Great state park for visiting the beach. Has a nice boardwalk and several large fields for picnics and playgrounds. Also has a couple of basketball hoops in field 4 Very clean facilities and beaches $10 entry fee for the car read more

See all

I haven't been here in years but it's just as beautiful as ever.the beach is right on the long Island sound that has some excellent swimming and fishing areas. Super large picnic area with plenty of tables and grills. Bike and walking paths galore. They also have beautiful 27hole golf course for your enjoyment. PS wifey liked all the beautiful Sea shells she picked up for her necklace making hobby. read more

See all

Sunken Meadow is the perfect spot for a family beach day in the summer. We were excited for perfect weather on a Sunday and packed all our beach items and headed here. Parking is $10. There is amble parking in the parking lot. From the parking lot it's a brief walk to the beach stairs/ramp. It is a state park so it is upkept and clean. Bathrooms were extremely clean so that is definitely a huge plus. We got there early so there were a lot of people but it wasn't packed round about 3pm though it was just packed with people. I'm originally from Hawaii so it's hard for me to really enjoy beaches. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean this beach was though. The sand was nice and my kids were excited to pick through the pebbles. We will definitely be back for another summer beach day. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

The beach is extremely rocky but nice . There is an incredible boardwalk that is great for a stroll or to sit on the benches to view the water. The parking field is large . There is also a concession stand with decent choices . I highly recommend water shoes - the rocks in the water can be slippery and the rocks on the beach are harsh for the feet. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

Came here for a bridal shower and it was one of the most if not the most beautiful shower I had ever been to. Everything from the staff, to the food, to the beauty of the venue, the outdoor views of the ocean, accessibility to the boardwalk, the lightning, perfection. It was spacious, airy, just lovely. I highly recommend people check out this venue if an occasion arises. The photos outside were top notch! The room is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. Just loved! read more

Been coming here for a long time I still visit regularly The good: The boardwalk. It's .75 miles each way. So you can walk with Connecticut and the Sound in the distance. It's an easy walk . There is a decent Food place and on Wednesdays they have a seafood feast in the summer. It's s relatively short walk to the beach. Even at low tide you can swim here There is a Golf Course The bad: I went around July 4 It was a mob scene. People camped out anywhere and everywhere. It looked like an Army on Bivouac sans Jeeps and tanks. The beach is fairly crowded It's kinda rocky It's got it's positives, but on Long Island there are better beaches. read more

Originally constructed in 1928 on lands that were donated by the town of Smithtown with the promise of an extension of the sagitiokos Pkwy. Later on this would become reality when in 1957 New York completed the extension known as the Sunken Meadow Pkwy. I really enjoyed this park and believe it to be better than Jones beach. Sunken meadow being a north shore beach offers beautiful calm views of the sound along with amazing woodlands and walking trails. Being a fan of hiking trails I found that this park provided amazing views of nature as well as marsh lands and the sunken meadow creek. Sunken meadow truly has lots to offer any nature enthusiast and beach goer. Spend the day here in the sun and beauty of the north shore. read more

See all

I come here once a week to walk the boardwalk. It's one of my favorite places to be. The best part is sometimes you get to see weddings at the far end of the boardwalk where they have the venue. Bathrooms can be found to the left before you go up the stairs to the boardwalk, or in the main building where they sell food. There are also bathrooms on the far right end of the boardwalk, though depending on the season they may be closed. There is a ramp going up to the boardwalk as well that is accessible. read more

This review is based off the beach solely! This is one of the only LI beaches I'll go to - the parking entry fee is $10 which is reasonable, there's always plenty of space & the beach is clean & not overly crowded. There's a boardwalk that I always tell myself I am going to walk, maybe next time! read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

See all

I've been to so many beaches in Long island,and what make Sunken meadows stand out is that I can actually swim in it because the waves are smaller & water is calmer. Good for families with small kids. It's a family friendly beach, food & drinks can be brought in. Tents & umbrellas & hard cooler are not restricted. It can become crowded & noisy during weekend & holidays so come early. It's 10 bucks to park / entrance & i believe its free with empire pass. Bathrooms are okey & theres a big parking lot. read more

