Montauk has become a hot spot for young Manhattanites in the summer months but it’s actually just as enjoyable, if not more, in the spring. I spent three days there during the week in May and felt like I was in my very own Nicholas Sparks movie.
Before the Montauk “season” technically begins Memorial Day weekend, it’s a quiet, quaint beach town. There are no lines for restaurants or bars, little to no traffic, and you don’t have to pay to park everywhere. There really weren’t too many negatives to visiting during the Montauk spring!
Montauk is the furthest east town on Long Island, New York. It’s often referred to as “The end of the world.” While it is technically part of the Hamptons, the vibe is very different in Montauk.
Where to Stay
I stayed at Ocean Colony during my spring trip to Montauk and would love to stay again! I was fortunate enough to stay there for free due to my boyfriend having the room through work. We had a one bedroom apartment style room that was around $125-$150 a night. But apparently it goes for closer to $500 during the busy summer months! One more reason to visit Montauk before the high season starts.
What to Do
Start your spring day in Montauk catching the sunrise at the Montauk Lighthouse. There is parking at the lighthouse but I would recommend parking at Camp Hero State Park. This has unobstructed views of the ocean and will be a much better sunrise viewing spot! And if you don’t agree with me, you can take a 5 minute walk to the lighthouse from this parking lot. You have to pay to park here during the summer in Montauk but it’s free in the spring. Yet another reason to visit in the off season.
Camp Hero State Park has 415 acres of land including trails along the shoreline and through the woods. If you like hiking and nature, you can spend a few hours walking around here. But do be very careful about ticks! There are warning signs everywhere.
After sunrise, drive the short distance back to town for a well deserved pancake breakfast. There are two pancake houses across the street from each other on Montauk Highway, Mr. John’s and Anthony’s. I obviously had to do a taste test! If you want more traditional diner style food, I would recommend Mr. John’s Pancake House. While both Mr. John’s and Anthony’s Pancake House had delicious pancakes, Mr. John’s had a little bit larger menu. Though Anthony’s has crepes! And who doesn’t love a Nutella crepe at 8 a.m.? Both pancake houses had really great, quick service so you’ll be back on the road exploring Montauk in no time.
If pancakes aren’t your thing…there may be something wrong with you! Kidding! But really, if that’s the case, the bagels from Goldberg’s were also delicious. They have quite a big menu and several locations scattered throughout the Hamptons.
There is very little traffic in Montauk in the spring compared to the busy summer months. While Uber is available, I would recommend a car. It’s so easy to get around and with it not being high season, I found Ubers few and far between.
After breakfast, check out the walking dunes. These are 80 foot tall dunes that move 3.5 feet every year from wind. You can climb to the top of the dunes and walk through the U shape that they create. I found the dunes don’t exactly photograph very well but the views are worth it. I was a little hesitant to check them out after my waitress recommended it but I promise the dunes are cool!
To get to the walking dunes, turn off of Montauk Highway onto Napeague Street at the tennis club. You’ll hit a dead end about halfway up the road. Park there and follow the signs into the woods. That sounds a little creepy…but it is what it is.
If you’re not quite ready for lunch after the dunes, stop by the Montauk Brewing Company for a beer flight. They have an indoor tasting room but you can also sit outside if you happen to get a warm day. Their summer ale is one of my favorites! The brewery is open year round.
Unfortunately during the spring season in Montauk, many of the restaurants on the water are closed Monday through Thursday. Since I was visiting during the week, I didn’t get to try many of them. Gosman’s Dock is one of the few restaurants I found still open during the week. They have a large restaurant with panoramic views of the marina. The lobster roll was delicious and came with cole slaw and potato salad. I’ve never seen so much mayo on a plate but I didn’t hate it! Even though it was $55 for a lobster roll and one glass of rosé, I’d go back again. But would prefer to pay about $35. Even in the spring, Montauk is expensive!
Some of the shops in Montauk are also closed during the week in the off season. There are a few open and many of them were having huge sales to move merchandise before the summer season. There were several shops open near Gosman’s as well as some on the main drag in Montauk. A lot of the shops seemed to be surf and t-shirt shops but there are a few other options. If you’re looking for some higher end shopping, drive west toward Bridgehampton.
Since Montauk is the tip of Long Island, you can see the sunset almost as well as the sunrise. If you want to just pull up to the beach and watch the sunset, check out Navy Beach. In the summertime, Navy Beach is a very popular dinner and happy hour spot but unfortunately it’s closed during the week in the off season. You can drive onto the beach next door and catch the sunset from your car though!
If you want to have a drink to accompany your sunset views, check out Montauket. It’s a dive bar attached to a hotel with huge windows overlooking the water. You can grab some beers or a bottle of wine and sit outside on a picnic table for unobstructed sunset views. It was one of the best sunset spots I’ve ever been to! But don’t come here hungry if you’re visiting Monday through Thursday. They don’t serve food during the week in the off season. We tried to bring in a pizza that we ordered and the bartender was not having it.
When I’m exploring any northeast coastal town, I usually eat at least 1-2 lobster rolls a day. The most delicious lobster roll I had in Montauk was at the Gig Shack. The roll was actually a croissant. Game. Changer! They also have a decent drinks menu and stay open a bit later if you’re looking to make a night of it.
Some other Montauk activities:
Montauk Salt Cave – If you’re looking to relax in Montauk, visit the Montauk Salt Cave. It’s a Himalayan salt–infused room that you sit in for 45 minutes. The salt air helps a variety of health issues including asthma, allergies, inflammation, and the common cold. It’s also incredibly relaxing and you can get a 45 minute session on Groupon for $20.
Wine Tasting – There are a few wineries scattered throughout the Hamptons. I am a fan of the Wolffer Estate Summer in a Bottle rosé so I stopped by there for a wine tasting and some charcuterie. I enjoyed their rosé tasting flight so much that I became a wine club member of the vineyard!
Just up the street from Wolffer is Channing Daughters Vineyard. While the scenery isn’t quite as nice as Wolffer, the wine is a lot better! We had a great tasting of a variety of wines and I ended up buying 6 different bottles. Do not miss this smaller winery while visiting the Hamptons.
A few things I missed in Montauk:
Because it was the off season, there were a few restaurants and things I missed. For one, a lot of the fitness studios out there are closed during the week before Memorial Day. So if you’re looking to get a Soul Cycle or Barry’s Bootcamp class in, you’ll have to visit on the weekend or after Memorial Day.
Some of the restaurants I wish I could have visited were The Lobster Roll and Duryea’s. The Lobster Roll, I’ve been told, is one of the best lobster rolls in Montauk. And Duryea’s is apparently one of the best views and scenes in Montauk. Also The Surf Lodge is a popular bar during the summer and it was a construction site while I was there. Guess I will have to visit these after Memorial Day!
Overall, I loved my three day, spring trip to Montauk. The town was quiet and I didn’t have any issues getting a table anywhere. I didn’t have to fight crowds of young Manhattanites looking to see and be seen. I will definitely be back in the off season again but am also looking forward to seeing Montauk in its prime!