The end of the island, out of season
Montauk, New York · 3 nights · May · Jun · Sep · Oct · up to 8
Montauk in July is a different town from Montauk in late September, and the second one is the reason to come. The point is the eastern tip of New York State, with a lighthouse commissioned by George Washington standing on a bluff the sea is slowly taking back. Ditch Plains is the surf beach and the water stays warm into October. Book the shoulder weeks and the long drive out stops feeling long.
The ending
A bluff at the eastern tip of the state with a lighthouse on it, ocean on three sides, and the boulders of the old revetment taking the swell underneath you.
That is Montauk Point State Park and Lighthouse Bluff. See how private it is and when it’s open.
Do
- Montauk Point Lighthouse Hike
- Ditch Plains Beach Day
- Montauk Catamaran Sunset Sail
- Montauk Paddleboard & Kayak
Eat
- Duryea's Lobster Deck
- Navy Beach
Stay
- Gurney's Montauk Resort
- Marram Montauk
Is the lighthouse open?
The park runs sunrise to sunset year-round; the tower itself keeps shorter hours. The bluff is the part that matters here, and it is open whenever the park is.
When should we go?
Late September or the first half of October. The water is still warm, the restaurants are still open, and the traffic has gone home.
The planner doesn’t build Montauk, New York yet — we can name the places here but not yet enough of them around it to fill 3 nights without repeating. Read this one, then build your own somewhere we can.