Montauk

Montauk is a hamlet of 3,300 people (2010) in East Hampton on Long Island in New York.

Historic Montauk Point Lighthouse in early morning

Understand

Montauk is known by many Long Island residents as "The End," because it is the easternmost point of the island and New York state.

Montauk has a rich history. It is named after the Montaukett tribe that lived on the lands that now encompass Montauk. Urban legend tells of Captain Kidd burying treasure somewhere in Montauk around 1700. Montauk is also home to the oldest ranch in the United States, Deep Hollow Ranch.

At the point of the hamlet stands Montauk Point Lighthouse, the first lighthouse built in New York and fourth-oldest lighthouse in the United States.

Montauk is home to the largest commercial and recreational fishing fleet in the state of New York. It boasts the claim that it has more saltwater fishing records than any other port in the world.

Get in

Montauk is easily accessible by car, by bus, by rail, and even by boat.

By plane

• 1 Montauk Airport (MTP  ^IATA), 428 E Lake Dr (on the north side directly east of Montauk County Park), ☏ +1 631 668-3738. Serves charter planes and private flights, with Tropic Ocean Airways offering seasonal routes from New York Seaplane Base.  

East Hampton Airport (HTO ^IATA) offers a larger runway suitable for light jets with a number of charter companies.

Otherwise, taking a commercial flight to New York is easy. There are three airports to chose from in the region. John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK ^IATA) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA ^IATA), both in Queens, and MacArthur Airport (ISP ^IATA) in Islip are all easily the first step to getting to Montauk. However, the Queens airports, in particular, are quite distant from Montauk, and taxi fares to or from those airports would be prohibitively expensive.

By car

It's easy to get out to "The End" in your own car or by rental car. The only road that goes out to seaside town is Sunrise Highway (or Route 27), which runs from New York City all the way to Montauk. Along the way, Sunrise Highway turns into Montauk Highway, yet it is still known as Route 27.

By bus

The Hampton Jitney bus service runs from Manhattan to Montauk. There are also local Suffolk County buses that run from town to town.

By train

The Long Island Railroad (LIRR), run by MTA, is an alternative to driving. Most trains run from Jamaica station in Queens, where it's an easy change from other trains from Manhattan and other parts of New York City.

• 2 Montauk railway station, Edgemere Street and Fort Pond Road (north of the city center). (updated Apr 2020)

By boat

Seasonal ferry service operated by Viking Fleet runs between Montauk and Block Island, New London, and occasionally Martha's Vineyard. Marina's and anchorages are available for private yachts.

• 3 Viking Dock, 462 West Lake Drive. (updated Apr 2020)

Get around

Once in Montauk, the most efficient and convenient way to see all the sights and destinations is by car. While some hotels are within walking distance to many sites, there are more that are spread out. Taxis are plentiful.

See

• 1 Montauk Point Lighthouse, 2000 Montauk Hwy, ☏ +1 631 668-2544. The Montauk Lighthouse is a historical lighthouse with a beautiful view of "The End" of Long Island. It is the easternmost lighthouse on Long Island. Adult $9, seniors $7, children $4.  
• 2 Hither Hills State Park, 164 Old Montauk Highway (50 South Fairview Ave), ☏ +1 631 668-2554. A beautiful state park that has camp grounds, grills, and beach access and natural areas. It offers families, couples, and individuals a great place to enjoy a day or even a weekend. Great outdoor recreation. 
• 3 Camp Hero State Park, 1898 Montauk Hwy., ☏ +1 631 668-3781. (updated Jan 2018)
• 4 Montauk Point State Park.  
• 5 Montauk Downs State Park.  
• 6 Montauk County Park (Theodore Roosevelt County Park).  
• 7 Amsterdam Beach State Park.  
• 8 Shadmoor State Park.  

Do

There is plenty to do in Montauk. It is renowned for its fishing and even claims to have more saltwater fish records than any other port in the world. There are six state parks, the famed Montauk Point Lighthouse, and many restaurants, shops, and sights.

• The Viking Fleet, 462 W Lake Drive, ☏ +1 631-668-6668. Fishing, whale watching, and other activities. (updated Aug 2017)
• Montauk Bike Shop, 725A Montauk Hwy., ☏ +1 631 668-8975. 
• Puff ‘N’ Putt, Main Street, ☏ +1 631-668-4473. Mini-golf and arcade: M-Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 10AM-11PM; boat rentals M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-6PM. A family fun resort with mini-golf, a variety of boat rentals and an arcade. 

