Where to Stay in Long Island (Best Places & Areas)

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Long Island

From the mouth of the Hudson River by Brooklyn to the coastal stretch of Montauk, Long Island is 118 miles of unique New York terrain. Most of my favorite places to stay are along the coast but you’ll find most of the affordable places to stay closer to New York City in the west.

Montauk

👉 Best Area For The Beach | ✨ Best Montauk Hotels: Marram • Montauk Manor • Daunts Albatross Motel

Montauk is hands-down my favorite place to stay in Long Island. Besides its insanely close proximity to top surf beaches in New York State, Montauk is also home to top Long Island hiking trails and a tight-knit downtown area.

I highly recommend checking out the Montauk Point Lighthouse to sunbathe, Hero’s Beach to surf, and Naturally Good for an organic protein smoothie after hitting the waves. My Montauk hotel, Marram, had its own outdoor pool and was only a short walk from the famed Atlantic Terrace surf spot.

This hamlet on Long Island is also home to an eclectic collection of beachy cafes, souvenir shops, and summer live music spots. Not only is Montauk the best neighborhood in Long Island for surfing, but also for an authentic East Coast beach town experience.

Pros of Staying in Montauk:

• Free parking
• Close to the top surf spots in Long Island
• Delicious Long Island restaurants throughout the town
• Remote location away from Manhattan

Cons of Staying in Montauk:

• Farther from most other Long Island destinations
• Most accommodations are expensive
• Requires a rental car to get to

East Hampton

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best East Hampton Hotels: East Hampton Art House Bed and Breakfast • The Baker House 1650 • EHP Resort

East Hampton is located between Bridgehampton and Amagansett right along the shore. These beach cities may be a bit far out on Long Island, but the isolated beaches make it worth the drive.

East Hampton is the best place to stay on Long Island for families due to the close access to many different beaches and small Long Island beach towns. The East Hampton Main Beach is a great place to sunbathe for an afternoon, and Egypt Beach is the place to escape weekend crowds. 

East Hampton offers many different accommodation options, from budget motels with all the modern amenities to 5-star luxurious hotels like The Baker House 1650, which features spacious rooms overlooking the ocean.

Pros of Staying in East Hampton:

• Close to major Long Island sandy beaches
• Most hotels have an on-site bar
• Far away from big city noise pollution

Cons of Staying in East Hampton:

• Farther away from New York City
• Hotels can be expensive
• Rideshares can be hard to track down

Riverhead

👉 Best Area For Affordable Accommodation | ✨ Best Riverhead Hotels: Hilton Garden Inn Riverhead • Hotel Indigo East End • Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

Riverhead is the best place to stay in Long Island for NYC travelers on a budget. This city is ideally situated between both Manhattan and the beaches of the Hamptons, making it easy to experience the best of both worlds.

Staying in Riverhead is the best way to explore the Hamptons without the Hampton’s hotel prices. Budget hotels like Hilton Garden Inn Riverhead are less than $200 a night and are only an hour away from the top beaches of East Hampton.

This Suffolk County town is famed for its farming, gateway beaches, vineyards, and harvest season experiences. Riverhead is an up-and-coming destination that’s most frequented by younger travelers who simply can’t front more than $500 a night for a place to stay on the coast.

Pros of Staying in Riverhead:

• Affordable accommodation
• Fewer tourist crowds
• Close access to New York City
• Close to the train station

Cons of Staying in Riverhead:

• Farther away from the main Long Island beach attractions
• Not as scenic as other parts of the island
• Fewer tourist activities are offered

Amagansett

👉 Best Area For Nightlife | ✨ Best Amagansett Hotels: Ocean Vista Resort • Journey East Hampton • The Roundtree

Amagansett is a Long Island town with luxurious points of interest and well-kept beaches. This is also where you’ll encounter the best nightlife around and excellent Long Island restaurants.

Amagansett comes alive after Memorial Day, when this otherwise-local spot becomes flooded with New York travelers hoping to escape the heat of the city with a cool dip in the Atlantic.

The Stephen Talkhouse is one of the most popular places to go for an evening of live music in Amagansett. Buy a ticket to see either a nationally-recognized band or local prodigies play at the intimate old music house.

Pizza & Dive Bar, Christian’s by Wölffer Estate, and Coche Comedor are also great places to hang out with an adult beverage in Amagansett. The Roundtree is one of my favorite boutiques in town and it’s hard to beat the ocean views at Ocean Vista Resort.

Pros of Staying in Amagansett:

• Close to popular Long Island live music venues
• High-end shopping is available
• Close to main Long Island beaches

Cons of Staying in Amagansett:

• Accommodation can be extremely expensive
• Farther away from New York City
• Need a car to get around

Sag Harbor

👉 Best Area For Remote Workers | ✨ Best Sag Harbor Hotels: Faraway Sag Harbor • Sag Harbor Inn

Sag Harbor is one of the quietest places in Long Island. The John Jermain Memorial Library is a great place to hunker down for a day to knock out some work projects without loud disruptions. I loved sitting on a picnic table at the iconic Sag Harbor Windmill to do some remote work on the harbor as my pup played in the sand. 

Sag Harbor Inn is an ideal place to stay in the area. It has a wonderful outdoor pool, a laidback vibe, and a free continental breakfast.

The small town receives far fewer visitors than neighboring Hamptons villages like Montauk and Amagansett, giving it a coveted relaxed atmosphere. I’ve seen other digital workers working outside of Sagtown Coffee and Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, both of which were great places for remote work.

