Beach 116th Street

Beach 116th Street is one of the few subway stations in the world where you can smell the ocean before you reach the platform. The station sits on an elevated structure in the Rockaway Park neighbourhood of Queens, and the Atlantic Ocean is a five-minute walk away. This is a real public beach, free to anyone, with consistent surf, a boardwalk and a genuine community that has lived beside the sea for generations.

Getting here from Midtown Manhattan takes around 90 minutes on the A train's Rockaway branch, a journey that passes through Brooklyn and then crosses the Jamaica Bay estuary on a long causeway. That crossing, with open water on both sides and the city skyline fading behind you, is one of the most unexpectedly scenic train rides in New York. The station opened in 1956 and serves Rockaway Park and the broader Rockaway Beach community. The journey is worth it for any New Yorker or visitor who wants a genuine ocean beach experience entirely within city limits.

Station Overview

Beach 116th Street is a Zone 5 elevated station on the A train's Rockaway branch, opened in 1956. It is not wheelchair accessible. Shops are available near the station. The station serves Rockaway Park and the surrounding Rockaway Beach area in the Far Rockaway peninsula of Queens.

Lines and Connectivity

Only the A train serves Beach 116th Street, on the Rockaway branch. The A runs from here north through Brooklyn and into Manhattan, with the full journey to 42nd Street-Times Square taking approximately 90 minutes. During summer months, the MTA operates a Rockaway Shuttle (S train) that connects to Broad Channel on the main A/C line, providing an alternative route. The A train on this branch does not run as frequently as the main A line; check the schedule before travelling, especially late at night.

Station Layout and Facilities

The station is elevated above Rockaway Beach Boulevard on a steel structure typical of 1950s MTA construction. The platform is open-air. There is no step-free access. Shops are available on Rockaway Beach Boulevard below the station. The beach is a straightforward 5-minute walk south from the station exit.

Travel Tips

• Rockaway Beach is free and open year-round (swimming is lifeguard-supervised from late June through Labour Day). Surfboard and wetsuit rental is available from local shops near the boardwalk.
• Rockaway has a strong surf culture and consistent Atlantic swells. The stretch near Beach 67th Street is particularly popular with surfers, accessible from earlier stations on the branch.
• The boardwalk runs along the beach and has food vendors, particularly active in summer with clam chowder, corn on the cob and local seafood.
• Jacob Riis Park, further east by bus, is a federal park with a magnificent long beach, free parking and a historic bathhouse.
• Check the A train Rockaway schedule carefully. The branch runs less frequently than the main line, particularly in the evenings and off-season.

Nearby Attractions

Rockaway Beach - 5 minutes on foot south. A 7-mile stretch of public Atlantic Ocean beach, free to all. Swimming, surfing, body-boarding and sunbathing are all popular. Lifeguards operate from late June through Labor Day.

Rockaway Boardwalk - along the beach. A seaside boardwalk running parallel to the beach, with food vendors, seating and views of the Atlantic. Most active in summer but pleasant for a walk in any season.

Jacob Riis Park - 20 minutes by bus east. A federally managed park at the far end of the Rockaway peninsula with an exceptionally long beach and a 1930s Art Deco bathhouse. Quieter and less crowded than the main Rockaway beach.

Jamaica Bay - visible from the A train crossing. The Jamaica Bay estuary, crossed on the causeway between Howard Beach and Broad Channel, is a significant wildlife refuge managing 9,000 acres of wetlands and attracting hundreds of bird species.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The subway runs 24 hours but the Rockaway branch runs considerably less frequently than the main A line. Check the current schedule before setting out, especially in the evening or off-season. Summer weekends see the highest demand, and trains can be crowded on return journeys from the beach in late afternoon. The best time to visit the beach is a weekday morning in July or August for a quieter experience, or any weekend morning before noon.