Main Beach is the beach most people mean when they say East Hampton Beach: wide, guarded and busy for good reason. It sits at the end of Ocean Avenue in the Village, with lifeguards from 10am to 5pm from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend and a Main Beach office on site.
The Village flies a four-color flag system, so you can read what the water is doing before you wet your feet. The flag key explains the colors. This is Atlantic water with Atlantic behavior, which means rips and shore break whenever the flag is yellow or red. Swim near the guards.
The East Hampton Fire Department holds its annual fireworks here, and on that night the Village bars vehicles from the sand between Egypt Beach and Georgica Beach. Catered beach events of any size need a Village special event permit. For questions on the day, call the Main Beach office at 631-324-4150 extension 800.
Parking is by Village permit, and Hamptons Beach Pass has the prices and the non-resident daily option. Dogs are not allowed 9am to 6pm from May 15 to September 15. For quieter sand on the same coast, try Two Mile Hollow or the unguarded Wiborg Beach.
Flags at Main Beach
- Green: calm conditions
- Yellow: use caution
- Red: dangerous, stay out
- No flag: swimming prohibited
Good to know
Does Main Beach have lifeguards?
Yes. Village guards work 10am to 5pm from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, and colored flags show what the water is doing.
Are dogs allowed at Main Beach?
Not from 9am to 6pm between May 15 and September 15. At other times dogs must be under control.
