Fort Tilden
Beach and Surf Spot
Breezy Point, Queens
"crowded beaches in the city."(3 Tips)
"park by the Jacob Riis Park parking"(2 Tips)
"other NYC beaches"(2 Tips)
"license online and head over to the Ranger station"(2 Tips)
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47 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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B RomanOctober 13, 2018No lifeguards. Adult beach that is very relaxed about swimsuit coverage. Bring sunscreen. Bring lunch. Bring biting fly repellant. Please bring trash bags to carry out.
Upvote7Downvote
Martina CarusoJuly 11, 2018Best beach at the Rockaway. You need to walk a bit to reach it, but it’s worthier, and so quiet!
Upvote3Downvote
Sarah SpagnoloJune 24, 2015A 10-mile bike ride from my place and totally worth it. Uphill going back into Brooklyn though. The smaller snack shack past the bathrooms has craft beer, Ample Hill ice cream, and empty picnic tablesUpvote2Downvote
Kelsey✨August 17, 2017Love Fort Tilden! It's a bit of a hunt, but oh so worth it. This is one of the least crowded beaches in New York.
UpvoteDownvote- B RomanOctober 13, 2018Fort Tilden beach needs a legal Clothing Optional area with two lifeguard stations. Lobby your state representative for all of us who wish to feel free and healthy in nature.
UpvoteDownvote - B RomanOctober 13, 2018Adult-friendly, quiet, clean, and remote. Occasionally biting stable flies blow in from nearby horse paddocks...
Upvote1Downvote 
Angel MarreroAugust 30, 2015Is the hike to the beach the same hike towards Riis from the parking lot? Or is the walk more over from Riis? I've been to Riis but now I would love to go to Ft. Tilden Beach.UpvoteDownvote
Willem Van LanckerAugust 2, 2015Incredible undeveloped beach — park at Jacob Riis and walk a bit as the crowds thin out.Upvote2Downvote
MetroFocusApril 10, 2012Fort Tilden originally served as one of the most modern additions to the fortifications of NY Harbor. It was decommissioned as a military installation in 1974. Discover other NYC's war sites on MF: Read more
Upvote1Downvote
Untapped CitiesMarch 13, 2015Fort Tilden was actually predated by a blockhouse built in the Rockaways during the War of 1812, though there was no large-scale defensive installation on the peninsula until Fort Tilden’s arrival. Read more
Upvote1Downvote
Kmart FashionDecember 2, 2011Fort Tilden is clean and has one of the least crowded beaches in NYC – what more do you want? Our tip: Getting there is a little arduous. Avoid the headache and just take the $25 two-way ferry.Upvote1Downvote- Nick LosiSeptember 11, 2016Not too crowded compared to other NYC beaches, but if you can make it out here on a weekday the magic is double.
UpvoteDownvote 
U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyJuly 3, 2012Photo challenge! Check out these Documerica photos from 40 years ago. Take a photo on Fort Tilden Beach today and submit it to our State of the Environment Photo Project. Read moreUpvoteDownvote
Joshua TuscanJuly 8, 2019Wild piece of beach with tons of naked people. One of my favorite places in NY.UpvoteDownvote- the ocean is filled with tiny jelly creatures. it's like swimming in bubble tea.
Upvote1Downvote 
- Gail AmuraoJuly 11, 2011probably my favorite beach so far in NY area. park by the Jacob Riis Park parking if you don't have a permit and then walk out to the beach.UpvoteDownvote
Heather FinkJuly 8, 2011Byo food and water bottle- there's a public bathroom and water fountain in the park outside the beach! Ps fort Tilden is the best.UpvoteDownvote
- Angel MarreroAugust 30, 2015Are the jelly fish there in abundance and when are they a nuisance? At low tide or high tide? Will I get badly stung by them? I understand there are no lifeguards on post.UpvoteDownvote
JESS3November 16, 2011Formerly referred to as "secret beach" - it now resembles Williamsburg's ultra-hip strip Bedford Avenue, with sand and water.Upvote1Downvote
Tim VetterJuly 10, 2011Across the street at Riis Landing on the bay side, the NPS often runs day programs where they'll let you borrow a kayak & toodle around.UpvoteDownvote
- Untapped CitiesJuly 27, 2012Fort Tilden is an abandoned fort in Queens that used to house nike missiles. Read more
Upvote2Downvote 
- Park across the street from the entrance to the park and hike it in to the beach from there. Decent bathrooms and water fountains en routeUpvote2Downvote
- Get yourself fishing license online and head over to the Ranger station for a year-long pass to park inside the Park.Upvote1Downvote
ᴡ ReinfordApril 12, 2013hard to get to, but such a great place to hang. closed in 2013 though due to sandy :(UpvoteDownvote
- Angel MarreroAugust 30, 2015So, if I show the Rangers a fishing license, will I still have to pay for a parking pass???UpvoteDownvote
506 Photos
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Fort Tilden
Bayshore Blvd W
Queens, NY 11697
United States
Queens, NY 11697
United States
Open until 6:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 6:00 AM–6:00 PM
(718) 318-4300
See More
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"Always a good time. Favorite burger in Rockaway. Fries very good too. Tasty Micheladas to chill out, boozy Beach Juice to get crazy. Nice mix on the radio playlists and a relaxing atmosphere."
Jane O'Donnell - 7.3
"Great service, best calamari of all time. Can't wait to come back."
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