See all

I came here to go on a walk while my boyfriend played some golf. I was looking for a longer walk and was already at the park, so the 4 miles it listed sounded perfect. The trail was not too busy, as it wasn't the nicest day. As I started the view was already beautiful and continued to surprise me as I explored. The paths were a combination of paved, sand, and dirt of sorts. For me, I was not sure what to expect and the walk was listed as easy to moderate, but it was definitely much more of a hike than expected. There are MULTIPLE paths, so it's definitely customizable, but can also get confusing, especially when you lose service. There were also a few sections that definitely harder and more adventurous. I loved the path, but was incredibly surprised by how difficult it got with the hills and sandy path. Definitely look into it depending on if you are with children or older people who may have a harder time with the inclines and unstable path. I will definitely be back to explore and remind myself it is more of a hike than walk. read more

See all

A beautiful park. Beach playgrounds(2). Boardwalk ... bike riding jogging. Walking. A lot to do... bathrooms and I think a snack bar...? Only issue is on the weekends super busy....there is a lot of parking but also crowded. There's a fee I think $10.00 to get in. If you live near there's a State of New York sticker. Maybe 80.00$ unlimited access .Free after 4:00 or 5:00..Seniors free weekdays... read more

Came here for a group meeting for a sunset stroll. There is no parking fee after 6PM. Plenty of parking spots since a lot of beach goers are leaving around that time. While walking on the boardwalk, you saw folks paddleboad, yoga, wedding ceremony, and many other activities. It is neat to see all this going on. Great view of the sky during sunset. Only thing to note, there were plenty of small insects that cause itchiness after biting you. Have to come back and check out the out the areas. read more

See all

$10 for a car of one person on a Monday morning Beautiful 3 mile boardwalk Mountain View's Lovely pavilion Lifeguards on duty Fishing available Handicap accessible Birds chirping Peaceful and relaxing :) read more

This is a lovely beach and park on the north shore of Long Island. If you have young children (ages 3-7 years), the relatively calm waves of the Sound are safer than the ocean waves on the south shore of Long Island. After paying a $10 admission fee per car (in the summer), you will drive for about 1 mile to the Main Circle and the park office (large brick building to your right). From there, you can walk a short distance to the beach or take a scenic hike along the 3-mile boardwalk. Ramps are provided for improved accessibility. I was surprised by how uncrowded the beach seemed. The wide, open space allowed families to spread out. I only had time for a quick 20 minute visit, but if you're traveling on Long Island (near the mid-point at Islip, NY), it's worth considering a pleasant stop here! The only blemish (4 stars) is the park's strict policy on banning pets all year. I understand the need to protect people and minimize cleanup costs for pet waste removal, but it would be nice to see a loosening of the "pet ban". read more

See all

I am at the beach, a destination that I chose for my weekly Sunday drive. It was easy to find a parking space on Field One in early May during the Covid-19 quarantine, and parking was free. There are some who are having picnics while listening and dancing to their favorite music, blasting from cell-phone Bluetooths. A lot of beach goers are here, too, and some are not wearing masks. Most are sure though to maintain a six-foot distance from one another, whether it is on the police-patrolled parking lot, the sand or the boardwalk. The air is fresh, the sand appears clean, and people are having fun. There couples of all ages holding hands on the boardwalk. There are amateur fishermen on the rock jetty despite the sign several yards before it that says "keep off jetty". Children appear to be having the most fun. There is a kid in front of me who is being buried in about two feet of sand by two other kids and one of the three adults surrounding her. Swimming is prohibited. The only ones swimming in the water were two swans. Many different languages are heard here, from Polish to Portuguese. Everyone is enjoying the Spring madness by taking "time to sit back and unwind". The scene is similar to how Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince describe "Summertime". If you want to go to a diverse, clean and safe park and beach to have some exercise and fun, go to Sunken Meadow State Park. Wherever you live, it is worth it to come out here for the day. read more

See all

I agree with Carole, it's a lovely time of year to take a stroll on the boardwalk. Concessions are closed, but I only go after 4pm when it's free. Clean and generally hassle free. Watch out for the spandex crew thinking they're on the Tour de France, but actually just from San Remo. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

