Sunken Meadow Boardwalk

The Sunken Meadow boardwalk is a ¾-mile walkway along the beach at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, open every day from sunrise to sunset. NYS Parks says many people use it for measured walks for their health. Bikes are allowed on it all day outside summer, but from May 2 to September 20, 2026, only on weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. Dogs are not allowed. The only cost is the park's vehicle fee.

Walking the Boardwalk

At ¾ of a mile, the boardwalk is the flattest walk in the park and the one most people come for out of season. It runs along the beach beside Long Island Sound, and NYS Parks says the park has one of the most stunning views of the Sound, with Connecticut in the distance. A full there-and-back is a mile and a half.

Park in Field 1, by the main beach and park office.

2026 Bike Hours

NYS Parks sets bike rules for the boardwalk by season:

• January 1 to May 1: bikes allowed all day.
• May 2 to September 20: weekdays only, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. No bikes at all on weekends and holidays.
• September 21 to December 31: bikes allowed all day.

Bicycling around the rest of the park is allowed all year from sunrise to sunset.

Good For

• A level, easy walk with no hills, unlike the wooded trails.
• Birdwatching. The State Department of Environmental Conservation lists the boardwalk among the best places in the park to watch wildlife: herons and egrets in the marsh, terns and plovers on the beach.
• Sunset. The park closes at sunset, so time your walk to finish then.

Maybe Skip If

• You have a dog with you. State rules keep dogs off boardwalks and improved walks in state parks, and pets are barred from Sunken Meadow. See dogs.
• You want shade. There is none.
• You want to cycle on a summer weekend. Ride the park roads instead.

Events on the Boardwalk

NYS Parks runs seasonal programs that use the beach and boardwalk, such as an October lantern walk around the point of the park. Check the events list on the official park page.

Getting There

Follow the Sunken Meadow Parkway north into the park and park in Field 1. In 2026 the vehicle fee is $10 a car in summer and $8 on spring and fall weekends. See parking and hours and fees.