Keep in mind, however, that most cafes and other establishments in Sag Harbor (and most of Long Island) don’t allow dogs inside. You will have to leave your pup at your hotel or Sag Harbor rental if working remotely.

Pros of Staying in Sag Harbor:

• Away from noisy tourist crowds
• Near quaint harbor beaches
• Plenty of downtown shopping is available

Cons of Staying in Sag Harbor:

• Accommodations are expensive
• Farther from top surf beaches in Long Island
• Not as many tourist attractions are available

Southampton

👉 Best Area For Escaping Tourist Crowds | ✨ Best Hotels: Southampton Inn • The 1708 House • The Bentley Hotel Southampton

Southampton is close enough to the beach but just far enough to escape heavy summer tourist crowds. The historic coastal town of Southampton is home to vast stretches of farmland, fun beaches like Flying Point Beach, and a quaint downtown area equipped with a weekly farmers market and cute boutiques.

I personally liked to spend time at the Southampton estate-like public library to work remotely outside without much noise. The downtown shopping area receives far fewer tourists than nearby Amagansett and was another favorite place of mine to walk my pup. 

The drive from Southampton to Montauk is approximately 1 hour, so keep this in mind when planning where to stay in Long Island. I recommend staying at a hotel with a swimming pool like The Bentley Hotel Southampton in the hot summer months.

Pros of Staying in Southampton:

• Away from noisy tourist crowds
• More affordable hotels
• Plenty of spaces to work remotely 

Cons of Staying in Southampton:

• Far from some top Long Island surf beaches
• Not as many tourist attractions are available
• There can be New York City traffic

Greenport

👉 Best Area For Historical Spots | ✨ Best Greenport Hotels: The Menhaden Hotel • American Beech Hotel • The Harbor Front Inn

Greenport is one of the best towns in New York. It’s located on the North Fork of Long Island. Greenport has come a long way since its early days as a whaling and oyster town. Today, tourists travel from near and far to experience the historical downtown Greenport.

Greenport is a family-friendly town with fun Long Island activities like an old carousel in the middle of the village, wide-open parks, a skate park, and ice cream stores. I highly recommend trying the seafood while you’re in town. PORT Waterfront Bar & Grill is one of my favorite places to eat the fresh catch of the day.

The Menhaden Hotel is a great option in the heart of Greenport with multiple outdoor gathering spaces like a porch with a harbor view and a glamping dome that’s perfect for stargazing.

Pros of Staying in Greenport:

• Away from busy tourist crowds
• Full of rich Long Island historical spots
• Easy to get to via New York City

Cons of Staying in Greenport:

• Requires a ferry crossing if coming from the Hamptons
• Fewer tourist attractions are available
• Far away from top Long Island beach towns

Tips for Staying in Long Island

Tip #1 – Watch Out for Ticks

I had no idea that Long Island had such a huge tick problem when I visited the area with my dog. Be cautious of long grass on Long Island hiking trails and always check your clothes and your pet’s fur after hiking or exploring the sandy beaches of the island.

The ticks are small, dark brown, and oval-shaped. I pulled several off of my pup during my stay in Long Island.

Tip #2 – Rent a Car

Long Island encompasses 118 miles of scenic beauty. Rent a car to get from beach town to beach town without the hassle of waiting for scarce rideshares. I personally used the search engine Discover Cars when I visited Long Island and was able to visit my favorite beach an hour away every day. 

Tip #3 – Consider Camping to Save Money

I highly recommend checking out the Hamptons while on Long Island to experience the most scenic stretches the island has to offer. Most accommodations are well over $500 a night, though. So, consider camping in Long Island in a state park to save some serious cash!

Hither Hills State Park Campground is right on the beach and is one of the best campgrounds in New York State.

Tip #4 – Pick a Centrally Located Hotel

You’ll end up driving a lot more than anticipated if you don’t stay in a centrally-located hotel. Some Long Island beaches are more than an hour away from each other, so stay in a good beach location to save some big bucks on gas.

📚 Related Reading: NYC On a Budget (Exactly How to Do It On the Cheap)

Tip #5 – Stay Near the Beach

Most tourists visit Long Island to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. The beach is one of the main attractions of Long Island.

If you can, try to book a hotel right on the beach for early morning access to some of the best waves Long Island has to offer. The beach areas are also much quieter than staying in Long Island cities like Queens.

I highly recommend staying close to the sandy shores of the island coastline to have the best beach experience, especially if you’re visiting Long Island in summer or fall.

FAQs About Where to Stay in Long Island

What is the best place to stay in Long Island on vacation?

Amagansett, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Montauk are the best places to stay in Long Island on vacation. These beach locations are some of the most coveted tourist destinations in New York State and are a great way to cool down from the summer humidity.

What are Long Island’s neighborhoods?

Riverhead, Greenport, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Watermill, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Montauk are among some of Long Island’s neighborhoods.

Is Long Island New York a nice place to live?

Long Island was voted one of the best places to live by New York locals. The low crime rate, prime public education, commute, and available jobs on Long Island play heavily into its appeal as one of the best places to live in New York. 

Is Long Island a suburb of NYC?

Long Island City is a suburb of NYC but the island of Long Island is not. These two neighboring New York areas are within easy commuting distance of each other and make great vacationing destinations.

👉 Looking for more helpful travel info on New York State? Get your free printable New York itinerary here!

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You made it to the end of my guide on where to stay in Long Island! Let me know where you’d like to stay in the comments below. And since you’re in the area, check out some of the best places to stay in New York City, too.