Most famous Hamptons beaches face south toward the Atlantic. In June the sun sets at about 303 degrees on the compass, well to the northwest, which puts it behind the dunes and houses for anyone standing on a south-facing beach. For a sunset on the water in summer, go to a beach that faces north or west: the bay and Sound beaches such as Lazy Point, Crescent Beach and Foster Memorial Beach.
The geometry flips in winter. In December the sun sets at about 239 degrees, to the southwest, so a south-facing ocean beach gets a sunset out over the water. The sunset times table has the minute and compass direction for every month.
Beaches where the sun sets on the water in summer
Lazy Point Beach
A Napeague Bay beach at the end of Lazy Point Road. Unguarded, with a launching ramp and a view that takes in the summer sunset over water.
Crescent Beach (Louis’ Beach)
Shelter Island’s north shore, facing Greenport. The wide sand gets evening light, and the July 4 fireworks are held here.
Foster Memorial (Long) Beach
A mile of Noyac Bay shoreline facing north; summer evenings fall over the water.
Meschutt Beach County Park
Great Peconic Bay at the mouth of the Shinnecock Canal. Boats in the foreground, sunset over the bay.
East Lake Beach (Gin Beach)
Lake Montauk’s east shore, looking west across the water. A food truck on site.
Big Albert’s Landing Beach
A lifeguarded Napeague Bay beach that stays open until sunset.
Havens Beach
Sag Harbor’s village bay beach, a short walk from Main Street. Check the water-test results before wading.
The compass, month by month
On the 15th of each month the sun sets toward the following directions at the central South Fork: January 243 degrees, March 268, May 296, June 302, August 289, October 259, December 239. A beach faces roughly south if it is on the Atlantic. Standing on it, a sunset at 243 degrees is out over the ocean to your right, while a sunset at 302 degrees is behind your right shoulder, over land.
When to arrive
The sun is six degrees above the horizon about 40 minutes before sunset in June and the last usable light runs about 33 minutes after. In summer that means arriving by 7:30pm. Bring a headlamp for the walk out, because most of these beaches have no lighting and several close at sunset.
The ocean-beach exception
Ocean beaches do give you a good dusk. After the sun drops behind the dunes the sky colors over the water, which is the effect in the photograph on this page. The sun is behind the land by then, but the sky is worth staying for. If you want dinner to follow, Eat Hamptons lists waterfront restaurants.
Questions
Where is the best sunset in the Hamptons?
On a bay or Sound beach that faces north or west in summer, such as Lazy Point in Amagansett, Crescent Beach on Shelter Island or Foster Memorial Beach in Noyac.
Can you see the sunset over the ocean in the Hamptons?
In winter, yes: from about November to January the sun sets to the southwest, out over the water as seen from a south-facing ocean beach. In summer it sets behind the dunes.
Sources
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory: Solar calculator
- Town of East Hampton: Lazy Point Beach
- Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce: Guide to Shelter Island Beaches
- Town of Southampton: Foster Memorial Beach (Long Beach)
- Suffolk County Parks: Meschutt Beach County Park
Checked October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change; the operator’s posted signs win. How we check.