Sag Harbor has two bay beaches and no ocean beach, which makes it a good place for a calm day. Havens Beach is at the village edge with no lifeguard listed; Foster Memorial (Long) Beach is a few minutes away on Noyac Bay and has lifeguards, showers and a marked swim area.
Check the water-test results for Havens before wading. Parking and permits are on Hamptons Beach Pass, food on Eat Hamptons’ Sag Harbor page, and the South Ferry to Shelter Island on Hamptons Commute.
- 9:00amWalk Havens Beach before the day warms up. Check the posted water-test results.
- 11:00amHead to Long Beach; the guards are on duty from 10am to 5pm.
- 12:30pmLunch from the mobile concession.
- 2:00pmSwim in the marked area, with sailboats and powerboats kept to a separate zone.
- 7:45pmSunset falls over Noyac Bay on summer evenings.
Swaps
For a ferry hop, spend the afternoon on Shelter Island. For the ocean, drive east to Sagg Main in Sagaponack.
Water quality
Sag Harbor’s water-testing reports for Havens Beach come from the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force, and a local group, Friends of Havens Beach, has posted a January 2025 assessment of the village’s waters. After heavy rain, check the county’s advisory guidance.
Stay in Sag Harbor
Renting in Sag Harbor for the summer or the year? Hamptons Key lists monthly, seasonal and year-round homes there from the brokers who hold them.
Sources
- Town of Southampton: Foster Memorial Beach (Long Beach)
- Village of Sag Harbor: Water Quality Beach Reports
- Friends of Havens Beach (local advocacy group): history and water quality
- Suffolk County Health Services: Beach Monitoring Program and FAQs
Checked October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change; the operator’s posted signs win. How we check.