Best Surf Spots in the Hamptons for Beginners (2026 Guide)
When deciding where in the hamptons to surf as a beginner, there are a couple of factors to consider. Generally, all of the beaches from Southampton through Montauk receive the same sized swell - thanks to the consistently southeast facing shoreline, without much coastal variance or curvature. So you are not going to be able to find a break that is smaller than the rest (unless, of course, you go to the north side of the Montauk Lighthouse when the waves are big). What you can find, however, are beaches where the local sea floor contour allows for waves that break “soft” rather than the often crunching hamptons shore break. So this list will factor in the general characteristics of waves in the given locations, as well as other factors such as the crowd presence and vibe.
1 - Ditch Plains (Montauk)
Ditch plains is the standard for beginner surf breaks in the hamptons. It is montauk’s answer to Waikiki or San onofre. Thanks to the gradually sloping cobblestone bottom, waves feather and mush at ditch, rather than loading up and folding over like many of the surrounding beaches’ waves. This allows for a mellow and slopey drop. Another feature of ditch is that the reefs at trailer park to the east, and poles to the west, act as swell magnets, leaving a relatively waveless zone between the two points. Waveless zones mean paddle-out highways; surfers can get into the water in between the two ends of the beach, and paddle to either reef, dealing with minimal wave action on the way out. The only downside to ditch is the crowd. It can get crowded. Very crowded. The silver lining in this? The majority of surfers out at ditch are fellow beginners. There is not much of a local pecking order or competitive vibe (unless the waves get bigger, which is not the day for beginners anyway).
2 - Shinnecock County Park East (Southampton)
Shinnecock county park east is ironically, the westernmost point that is east of the Shinnecock inlet. The “county park”, as locals refer to it, is a wide sandbar that is created as a byproduct of the sand flow from the inlet. Although the sandbank changes by the season, you can expect it to be there in some shape or form year after year. Like ditch, this sandbank leads to a gradual slope of the bottom just past the surf, which causes the waves to stand up slowly rather than all at once. And once again, our final product: a mellow, sloping wave. The only reason why county park does not take the cake over ditch, is because it changes with such frequency, and, because it does not have a channel the way that ditch plains does. So when the waves get a bit bigger, do not expect the ease of paddle out that ditch provides. But for what it lacks in the paddle out, it makes up for with its crowd. The crowd at county park is generally very mellow, and sometimes even nonexistent. In addition, there are no cobblestones or boulders to look out for in the lineup; the bottom is purely sand.
3 - Georgica Beach (East Hampton)
Georgica beach is an often overlooked break, that when small, can be very suitable for beginners. At Georgica beach, it’s the jetty that is the star of the show. The jetty interrupts the regular sand flow, and causes a sandbank. Which, if you’re following the pattern, leads to a more gradual slope of the local bottom. But, generally not as gradual as county park or ditch. So here’s the catch: when the swell is small, as in under 3 feet, Georgica can be a great place for beginners. On small days, hardly anyone surfs there, and the waves break relatively close to shore for how slopey they are- which makes for short and easy paddle outs, and a vibe that feels almost private. Once the swell comes up a bit, however, the waves start breaking with a greater ferocity, and the crowd intensifies. And the crowd here- it can be intense. Many of east Hampton’s best surfers call this break home, and they are not always willing to share with beginners. So if you surf here, make sure to have an understanding of basic surf etiquette, and always defer to the locals who are surfing, when selecting your waves.