All right, listen. When I was very young, in the single digits of age, my mother would take my brother and me to the beach. We called it The Beach, but it was Callahan's, a town (Smithtown) beach in Fort Salonga. We had friends that went to Sunken Meadow, which was practically next door to Callahan's, only beaches don't have doors. That would be insane, for a beach to have doors, right? I mean, other than for the bathrooms. You'd definitely want doors there. Where was I? Oh yeah, so my brother and I always wanted to go to Sunken Meadow instead, but we'd never go there because the state park pass cost more than the town park pass, or something. But to get to Callahan's we go north on the Sunken Meadow Parkway and then, at the very end, when you'd see the toll booths for the state park, we'd turn off at the last exit to go west on 25A. This was always expected but always disappointing. The first time I ended up going to Sunken Meadow was when I was a junior in high school and joined the cross country team because I knew I'd never make the varsity soccer team. It was here where I met my hilly nemeses Hernia and Cardiac, and how I kept my weight at a maximum of 125 pounds. Fast forward a hundred years later (all right, maybe 30) and I finally began to return to Sunken Meadow. You see, I'd discovered the South Shore beaches in my 20s and realized that I didn't have to endure the rocks and the seaweed and other nonsense along the sandy North Shore. But I was no longer 125 pounds, so I wanted to find places to walk long distances, and someone recommended the boardwalk. And what a lovely boardwalk it is. The last couple of years, I'd walk on that boardwalk and along the parking lots to record my steps. Over the past few months, once I ballooned to a weight that I wasn't proud of -- and was in the kind of health where, to quote Norm MacDonald, my doctor said at my 2021 checkup, "Open your mouth and say OINK" -- I started to run. (All right, JOG.) One 5k race turned into several, and now I've been trying to get my workouts in at Sunken Meadow, sometimes as much as seven miles. (Yes, seven miles in a row.) I run along the boardwalk, then over the bridge and then along the perimeter of the lagoon. I'm not yet ready to try to conquer Hernia and Cardiac like the (very) old days. But that time will eventually arrive. If I don't drop dead while running, first. FOUR STARS read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Took this photo on 9/22/2019. I couldn't look at it for too long because it made me TWO TENTS. - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

See all

My favorite local spot for BBQs, boardwalk and beach time but mostly hiking. Hiking in the sense it has enough hills and trails to push myself and to train myself to step out of my comfort zone - if I want or to stay just in my happy place. The beach has the north shore rocky sand with beautiful views. There are a number of trails depending on what your looking for and multiple parking lots Depending on why you are going there. Been there twice this week - one for hiking and one for boardwalk to beach ‍7 miles "walk of pain" in the last few It was one of those times you should have REAL water shoes that's meant for a hike if you want to explore or not step on all the rocks, shells, AND possible future splinters !! Either way when I'm looking for a bit of it all and am local Li - this is on my top 5! read more

See all

Wow, today was my first time here. This is such a beautiful place, almost like a hidden gem. It is a little bit up there to drive to, but very much worth it as there's beach and a boardwalk. While I came during the winter season, I still a managed to capture the beautiful scenery. I'd love to come here again during warmer seasons for a walk or a quick run. NOTE: There are usually tolls collected, but fortunately, none were collected today. This is probably a temporary thing due to COVID and the winter season. If you don't mind the cold and you're "negative", come here for some fresh air and nice views! read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Boardwalk - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

See all

Very clean state park less than hour drive from Queens with more than enough picnic and BBQ areas. Beautiful boardwalk along the beach and various trails in the park provide much hiking opportunities. read more

One of my favorite parks on Long Island is Sunken Meadow State Park. The park offers one of the most impressive views of the Long Island Sound. There are a few bridges that expanse over Sunken Meadow Creek as it runs from the interior of the park to tidal flats at the mouth of the Nissequogue river. There are also acres of undeveloped and heavily wooded rolling hills. Besides the environmental beauty, one can enjoy playing on the ball fields and the open lawn areas. The well-maintained beach provides swimmers an enjoyable plunge in the calm waters of the Long Island Sound. For those who are familiar with the Greenbelt trail, the park is the northern boundary. And for those individuals who love golf, there is 27-hole golf course originally designed by Alfred Tull in 1897. I have played it several times and have always enjoyed every one of my rounds. The east end of the park has salt marshes where one would find many different species of birds and animals freely enjoying the open land. One can find animals or birds such as the s Piping plovers, Diamond-back terrapins, snapping turtles by the creek, Red foxes, and deer along woodland trails of the park. One could have an enjoyable full day and never find themselves bored visiting this park. read more

