Ditch Plains Beach

Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954

The East Coast's most storied surf break — a long, consistent right point that made Montauk a surf town and still draws a dawn lineup from April through November. Lifeguarded swim area to one side, surfers to the other, food truck in the lot, and a cliffside trail into Rheinstein Park.

Stay2Charters & Tours2

Great day for a beach walk.

Cool but workable

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny. High near 68, with temperatures falling to around 63 in the afternoon. South wind around 6 mph.

Tonight

Clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Weather

  • 68°F air — cool but workable
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 60°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
70 /100
great
55 Swim
71 Sunbathe
81 Walk
68 Fish
80 Photo

Best for walking today

Air Temp
68°F
Sunny
Wind
6 mph
S
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
69°F
Sunny
Water Temp
60°F
Cold
Rip Current Risk
Low
NWS SRF · OKX · NYZ081 · Issued Jun 3, 7:46 PM
Water Quality
Clean
4 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
Sunrise
5:17 AM
Sunset
8:14 PM
Moon · 88%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
7-day chart →
Time Type Height
6:15 AM Low 0.2 ft
12:11 PM High 1.8 ft
6:02 PM Low 0.7 ft
Today Jun 3
68°

Sunny

0%
68
Thu Jun 4
69°

Sunny

1%
67
Fri Jun 5
73°

Mostly Sunny

0%
75
Sat Jun 6
74°

Mostly Sunny

3%
75
Sun Jun 7
70°

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

69%
17
Mon Jun 8
66°

Chance Rain Showers

29%
57
Tue Jun 9
67°

Slight Chance Rain Showers

17%
62
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Minor
10:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Major
2:10 AM - 4:10 AM
Minor
7:10 AM - 8:10 AM
Major
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Parking

Permit-only year-round. Town of East Hampton resident permits sold at the Montauk Playhouse annex; non-resident season $600. Non-resident monthly: May 15 – Jun 30 $250, July $300, Aug – Sept 15 $300. No drop-in daily parking — plan ahead or walk/bike in.

Dogs

No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.

Entry Fee

Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.

Address

Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954

lifeguardsrestroomsconcessions
Is Ditch Plains Beach dog-friendly?

No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.

Is there an entry fee at Ditch Plains Beach?

Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.

Are there lifeguards at Ditch Plains Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Ditch Plains Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Ditch Plains Beach?

Amenities at Ditch Plains Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, concessions.

When is the water warmest at Ditch Plains Beach?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Ditch Plains Beach located?

Ditch Plains Beach is in Suffolk County, NY, at Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

esc