The Jones Beach State Park consists of over 2,400 acres and includes nearly 7 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach frontage and a half mile of bay frontage developed for quiet bathing, or at least as quiet as bathing can be where over 8 million visitors converge on the lovely beaches annually. The park is popular for its exceptional beaches fronting on the ocean and its close proximity to down town New York City. With over eight million visitors annually the Jones Beach State Park ranks as the most popular beach area on the entire East Coast.
The park has many concession stands along the boardwalk during the summer season. Some of the bigger concession locations remain open beyond the busy summer season. There are also two swimming pools accessible to the public at Jones Beach. The West Bath House pool is open all week long, while the East Bath House pool is available to bathers on weekends only.
The Jones Beach boardwalk is commonly full of activity with joggers and runners and others looking for a day of peace and relative quiet as they stroll along the ocean front. Music along the walkway is not uncommon and live performances, ice cream and cotton candy, concession stands, along with the fresh ocean air make it a busy place for New York City residents to get away for awhile and mingle among the crowds.
A Greenway alongside the Wantagh State Parkway permits bicycling, skating or walking on the nearly 4 mile pathway leading from Cedar Creek County Park on Merrick Road into the Jones Beach State Park.
The main buildings on the Jones Beach site are the two huge bathhouses (west and east) and the tall water tower. The West Bath House is also residence to a Friendly's ice cream parlor on the upper level. The patio outside of the ice cream parlor overlooks both the pool and the ocean making for a pleasant stop off point while visitors cruise the beachfront.
Jones Beach is reachable by bicycle, boat, car, and even bus during the summer season. The majority of park visitors travel by car by way of the Meadowbrook State Parkway or the Wantagh State Parkway. Visitors often arrive by power or sailboats and like to anchor on the quieter bay side of Jones Beach particularly during nights to watch displays like the enormous fireworks show that takes place every July 4.
There are six primary parking facilities along the boardwalk that can accommodate up to nearly a quarter of a million visitors. As one might expect, the center parking lots are busiest on weekends during the summer months. Bicyclists can park their bikes for free, but are advised that biking is prohibited within the park during the summer months.
There is a nature preserve on the Beach's West end named after former President Teddy Roosevelt. The preserve area of the beachfront is a designated surfing zone.
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, an outdoor stadium in the park, is a prominent musical concert venue.
Jones Beach is home the New York Air Show during the last weekend of May. The air display is one of the largest in the Country.
Jones Beach State Park..