MTA Releases Beach Getaway Guide

With summer approaching, many will be flocking to visit the beautiful local South Shore beaches.

For those wanting to avoid the beach traffic, the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) recently announced their 2016 Long Island Rail Road Beach Getaways guide.

All LIRR Beach Getaways packages include round-trip rail as well as bus, taxi and ferry travel and beach admission to for access to the local beaches.

The railroad runs a 10:09 a.m. express to Long Beach on weekdays and holidays and this year is introducing two extra eastbound Montauk branch trains on Fridays for those who want to travel to Fire Island.

The first departs Jamaica at 8:04 a.m. with stops including Bay Shore, Sayville and Patchogue where beach-goers can connect to ferries bound for their favorite Fire Island community.

A second eastbound train will depart from Babylon at 12:02 p.m. and make another trip to Patchogue.

Jones Beach State Park Package - (Memorial Day Weekend 5/28 - 5/30; Daily 6/25 to 9/5)

Take the train to Freeport Station and walk downstairs for the N88 NICE Bus.

The Jones Beach State Park Package includes: Round-trip rail to and from Freeport station, bus transportation (NICE Bus) to the East or West Bathhouses or the Central Mall at Jones Beach.

Cost: $20.50 from NYC and Brooklyn; $17.00 from Jamaica.

Long Beach Package - (Weekends 5/28 - 6/19; Memorial Day, 5/30; Daily 6/25 to 9/5)

The package includes discounted one-day round-trip rail to Long Beach station, discounted admission to the beach, a participating vendor’s coupon for a round-trip ride on the Long Beach Bus and discounts at participating vendors throughout the city.

Take the train to Long Beach station.

Cost: $23.75 from NYC and Brooklyn; $20.50 from Jamaica.

For more information on visit www.longbeachny.org

Robert Moses State Park - (Daily 6/20 to 9/5)

Take the train to Babylon station and walk downstairs for the S-47 Suffolk Bus.

The package includes round-trip rail and round-trip bus transportation to Robert Moses.

Cost: $24.25 from NYC and Brooklyn $19.25 from Jamaica.

Captree Fishing - (Daily 6/20 to 9/5)

Fishing gear is included. For a schedule of boat departure times, call (631) 669-6464 or visit here.

Take the train to Babylon station and walk downstairs for the S-47 Suffolk Bus to Captree Fishing Boats.

Package includes: round-trip S-47 Bus transportation and admission on one of Captree’s fishing boats.

Cost: $48 from NYC and Brooklyn; $48 from Jamaica; $30.50 children (5-11).

Fire Island Getaway Packages - (Daily May 28 to September 5)

To Bay Shore Station for Kismet, Ocean Beach and Ocean Bay Park

Take the train to Bay Shore station and board a David Brothers Taxi to the Fire Island Ferries.

The Kismet package includes: round-trip rail; round-trip ferry voucher; round-trip taxi voucher and admission to the Lighthouse.

Cost: $40.25 from NYC and Brooklyn; $39.75 from Jamaica, $22 children ages 5 to 11. For Ocean Beach and Ocean Beach Park, the cost is $36.25 from NYC and Brooklyn; $35.75 from Jamaica; $18 children ages 5 to 11.

To Sayville Station for Cherry Gove, Fire Island Pines & Sunken Forest at Sailors’ Haven - (Daily May 28 to September 5)

For Cherry Grove and the Pines, take the train to Sayville station and board a Colonial Taxi to the Sayville Ferry.

The package includes round-trip rail; round-trip ferry voucher, round-trip taxi voucher.

Cost: $33.25 from NYC and Brooklyn; $32.75 from Jamaica.

For Sunken Forest take the train to the Sayville station and board a Colonial Taxi to the Sayville Ferry.

The package for Sunken Forest at Sailors’ Haven includes: round-trip rail; round-trip ferry voucher, round-trip taxi voucher.

Cost: $31.25 NYC, $30.75 Jamaica and $17 children ages 5 to 11.

For schedule of ferry departure times call Sayville Ferry Service (631) 589-0810 or visit here

To Patchogue Station for Davis Park and Watch Hill - (May 28 to September 5)

For Davis Park take the train to Patchogue station, then a Lindy’s Taxi to the Davis Park Ferry.

The Davis Park package includes round-trip rail, round-trip taxi voucher and round-trip ferry voucher.

Cost: $39.50 from NYC and Brooklyn; $39 from Jamaica; $29 children ages 5 to 11.

For Watch Hill take the train to Patchogue station. You can walk to the Watch Hill Ferry from the west end of the station.

Package includes: Round-trip rail; round-trip ferry voucher.

Cost: $32 from NYC and Brooklyn, $25.75 from Jamaica $17 children ages 5 to 11.

For schedule of ferry departure times for both Davis Park and Watch Hill call the Davis Park Ferry Co. (631) 475-1665 or visit here.

Copies of the full-color brochure can be found at LIRR terminals and stations and the details are also available at the MTA LIRR website.