77°
Sunny
0%
84
Suffolk County, NY · Atlantic Ocean
Ditch Plains Beach
Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954
The East Coast's most storied surf break — a long, consistent right point that made Montauk a surf town and still draws a dawn lineup from April through November. Lifeguarded swim area to one side, surfers to the other, food truck in the lot, and a cliffside trail into Rheinstein Park.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
77°F air · 69°F water
Full NWS forecast for Today
Sunny. High near 77, with temperatures falling to around 75 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 6 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 69. South wind 1 to 6 mph.
Weather
- 77°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 69°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- Moderate rip current risk — nws: rip currents possible in the surf zone
77 /100
great
66 Swim
84 Sunbathe
87 Walk
73 Fish
82 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
77°F
Sunny
Wind
6 mph
SE
Rain
0%
Today
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
78°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Next High Tide
8:01 PM
3.2 ft · in 4.8h
Rip Current Risk
Moderate
NWS SRF · OKX · NYZ081 · Issued Jul 12, 7:00 AM
Water Quality
Clean
4 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 11mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:25 AM
Sunset
8:20 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:04 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 7:24 AM | High | 2.1 ft |
| 1:48 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:01 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:59 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 8:19 AM | High | 2.2 ft |
| 2:48 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 8:54 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:50 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 9:14 AM | High | 2.3 ft |
| 3:45 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 9:46 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:39 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 10:09 AM | High | 2.4 ft |
| 4:40 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 10:38 PM | High | 3.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:27 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 11:04 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 5:35 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 11:28 PM | High | 2.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:16 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 11:59 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 6:34 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:20 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 7:06 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 12:55 PM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 7:36 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8510560, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
78°
Sunny
0%
81
81°
Sunny
0%
75
82°
Sunny
3%
77
80°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
15%
79
79°
Sunny
5%
82
78°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
17%
78
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
9:40 PM - 11:40 PM
Minor
2:30 AM - 3:30 AM
Major
10:10 AM - 12:10 PM
Minor
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Permit-only year-round. Town of East Hampton resident permits sold at the Montauk Playhouse annex; non-resident season $600. Non-resident monthly: May 15 – Jun 30 $250, July $300, Aug – Sept 15 $300. No drop-in daily parking — plan ahead or walk/bike in.
Dogs
No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.
Entry Fee
Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.
Address
Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Ditch Plains Beach today?
Ditch Plains Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Ditch Plains Beach dog-friendly?
No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.
Is there an entry fee at Ditch Plains Beach?
Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.
Are there lifeguards at Ditch Plains Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Ditch Plains Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Ditch Plains Beach?
Amenities at Ditch Plains Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, concessions.
When is the water warmest at Ditch Plains Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Ditch Plains Beach located?
Ditch Plains Beach is in Suffolk County, NY, at Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS