A Beach Day in Montauk: Kirk Park to the Point

Montauk’s beaches reward a split day. The Town’s ocean beaches have guards from 9am, its lake beach from 10am, and the state park at the Point stays open to sunset. This plan assumes a July day and starts where non-residents can park: Kirk Park charges by the session, while Ditch Plains’ lot is for East Hampton residents with a Town permit.

Hours are the 2026 Town schedule: guards 9am to 5pm at the ocean beaches and 10am to 5pm at East Lake. For food, see Eat Hamptons’ Montauk page and for parking and permits, Hamptons Beach Pass.

1. 9:00amSwim at Kirk Park Beach when the guards come on. The Town sells an eight-hour parking session by phone or QR code, and the village is a short walk.
2. 11:30amWalk the Rheinstein Park trail from Miller Avenue to look at the surf at Ditch Plains without needing the resident lot.
3. 12:30pmLunch from the food truck at Kirk Park or in town.
4. 2:00pmMove to East Lake Beach on Lake Montauk. Calm water, a food truck and guards until 5pm.
5. 5:00pmDrive to Montauk Point State Park, open until sunset, for the lighthouse and the view where the tides meet.
6. 8:00pmIn July, sunset is near 8:20pm. East Lake looks west across the water, so end there if you want the sun on the lake.

Getting there

If you are deciding whether to bring a car, Hamptons Commute answers do you need a car in the Hamptons.

Swaps

On a day with a big south swell, skip the ocean entirely and spend it at East Lake. On a calm day, move the Ditch Plains stop to the afternoon when the lineup is thinner. In September, the Town’s guards stay on for the two weekends after Labor Day at some beaches, and Hither Hills keeps its ocean swim through September 20.

What the plan skips on purpose

Parking prices, permit rules and fees live on Hamptons Beach Pass. Restaurants live on Eat Hamptons. Getting to Montauk is on Hamptons Commute’s Montauk page.