USA
New York
All levels
Beach break
Surfing Rockaway Beach: Complete Guide
Rockaway is New York City's only legal surf beach — a stretch of Queens coastline reachable by subway with peaky beach-break waves that come alive during hurricane season. The 90th Street jetty produces the best peak on most swells.
Wave type
Beach break
Skill level
All levels
Best season
August – November
Swell
S – SE (hurricane swells)
Wind
Offshore N
Water temp
5–22°C
Crowd
Moderate
Why surf Rockaway Beach?
Surf in the morning, work in Manhattan in the afternoon — and hurricane swells in September are genuinely good.
Beginner-friendly?
Beach 67th Street is the designated surf-school beach with mellower, sandier conditions.
Hazards & local knowledge
Cold winter water, jetty rips, summer crowds.
Nearby towns
Brooklyn • Queens • Long Beach
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