See all

Came here for the almost-4-mile hike through hills, woods, on sandy bluffs overlooking LI Sound, the Fall leaves & water views. There are several trails (we took the white & red trails) that either weave in & around forested areas, or along the embankment high above & parallel to the Sound. All meet back at the picnic/BBQ area near Field 3. There is also a boardwalk near the beach, which has both great, wide sand while other parts of the beach are dotted with soft, tumbled stones. Trails are well marked & just wide enough that ticks should not be a problem. Signs state that no pets are allowed, but we saw several folks walking with their dogs. I know that this park offers a great deal more activities & amenities but I can only speak for the hiking trails, which were just right for my needs & wants. read more

See all

Pretty beach not far from home which we just discovered after 2.34 years here on LI. Lots of beautiful views on a nice day like today! 85% people are social distancing and wearing masks. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Pretty day - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

See all

Always loved using the trails here. Definitely a great workout. If it's not for you then the Boardwalk is always an option. In the summer I take my kids here for a ling day of bbq's , riding bikes and playing soccer or whatever they choose. The beach is not a far walk away from the parking lot which is huge btw. Bring your food , lots of ice and drinks. Get there early to set up your spot because it gets packed very fast in the summer. Enjoy. read more

See all

This is the best time to go to sunken meadow park to take a walk. Reason no summer crowds Have fun!!!! read more

Today on 8/9 we decided last minute to make a quick visit to Sunken Meadow Beach Park. We arrived at 830am, paid the $10 fee and got a pretty good parking soot near entrance. We walked about 4 rows to the entrance, there is a 6ft space in between cars. So there is definitely social distancing, in the park we noticed some people wearing masks in public space and others without a mask. We found a spot ice and empty. Water is extremely calm, no waves. Good day to visit the beach instead of being home. Got a with fruits and sandwiches from stuff we bought at costco nearby. Wifi is bad, can barely get 2 bars on my verizon cell. The walk from parking lot to beach from where i parked was about 10 minutes at a fast pace. I. Noticed families staying near bathroom / public house and that is why beach was a bit more crowded near public house space. MAKE SURE TO BRING A POOL SHOES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO WALK ON BEACH! Descent beach to be in early morning, after 12pm it was time to get out! read more

See all

This is a local gem. Beaches, hiking and TONS of beautiful scenery. My brother and his wife did their maternity shoot here and the pictures came out great! Nice location to visit since it offers hiking AND beach. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

9/4/2020 Got to Sunken Meadow State Beach early soon after it opened at 9am, first impressed with COVID-19 rules followed in parking lot with cones every other spot so there are space between cars. Signs and antibacterial dispensers before and after comfort station, signs on boardwalk and beach for social distancing (10' between beach set ups & 6' social distancing). Then around 12 Noon the latecomers systematically broke the rules on the beach by setting up where ever they want, not Just kids but adults, parents and grand parents. Parking lot cones were removed and cars parked. No matter what signage and precautions are set in place it means nothing when no one enforces the rules. We will have another increase of COVID-19 spike. read more

I hadn't been here since I was a teenager. I remember it being rocky but it wasn't as rocky as I remembered. Robert Moses was full and I didn't feel like the long walk from the parking lot to the beach at Jones Beach. Got to Sunken Meadows around 11 am and found beachfront property. It was not crowded at all and I was pleasantly surprised. The rocks were not as bad as I remembered! It's a bay so it was calm and no waves. With private beaches closed to non-residents during the pandemic, I would make Sunken Meadow my second choice of Robert Moses were closed. read more

All summer long, on Sundays they have a DJ and karaoke on the boardwalk, right in front of the enormous snack bar. From 3 pm until sundown, this state park and beach front rocks. You have to come down, grab a burger, chicken, hot dog or some churros and listen to the music; or even better sing some yourself. read more

I really enjoy visiting this park with my family. I created a lot of lovely memories in this place with my family

This was a great park/beach. I went to a cookout here this weekend and everything was lovely. The park and beach are both well kept and very clean. There is a lot of space, and sunken meadows is very beautiful. The atmosphere is lovely and a very inviting. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - walking to the water...it was a little chilly - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