Buy

Numerous specialty shops, restaurants, and markets line Main Street (Montauk Highway). It is here that you can find an array of goods, treats, and fresh, local seafood.

• Paulie's Tackle, 4 Edgemere St, ☏ +1 631 668-5520. 
• Herbs Market, 778 Montauk Highway, ☏ +1 631 668-2335. 
• Air & Speed Board Shop, 795 Montauk Highway, ☏ +1 631 668-0356. 
• Strawberry Field Flowers, 695 Montauk Hwy, ☏ +1 631 668-6279. 
• Montauk Bookshop, 37a The Plaza, ☏ +1 631-668-4599. 
• Whalebone, 65 Tuthill Road, ☏ +1 631-668-2772. (updated Aug 2017)
• Willow, The Plaza, ☏ +1 631-668-0772. 

Eat

Numerous restaurants for every taste are in Montauk. There is an abundance of fresh, locally caught seafood markets, restaurants, and bars. No matter what it is that you are looking for, fine dining or a casual eatery, you can easily find it in Montauk.

• Naturally Good Foods & Café, 38 South Etna Ave, ☏ +1 631-668-9030. 
• Montauk Bake Shoppe, 29 The Plaza, ☏ +1 631-668-2439. 
• Harvest on Fort Pond, 11 South Emery St, ☏ +1 631 668-5574. 
• Duryea's Lobster Deck, 65 Tuthill Rd, ☏ +1 631 688-2410. 
• Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina, 32 Star Island Rd, ☏ +1 631 668-3100. 
• Fishbar Montauk Seafood Restaurant, 467 East Lake Dr, ☏ +1 631 668-6600. 

Drink

Bars and lounges are all around Montauk. Local bars are often frequented by fisherman and tourists alike.

Sleep

Montauk offers a wide array of hotels, bed & breakfast, and motels to accommodate all visitors. The interesting thing about Montauk is that you will not find any chain operated hotels or motels. This is because Southampton zoning laws forbid chain hotels. Therefore each hotel, motel, and bed & breakfast is independently owned and operated.

• The Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina, 32 Star Island Rd, toll-free: +1-888-MYC-8668 (692-8668). Has long been a destination for visitors to the shores of Long Island's South Fork East End. 
• Gurney's Inn Spa & Salon, 290 Old Montauk Hwy., ☏ +1 631-668-2345. Nestled among the dunes, Gurney's Inn Resort & Spa has, for eight decades, been a place for stressed New Yorkers to escape the pressures of the city. It has spectacular ocean views and is in a remote, wild, windswept setting, and also has one of the nation's few seawater pools. 
• Sands Motel, 71 S. Emery St, ☏ +1 631-668-5100. 75 ft (23 m) from ocean beach, located near the western end of the village. Amenities include 50-ft pool, bedrooms & efficiencies, w/phones, A/C, refrigerator, Wi-Fi Internet access, TV/HBO. All rooms non-smoking. Deluxe 2-1/2 room suites with full kitchen & private balcony; 2-bedroom cottage; BBQs. Children welcome. 
• Ocean Resort Inn, 95 S. Emerson Ave, ☏ +1 631-668-2300. Jacuzzis for two, ocean-view rooms & suites. 
• 1 Montauk Manor, 236 Edgemere St, ☏ +1 631-668-4400. Perched on one of the highest points in Montauk with stunning views, this wonderful old building is a historic landmark that has been restored and turned into a modern luxury resort hotel/condominium. The facility has a restaurant, tennis courts and indoor swimming pool and is within walking distance of town and the beach. (updated Apr 2017)
• Hartman's Briney Breezes Motel, ☏ +1 631-668-2290. Overlooking Montauk's beaches with great ocean view from all their renovated rooms, each with a terrace or balcony. They have 1- and 2-room accommodations. 
• Memory Motel, 692 Montauk Highway, ☏ +1 631-668-2702. World famous motel & bar immortalized by the Rolling Stones in the mid-1970s. 13-room motel with moderate rates and bar which features live music. 

Go next

Routes through Montauk

Babylon ← East Hampton ←	W  E	→ END
Babylon ← East Hampton ←	W  E	→ END