When it comes to beach towns, Montauk is the cool indie sibling to the more buttoned-up Hamptons. It has the same windswept beaches, tranquil sea views and locavore mentality as the rest of the region, minus the flashy scene. Dubbed “The End,” the town is perched at the easternmost tip of Long Island, 120 miles from New York City—and seeing as how 40 percent of the village is protected parkland, there are plenty of outdoor activities with fewer crowds. Think of it as the boho beachgoer’s getaway: Icons like The Rolling Stones, Jackie Kennedy and Andy Warhol all once vacationed here. And you might still see some boldface names today catching a wave at Ditch Plains Beach. Here’s how to have an ideal trip to the tip of the island.

PARTNER CONTENT

Get the best view of the North East in the BMW 7 Series. Your road trip is beautifully illuminated with the Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, so you can snag front row seats to summer destinations that are worth the drive. See all vehicle features.

LOCAL EXPERT

Sean Barrett

Founder of Dock to Dish

“There are dozens of reasons why Montauk is considered to be a great travel destination. People will say it's the proximity to the city, the beaches, the parks and the restaurants. But the first reason that comes to my mind is fishing. Montauk is the largest fishing port in New York State and offers some of the best inshore and offshore fishing in the world.”

EAT

Ditch Witch

Parked in Montauk’s best surf beach, this food truck is a local go-to. Grab a breakfast burrito in the a.m. and bring some chilled peanut noodles back to the beach for lunch.
Source: Tasting Table

STAY

The Crow’s Nest

The 14 rooms in the hotel are decorated with a hippie jet-set, beach house vibe. Each faces Lake Montauk and has a private balcony Photo: Courtesy of The Crow’s Nest

PLAY

Ditch Plains Beach

Take a surf lesson from Jimmy Buffet’s instructor, or just watch the mix of townies, surfers and hipsters from the comfort of your beach towel.

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