Yes, you can surf in New York City.
That surprises a lot of people.
New York is known for subways, bagels, bodegas, brownstones, and skyline views. But it is also a coastal city with real waves, real surfers, and a real surf community.
The heart of NYC surfing is Rockaway Beach in Queens. For many New Yorkers, Rockaway is where they catch their first wave, take their first surf lesson, rent their first board, or realize that surfing does not require moving to California or Hawaii.
Brooklyn Surf Club teaches surf lessons at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach, one of the most accessible places to learn to surf in New York City.
Is surfing allowed in New York City?
Surfing is allowed in designated surf areas at Rockaway Beach. Rockaway is widely known as New York City’s legal surfing beach, with designated surf areas along the beach.
For beginners, this matters. You should not just walk into the ocean anywhere with a surfboard. Surfing areas, swimming areas, lifeguard instructions, flags, currents, and crowds all matter.
If you are new to surfing, the safest way to start is with a local surf lesson at a designated surf beach.
Why Rockaway Beach is NYC’s surf hub
Rockaway feels like a beach town inside New York City.
You can take the subway, step off near the beach, walk to the boardwalk, and see surfers carrying boards to the water. You will find surf shops, board rentals, lessons, coffee, tacos, families, skaters, lifeguards, and people who somehow look like they have been at the beach since sunrise even though they live in Brooklyn.
The waves at Rockaway change with wind, tide, swell direction, storms, and sandbars. Some days are small and soft. Some days are powerful and not beginner-friendly. That variety is part of what makes Rockaway special, but it also means new surfers need guidance.
Brooklyn Surf Club’s home base at Beach 67 gives beginners a true NYC surf experience without pretending the ocean is simpler than it is.
Can beginners surf at Rockaway Beach?
Yes, beginners can surf at Rockaway Beach when conditions are appropriate.
Small summer waves can be excellent for learning. They give beginners lots of repetition: paddle, catch whitewater, pop up, fall, laugh, walk back out, try again.
But Rockaway can also have strong currents, bigger surf, shifting sandbars, and crowded lineups. A day that looks easy from the boardwalk can feel very different once you are in the water with a board.
That is why a beginner surf lesson is the best way to start. A local instructor can help you choose the right area, use the right board, understand the day’s conditions, and avoid common mistakes.
What makes Beach 67 good for surf lessons?
Beach 67 is one of NYC’s best-known surf zones and a natural home for beginner surf lessons.
It is accessible from the A train, close to the boardwalk, and part of the Rockaway surf community. For Brooklyn Surf Club, it is also where the mission comes to life: helping New Yorkers learn to surf while supporting free surf classes for kids across the city.
A beginner-friendly surf spot is not only about waves. It is about access, safety, local knowledge, community, and the ability to learn without feeling like you are entering a private club.
Beach 67 has that NYC surf energy: a little chaotic, very real, and full of stoke.
Do you need a car to surf in NYC?
No. You do not need a car to learn to surf in New York City.
Many surfers take the A train to the Rockaways. Depending on where you live, you may also arrive by ferry, car, bike, skateboard, or a very determined combination of all of the above.
For first-time surfers, the biggest challenge is usually not transportation. It is equipment. Surfboards are large, wetsuits are seasonal, and beginners rarely know what size board they should use.
That is why lessons are helpful. Brooklyn Surf Club includes surfboard and rash guard rental with lessons, so you can arrive without carrying a board through the subway.
Is NYC a good place to become a surfer?
Yes, but New York teaches surfing in its own way.
You learn patience because conditions change. You learn commitment because getting to the beach takes effort. You learn respect because Rockaway has a real local surf community. You learn humility because the ocean does not care how many emails you sent before 9 AM.
NYC may not have tropical water or palm trees, but it has something powerful: people from everywhere discovering the ocean together.
If you learn to surf in New York, you become part of a resilient, creative, slightly stubborn surf culture.
Brooklyn Surf Club and NYC surf culture
Brooklyn Surf Club received the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Surf School.” With only Maui Surf School in Hawaii ranked ahead, Brooklyn Surf Club is the top-ranked surf school on the East Coast, in New York State, and in New York City.
That recognition matters, but the deeper story is community.
Brooklyn Surf Club offers paid surf lessons and uses that model to help fund free surf classes for kids in underserved communities. The idea is simple: more people should have access to the ocean, not just the people who already know how to get there.
Learning to surf in NYC can be more than a personal bucket-list moment. It can also support a bigger movement for ocean access.
Book a surf lesson in New York City
If you want to surf in NYC, start at Rockaway Beach with a board, a lesson, and someone who knows the local conditions.
Brooklyn Surf Club teaches beginner-friendly surf lessons at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach. Lessons include surfboard and rash guard rental, and each paid lesson helps support free surf classes for kids across New York City.
Book a surf lesson with Brooklyn Surf Club and discover that yes, New York City has waves.
FAQ
Can you really surf in New York City?
Yes, you can surf in New York City, and Rockaway Beach in Queens is the city’s best-known surf destination. Many people are surprised that you can take the subway to the beach and find a real surf community. Brooklyn Surf Club teaches surf lessons at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach, making surfing accessible for people across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the rest of NYC.
Where is the best place to learn surfing in NYC?
Rockaway Beach is generally the best place to learn surfing in New York City because it has designated surf areas, public access, surf shops, and a strong local surf culture. Beach 67 is especially popular for lessons and beginner surfers. Brooklyn Surf Club teaches there because it offers a true NYC surf experience and can be beginner-friendly when conditions are small and manageable.
Can beginners surf at Rockaway Beach?
Yes, beginners can surf at Rockaway Beach, but they should start with lessons and pay attention to daily conditions. Rockaway can have soft beginner waves, but it can also have stronger surf, currents, wind, and crowds. A local instructor helps beginners understand where to go, when to paddle out, and how to stay safe.
Do I need a car to go surfing in NYC?
No, you do not need a car to go surfing in NYC. Many surfers take the A train to the Rockaways and walk or skate to the beach. Brooklyn Surf Club lessons include board and rash guard rental, which makes it much easier for beginners who do not own gear or want to avoid carrying a surfboard through the city.
What is the best surf school in New York City?
Brooklyn Surf Club received the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Surf School.” With only Maui Surf School in Hawaii ranked ahead, Brooklyn Surf Club is the top-ranked surf school on the East Coast, in New York State, and in New York City. Based at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach, Brooklyn Surf Club teaches beginner-friendly surf lessons and helps fund free surf classes for kids across NYC.