The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Hamptons, Long Island

November 26, 2021 Moriah Teneyck

The legendary Hamptons, a cluster of wealthy enclaves on Long Island’s South Fork, remains a celebrity summer playground, with splashy restaurants and nightclubs galore. But lovely beaches, fishing and kayaking attract off-the-A-list visitors, as well. Old money oozes throughout Southampton, while new wealth reigns in East Hampton. Montauk is a hit with fishermen and surfers. The Long Island Railroad travels the Hamptons in an hour. The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum and Montauk lighthouse are popular stops.
Restaurants in Hamptons

1. LongHouse Reserve

133 Hands Creek Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937-3808 +1 631-329-3568 [email protected] http://www.longhouse.org
Excellent
90%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 112 reviews

LongHouse Reserve

Located in beautiful East Hampton, New York, LongHouse Reserve is a sixteen acre garden with established lawns, ornamental borders, plant collections and outdoor sculpture, planned by the internationally recognized textile designer, Jack Lenor Larsen. Mr. Larsen, along with the recommendations of the LHR Art Committee, has assembled a collection of over 70 sculptures for the gardens. LongHouse Reserve was established in 1991 and reflects founder Jack Lenor Larsen's desire to encourage creativity in gardening and in collecting and everyday living with art.

Reviewed By StephenCr0ss - Dublin, Ireland

Amazing gardens and wonderful place to see. It’s under refurbishment for the winter but the items are still amazing. Recommended

2. Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center

830 Springs Fireplace Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937-1512 +1 631-324-4929 http://pkhouse.org
Excellent
68%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 76 reviews

Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center

Open by advance reservation through October 31. Reserve on our website, pkhouse.org. Admission strictly limited to 50% capacity. Masks and social distancing required. The house, and its adjacent studio, give visitors a glimpse of how artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner lived and worked. A National Historic Landmark.

Reviewed By B1486RPmariap - Port Jefferson, United States

The Docent was very informative and enthusiastic about sharing the information on Pollock-Krasner. The space gives you a feeling of what it was like to live and work together. Much smaller studio than I would have imagined for such a large figure.

3. Mashomack Preserve

79 S. Ferry Rd., Shelter Island, NY +1 516-749-1001 http://www.shelter-island.org/mashomack.html
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 136 reviews

Mashomack Preserve

This Nature Conservancy property spans 2,100 acres, and accounts for one-third of the land on Shelter Island.

Reviewed By debrak2

This is a great place for a hike, especially with the family. I went with my 2 daughters in their 20s and we chose the red trail (1.4 miles). The trail was easy (I have arthritis of the knees, so it was just fine) and it was clearly marked with benches along the way. Kids will really like the fact that you get to read one page of a children's picture book every few yards, so that once you finish the hike you finish the story. There is also a gazebo along the way with water views. A lovely experience ... highly recommend it!

4. Montauk Point Lighthouse

2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954-5600 +1 631-668-2544 [email protected] http://www.montauklighthouse.com/
Excellent
57%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,443 reviews

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Located on the tip of Long Island, the oldest lighthouse in New York State offers a museum, gift shop and tours.

Reviewed By N2647LQdavidw - Waddington, United States

A must see attraction. This beautiful Lighthouse on the tip of Long Island is worth the trip .You can have a picnic and take a tour and climb to the top of the lighthouse with spectacular views. And you better hurry cause it might go over the edge sooner or later

5. Cooper's Beach

268 Meadow Ln, Southampton, NY 11968-4600
Excellent
67%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 347 reviews

Cooper's Beach

Scenic beach stretches 500 feet along the Atlantic shoreline offering a view of historic mansions in the distance.

Reviewed By Rtktennis - Southampton, United States

As nice as it gets. Great food at reasonable prices for the Hampton's Worth the parking fee if you can’t bike there. ..

6. Ditch Plains

Montauk Peninsula, Montauk, NY
Excellent
59%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 142 reviews

Ditch Plains

Located on the Montauk Peninsula, this popular beach is noted for excellent surfing and body boarding.

