Southampton Village has one lifeguarded beach, Cooper's, so a Southampton beach day starts there. In 2026 the Village staffed weekends from May 23, weekdays from June 20 and weekends 9am to 6pm from July 4 to September 7. The plan then drives west to Hampton Bays for the bay.
Parking and permits for the Village are on Hamptons Beach Pass, and food on Eat Hamptons' Southampton page.
- 10:00amArrive at Cooper's Beach, where chairs, umbrellas and cabanas are rentable and the showers are fresh.
- 12:30pmLunch from the Cooper's concessions.
- 3:00pmSwim again inside the flags until the guards leave: 5pm on weekdays, 6pm on weekends from July 4.
- 5:30pmDrive to Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays, a stillwater bay beach.
- 8:00pmStay for the sun going down over Great Peconic Bay. Sunset is near 8:20pm in July.
Rules to remember
Alcohol and pets are not allowed at Cooper’s. The Village sells daily passes for Cooper’s only, in person. At Meschutt, Suffolk County runs a supervised bathing beach with a food concession, restrooms and kayak rentals.
Swaps
For the ocean all day, Ponquogue in Hampton Bays has a pavilion and volleyball. For quiet instead, try the Village’s unguarded beaches: Old Town or Road G.
Renting near the water?
Hamptons Key lists current Southampton rentals by the month and the season.