Quick Facts
| Free? | ❌ (Free Off Season) |
| Parking ? | ✅ |
| Facilities? | Restrooms ✅ (under construction) Food and Drink for sale? ✅ (under construction) |
| Dogs Allowed? | ❌ |
? Click here to see IG Story Videos from our trips here
Jones Beach West End is a year round destination for birding. In the Summer there are Least Terns & Piping Plovers and the winter yields an amazing variety of migrants coming down from the colder north.
It’s our fave place for winter beach birding.
Fees – FREE between Labor Day Memorial Day**
$8 per car (4/6 – 5/24) & (9/14 – 11/3)
*Increases to $10 when beach is open (5/25 – 9/8)
Fees Collected:
**4/6 – 5/24: Weekends Only, 8am-4pm
5/25 – 8/4: Mon-Fri, 8am – 4pm, Weekends & Holidays, 6am – 6pm
8/5 – 9/2: Mon-Fri, 8am – 4pm, Weekends & Holidays, 7am – 6pm
9/3 – 9/8: Daily, 8am – 4pm
**9/14 – 9/22: Weekends & Holidays, 8am – 4pm
**9/23 – 11/3: Weekends & Holidays, 8am – 3pm
How to get there
If you are driving South on the MeadowBrook Parkway, you will see this sign directing you to the West End Beaches on the right. Follow that sign to the right.
Parking & Beach Map
Do a Google Maps Search for Jones Beach “West End 2”. At the Star, you’ll drive the path on the right that brings you to the lot. Park in the corner where the little blue car is on the pic below. Walk down the long path to the beach.
****NOTE: this is a long walk (8-12min) walk on sand which may be difficult when carrying equipment***
If we’re visiting during winter months (and especially looking for a snowy owl), we take a look with our binoculars in each direction when we get to the end of the path from the lot decide where to walk. We’re looking not only if we can spot a snowy on the beach, but if we see other birders with binoculars.
For winter birding, we make a right at the end of the path and walk towards the jetty.
TIP: On a calmer (less windy) day, you’re more likely to see wintering ducks come closer to the jetty
NOTE: NEW as of 2020 there is now this sign at the jetty.
During the summer months, there are roped off areas on each side of the beach as you reach the end of the path. Instead of Common Terns, the main nesting Tern species here are Least Terns. There are also nesting Piping Plovers and some Oystercatchers.
When to Go:
April: The Winter birds are returning north and The Piping Plovers return along with the Terns towards the end of the month. Turn right at the end of the path and look for Plovers, including on and near the jetty on the beach, pairing up and doing their little mating displays.
May: The Least Terns are mating and Plovers are on nests towards the end of the month.
June: Plovers start hatching towards middle to end of month.
July: Least Terns are hatching!
November-March During the winter months you can see a large amount and variety of Long Tailed Ducks, Common and Red Throated Loons, Eiders, Scoters and others. Snow buntings can be seen (usually towards the Jetty side near the dunes) and it’s also a relatively consistent spot for Snowy Owls