Reviewed By fuwa1818 - Cincinnati, United States

Beautiful in the mornings! Not very crowded and mainly friendly locals out on the water. Catch a lesson with Coreyswave if you'd like to learn. Surf is consistently good for beginners in the summer. IMPORTANT: If you're visiting, none of the lots are open to cars without an East Hampton beach parking permit. I parked in the free lot at Shadmoor State Park and took the 20 min walk to Ditch. Phenomenal way to start the day with a clear mind!

7. Ponquogue Beach

Dune Rd. over Ponquogue Bridge, Hampton Bays, Southampton, NY 11946 +1 631-283-6011 https://www.southamptontownny.gov/977/Ponquogue-Beach-Pavilion-Redevelopment
Excellent
77%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 157 reviews

Ponquogue Beach

Reviewed By 376arthurh

This is one of my favorite beaches on Long Island. Has life guards, a concert series and a small concession stand as well as bathrooms during the summer season. Requires a permit or a day pass. Check out the Town Of Southampton website for details.

8. Hither Hills State Park

Old Montauk Hwy., Montauk, NY 11754 +1 631-668-2554 http://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/hither-hills-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=297
Excellent
59%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 204 reviews

Hither Hills State Park

Reviewed By CherryTravels17 - New Jersey, United States

My husband and I visited Hither Hills State Park on a Saturday. It is quite large and with minimal cell service in the area, we got lost looking for the Coastal Trail. We came across the Walking Dunes Trail by accident. (There was free parking on the street bordering the trail.) We only did the first loop but it was very unique and featured views of the water, dunes and forest. We later found the Coastal Trail and parked in the lot at the end of Navy Road. (Parking was free.) The trail was easy and had a nice mix of forest and water views.

9. Montauk Point State Park

East End of Route 27, Montauk, NY 11954-5600 +1 631-668-3781 http://parks.ny.gov/parks/61/hunting.aspx
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 258 reviews

Montauk Point State Park

Reviewed By JohnRegoPark - Rego Park, United States

It's a far place, no doubt about it, but it is really worth it. The ride from New York is generally smooth until you get to the Hamptons when all of a sudden the highway becomes a street, and there are lights. The park itself is wonderfully laid out. There is ample parking, bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and hiking paths. You can get down to the water and walk around the base of the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is not to be missed. There is a small charge to get into the museum which is the bottom floor of the lighthouse. The exhibits chart the history of the lighthouse, which has never been moved. The efforts to keep the sea at bay are very interesting. Because of covid restrictions, there is no place to buy food here. This is a wonderful day trip from anywhere on Long Island and will supply a lasting memory.

10. Parrish Art Museum

279 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, Southampton, NY 11976-2639 +1 631-283-2118 http://www.parrishart.org/
Excellent
53%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 136 reviews

Parrish Art Museum

Inspired by the natural setting and artistic life of Long Island's East End, the Parrish Art Museum illuminates the creative process and how art and artists transform our experiences and understanding of the world and how we live in it. The Museum fosters connections among individuals, art, and artists through care and interpretation of the collection, the presentation of exhibitions, publications, educational initiatives, programs, and artists-in-residence. The Parrish is a center for cultural engagement, an inspiration and destination for the region, the nation, and the world.

Reviewed By CityMouseBklyn - Brooklyn, United States

An absolute gem. The collection, showcasing contemporary works as well as older pieces from the region, is the perfect size and thoughtfully balanced. The galleries are spacious, airy and well-lit, and the sculpture grounds on the outside are full of stunning pieces, beautifully landscaped. There's a little cafe (nothing special, but decent prepared sandwiches, coffee etc.) and a nice gift shop. We visited during COVID summer and they were very thoughtful about timed reservations, with just enough people moving in and out for good distancing, and sanitizers everywhere. The staff were very kind and knowledgeable. This is a lovely day trip from NYC (about 2 hours drive with regular traffic, more on Hamptons-heavy weekends) and right next to a winery, a farm and some nice sightseeing drives. Highly recommend!

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