to Northport and Huntington. Port Jefferson is located down by the water, with Stony Brook located more inland.
Although, if you are a history buff, this area might pique a particular interest. The Stony Brook area served an important role in American history.
There was a spy network located in British-occupied Setauket during the American Revolution. This has been popularized in the AMC show “Turn: Washington’s Spies”.
Today, you can walk the same paths as the spies by following the “George Washington Spy Path”.
Port Washington
If you are in Nassau County, Port Washington is a recommended place to check out.
If you go to a restaurant at night on the water, you can get a glimpse of the New York City skyline on a clear day. A truly beautiful sight to behold.
Long Island Ocean Beaches/Fire Island
You cannot go to Long Island in the summer and not head to one of the ocean beaches.
There are three main ocean beaches on the South Shore; Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, and Smith Point County Park in Mastic Beach.
With any state park on Long Island, there is a small parking charge. However, if you go out of season or on off hours, you will be able to get in for free.
Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park is Nassau County’s primary ocean beach.
It features 6 miles of beach, an iconic boardwalk, the pencil, restaurants, and the Livenation beacon theatre where concerts are held during the summertime. Jones Beach is also home to one of the largest annual airshows in the country on Memorial Day.
Robert Moses State Park
A few miles east down Ocean Parkway from Jones Beach and across the Robert Moses Bridge, you will find Robert Moses State Park.
Robert Moses State Park features 5 fields containing bathhouses, playgrounds, and a golf course.
Field 5 is the more popular beach. It also contains a nature boardwalk that connects the state park to Fire Island National Seashore. You can also find the Fire Island Lighthouse that you can tour. On clear days, you can see the New York City skyline from atop the lighthouse.
Smiths Point County Park
The final beach is Smith’s Point County Beach located near the east end. It’s not as famous as Robert Moses or Jones Beach but it primarily serves the eastern end of Suffolk County. It is also the western entrance of Fire Island National Seashore.
Fire Island National Seashore
If you want to avoid the beach crowds, try spending the day at Fire Island National Seashore. There are many towns located in this barrier island stretch however, it is not accessible by car. You can access it by biking from Robert Moses State Park or taking the Fire Island Ferry from Bayshore or the Sayville Ferry.
South Shore Main Streets
During the summer, you can visit Freeport and its Nautical Mile. The Nautical Mile is a strip of restaurants and bars along a boardwalk, which is always a great time.
Nassau County Main Streets
Another recommended summertime hangout is to head to Long Beach for its nightlife and beautiful beach. The area very much resembles Southern California. You will see surfers in the water riding the largest waves the Atlantic Ocean has to offer Long Island. There is also Long Beach’s famous boardwalk you can take a stroll down.
Suffolk County Main Streets
In Suffolk County, there are a series of nice main streets located only miles away from each other.
The main streets of Bay Shore, Babylon, Islip, and Patchogue have been built up in the last recent years. They each feature great food, bars, shopping, and entertainment.
They are all interconnected through the Long Island Rail Road which means that you don’t need to drive if you wanted to have an extra good time.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this guide useful.
Long Island is a truly special place that will have you thinking about coming back time after time.
Let us know what you did and how you enjoyed your time on Long Island. Happy Travels!
