Taxing Long Island: Best times to avoid beach traffic
People may just want to cool off and have a day at the beach, but Long Island traffic and filled parking lots can get in the way and tax your patience.
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New York State Parks is recommending the best times to get to the beach in order to avoid heavy traffic and secure a parking spot.
People may just want to cool off and have a day at the beach, but Long Island traffic and filled parking lots can get in the way and tax your patience.
"Very chaotic. We went to Field 6. There were no parking spots. We did leave a little too late," said Alyssa Fagan, of New Hyde Park.
"Field No. 6, that is beloved by so many regulars...that'll fill sometimes as early as 8 a.m. on weekends, 9 a.m. on weekdays," said George Gorman, regional director of New York State Parks.
Gorman says get to Robert Moses by 9 a.m. to avoid all traffic.
Field 3 will be filled by 10 a.m. Field 5 is usually full by noon.
"We also have Sunken Meadow. That on July Fourth weekend is the most popular earliest closure park we have," Gorman said.
Gorman says get on the road to Sunken Meadow by 9 a.m. to get there by 10 a.m. for the Fourth of July weekend,
The same goes for county beaches, like Nickerson in Nassau and Smith Point and Cupsogue in Suffolk.
"You know, the early bird gets the worm. So, if you want a good parking spot, I would leave early. But some people come after work, some people take a swim during lunch," said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Next time Fagan and her friends go to the beach, they say they will get there a little earlier to get a good parking spot.