The true MELTING POT of the North Shore!! Even coming here as a little kid, I was amazed at the cornucopia of languages we'd hear as we made our way through the classic beach pavilion, over the busy boardwalk, to the crystal shores of the Long Island Sound. Swim, sunbathe, people-watch, hike, picnic, bird and nature watch, take hundreds of gorgeous photos, and with half an ear open, you can imagine you're either at some tropical getaway, or maybe a far off Baltic Sea resort!! I confess I also under-appreciated this gem while I grew up on LI, but now LOVE coming back here for a nostalgic walk on the boardwalk or along the shore. No matter what time of year, the boardwalk is busy (never over-crowded) with young and old, from babies pushed in strollers to octogenarians with their walkers. I confess to not knowing the hiking trails well, as when I'm back, I never want to stray too far from the shore, but there truly is something here for everyone. If I were still local, I'd come here every night after work to wind down, and also try to take advantage of the many special events (hikes, concerts, seafood grills...) that seem to happen on a pretty regular basis. Ahhhhhhh, you can take the girl away from the water, but you can never take the water away from me!! Check this place out!!! read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Piping Plover! - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

See all

Beautiful beach to come and watch the sunrise or sunset or even just to do your walk! The boardwalk is super nice and has multiple areas where you can sit down and take a break. The beach is nice compared to so many other beaches I have been to on Long Island. One thing I must say is I never payed for parking so I'm not too sure how expensive it is. I have no complaints about this place besides maybe how bush it gets when there is live music but that's expected with any event on Long Island since there is so many of us on this island. I would recommend this beach for people who like walking and takin pictures! read more

See all

Can't beat the free entry!!! I guess it was one of my lucky days as the park was allowing everyone to enter without a fee. Call me weird or not but sadly not fond of beaches but I must admit this place is beautiful. The beach looked absolutely clean!! Little disappointed as dogs are not allowed (took off 1 star for that). Not sure why pets are not allowed as this place would be ideal for playtime. There's a playground for the kids right next to the visitor information center. Parking is definitely not an issue there's plenty of space. The boardwalk is the best as it's great for walking or jogging. Being here made me feel so calm and relaxed as I can hear the water hitting the shore. If you want to unwind this probably be an ideal spot to have "me" time. Be mindful there's poison ivy and signs can be found throughout the boardwalk to ensure your safety. Some parts of the park were closed especially the restaurants. Never experienced it but a fellow friend has mentioned the sunset is the most romantic here (shall find that perfect day to enjoy that moment). I have yet to explore more but nevertheless it was a gratifying experience. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite places on Long Island to go for hikes. The trails through the hills are a great workout, and the waterfront beach is the perfect payoff to a long hike. The park is huge and has plenty of space for picnics, sports, running etc. I really have only been here for the hiking, but I definitely would love to come more this summer for more outdoor activities. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

I love this beach! I almost don't want to tell people about this area because I love how clean and well-kept this is. This our go-to every summer. It's $10 for parking but they offer summer passes/permits and you can even stay overnight. Whenever we go, it's not that crowded since there's lots of space to spread out on. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

This review is for a sunny winter Sunday afternoon. GORGEOUS! The boardwalk is 3/4 of a mile long, with runners, joggers, some bikers and a lot of walkers taking advantage of the weather and the scenery. We usually travel to Jones Beach for the boardwalk but this was just as nice, only smaller and different view. The Long Island Sound had icebergs in it which we had never seen before. SO COOL!! We were interested in the Long Island Greenbelt which starts in field 3. It was snow and ice covered so we could not explore, but to get there we traveled over a footbridge that transported us out of Long Island to a beautiful vacationland. No entrance fee in the winter, but the office was opened for questions and there was a sign indicating an open concession stand which we did not check out so I can't confirm. The bathroom was gross, but not enough to give the whole park a three. read more

Pavilion at Sunken Meadow - Icebergs floating along the shore. Beautiful. - Parks Near Me - Kings Park, New York

The BEACH at this State Park is disappointing! It has a nice broad walk along the beach area, but the sands and water quality are terrible. The walk from the Parking Lot to the Board Walk seems long. My kids and I spent about 8 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the Broad Walk, and then another 8-10 minutes to walk from the Broad Walk to get close to the water. The quality of the sands was terrible. It had broken shells, pointy rocks in different sizes, trashed and I even saw a man who found a broken glass beer bottle from the sands. The water had lots of seaweeds floating around. The rocks nearby the water was small and pointing. It wasn't easy to just stand by the water because the wave and the pointy rocks made me feel very uncomfortable to be there. There were a few life guards on duty, but they seemed very far away from each other. I would not recommend this State Park if you are going just for the beach. I would recommend Robert Moses over this one for the beach. read more

See all