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Wondering what to do in Montauk? This post will offer several ideas, both low-cost and extravagant, depending on what you’re looking for. 

I’m putting together this list of Montauk activities a few weeks after our trip to Montauk! I went to Montauk a few weeks ago with my two sisters and my mom to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday.  

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I’ve always wanted to go to Montauk and the Hamptons but had never been. But the things to do in Montauk NY are plentiful.

If you ever find yourself taking a Montauk getaway or looking for some Montauk activities, I hope this post will help!

How To Get To Montauk

I guess Montauk can technically be considered part of “The Hamptons,” but it’s at the very end (easternmost tip) of Long Island.

It is very picturesque, located on the Atlantic Ocean.

If you’re wondering how to get to Montauk, you have a few options.

1. Driving

I actually ended up driving to Montauk and Montauk activities, but many people take a ferry.

I was supposed to fly into Rhode Island the night before and then take the ferry with my mom and sisters.

Since my flight got canceled, I ended up driving and meeting them there. I took the Southern State Parkway and Route 27 East into Montauk, a beautiful drive.

I was armed with all of my favorite road trip food ideas and Thrive Market snacks, of course.

You can also plan on renting a car.

2. Via Ferry

I believe you can take ferries from New London, CT, Block Island or Martha’s Vineyard.

You can see more information on each respective location site.

3. Via Train or Bus

I also learned you can take a train (Long Island Rail Road) or bus. So many modes of transportation!

Personally, I think you’ll want a car to get around so if you choose not to drive, you may want to consider renting a car.

Things To Do in Montauk

While Montauk is a big tourist destination, I think it can be helpful to go in with a list of things to do.

There is no shortage of Montauk things to do in summer and winter and so many Montauk attractions.

Whether you’re traveling to montauk in October or the touristy summer months, here are some of my favorites.

Visit the Montauk Lighthouse (Montauk Point State Park)

We went down to the lighthouse one morning which is at Montauk Point State Park. It is New York’s oldest lighthouse!

This is a great thing to do in Montauk in winter season, too. It would still be beautiful.

Expect to pay for parking ($8) as well as entry to walk up to the lighthouse (at least in the summer months).

We vowed to just look at the lighthouse from outside the fence.

If you’re looking for a good run from the downtown area, it’s about 5 miles to the lighthouse and you wouldn’t have to pay for parking.

I ran there and of course, had my nathan belt to hold water and a snack.

Beautiful houses to see along the way, too!

Apparently, there is a Montauk Lighthouse Sprint Triathalon, which sounds pretty neat and picturesque to do at some point.

Montauk Harbor

Of the places to go in Montauk, if you’re a shopper, you must check out the shops and restaurants in the Montauk Harbor area.

I imagine this would be another list of things to do in montauk in winter.

We stopped for a little shopping before dinner at Harvest on Fort Pond (more on that below).

Montauk Harbor is located on the north side of the island and is home to the largest fishing fleet in New York State, both commercial and recreational.

Cool, right?!

I like it because there are shops, food and places to stay right along the water.

We also decided to get some ice cream while we were there. I can’t say no to ice cream, even if it’s before dinner.

Dark Elegy Memorial

We only knew about Dark Elegy thanks to a family friend. I think it’s one of those things that you hear about through word of mouth.

Dark Elegy is a sculptor’s (Suse Lowenstein) portrayal of the victims who were lost in the Pan Am 103 flight in 1988, through an act of terrorism.

The sculptor’s son was one of the victims so it inspired her to make a lifesize portrait. Other mothers and widows were asked to participate as well.

There are over 75 pieces in her yard, each of which portrays a mother or wife. They are in the position they were in when they first heard of the death of their loved one.

One of the coolest things is that it’s in the sculptor’s beautiful backyard.

It also makes the hours very narrow so you’ll have to go at the right time. I think it was 10-2 or 12-2 or something.

When I searched for things to do in Montauk this weekend, this came up. Totally worth it, whenever you visit!

Go to The Beach

I’m assuming if you’re in Montauk, you plan on going to the beach and checking out the Atlantic Ocean. YOU MUST!

There are so many beautiful beach resorts to do so. I feel like the views were too pretty to be real.

The sky looks like it’s been delicately painted with cotton candy colors and the ocean looks so calm, yet with waves of perfection.

We spent a full afternoon at the beach and walked along at sunset too. It was absolutely gorgeous.

The sand was so white, too. Truly a beautiful destination!

If you’re into surfing, head to Ditch Plains beach, which is known as the Long Island surfer’s mecca.

Relax at a Spa

After all, I’m sure you want to relax in Montauk. Gurney’s hotel has a day spa that you can use (without being a guest a the resort).

We soaked in the sauna and indoor pool one afternoon as well.

At Gurney’s, you can also get beach access and they have live music throughout the day.

Enjoy The Montauk Restaurant Scene

We had two nights in Montauk.

The first night, we dined at Scarpetta Beach, a beautiful ocean view restaurant at the Gurney’s Inn and Resort.

We got some fun cocktails and shared a bunch of dishes.

The pasta dish was one of my favorites.

We also had octopus (yum!) and split some seafood and a cauliflower assortment.

We didn’t make it to the Montauk Brewing Company but I’ve heard rave reviews about the beer and atmosphere. Their watermelon session ale sounds very dreamy.

I also received some other recommendations about food spots in Montauk.

 Other Montauk Activities

Heading to Montauk in the fall? There is still plenty to do! Here are some ideas.

• Hiking in Montauk – Refer to this article from All Trails about some of the best hiking trails in Montauk. The summer and fall are prime times for hiking, and honestly, one of the top to-do’s for montauk in the fall.
• Montauk Fall Festival – The Montauk Fall festival is happening this fall. Check out more details here.
• Harvest on Fort Pond – A great spot with family-style Italian food. Seriously, the food portions here are huge! I wouldn’t recommend going here for a date, but instead, go with a group who likes to eat similarly to you. The Calamari Salad is a hit.

• Bluestone Lane Coffee – Highly recommend this place! It’s an Australian style coffee shop.

The iced coffee was delicious (with oat milk, of course), and we got a variety of toasts to split.

The toast was so thick and filling with just one. The ricotta with mint and berries was my absolute favorite and now I want to recreate it.

• Lobster Roll – Everyone raves about this spot for an authentic lobster roll. You’ll want to go early because it fills up quickly. It’s right on the way IN to Montauk, so the perfect way to welcome yourself to a weekend away.

• The Inlet – Supposed to have great seafood overlooking the Montauk Harbor
• Navy Beach – Another spot that was recommended to us but we didn’t make it. Sounds like a great spot for a drink and watching the sunset.

I hope this post provides some insight and direction for planning a trip to Montauk!

Other Travel Related Posts

I haven’t written a travel recap in a while so if you’re in the mood for reading more travel posts, here are some of my other favorites:

• Salt Lake City Travel Guide
• What to do in Austin, Texas
• Lake Toxaway Things to do
• Portland, Maine with a Baby
• Safari Recap in South Africa
• Babymoon in Charleston + Savannah

Have you ever been to Montauk or the Hamptons?

What is your favorite family vacation memory?