This post provides a full hour-by-hour plan of how to visit The Hamptons in one day and see as much of this New Yorker's summer paradise as possible without having to spend the night.
Anyone who's ever watched a TV series based in New York City will know that The Hamptons have been a New Yorker's summer paradise for decades. What no one openly tells you though, is that staying and actually "summering" here can cost you anywhere from 350 USD / night. ☺️
So whether you're looking for an easy one day escape from the city or you'd like to experience what it means to visit The Hamptons without staying the night you can easily follow this itinerary!
8-9 am: Leaving the city
Start your day as early as possible so you can maximise your time at each stop and can have as relaxed a time as possible. The drive out to this part of Long Island takes at least 2 hours from New York city and can get even longer due to traffic and one-lane roads.
If you need to rent a car for the day or weekend, rentalcars.com is a great platform to book a rental after comparing prices from all major rental companies.
10:30-11:30 am: East Hampton
If you make good time driving (e.g don't get stuck into much traffic or manage to leave the city bright and early you will have time to stop in East Hampton.
(skip if you arrive into the area past 11:30)
This is a great way to start any visit to The Hamptons, as East Hampton is considered one of the “true” Hamptons and has been a popular vacation spot for the rich & famous for decades. Take advantage of free street parking and have a walk along Main St., which houses not only Valentino and Ralph Lauren stores, but cafes and restaurants too.
11:30-12:30: A classic Hamptons lunch
📍1980 Montauk Hwy, Amagansett, NY 11930
This region is known for it's seafood and the iconic east-coast American lobster roll is everyone's fav. Lunch, The Lobster Roll is a cozy seafood shack restaurant that's perfectly located for this itinerary and serves wonderful seafood dishes.
Go for their fresh lobster rolls with warm butter or the classic fish & chips!
12:40-1:00pm: The Montauk lighthouse
📍2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
After lunch, drive to the most eastern part of Long Island to visit the Montauk lighthouse. Parking here is 8 USD (summer 2022) but the lot is large and right next to the main attraction. Have a walk around and make sure you go down the side paths (just left of the museum entrance) to reach the water and enjoy un-interrupted views of the open ocean.
1:20-2:00pm: Montauk town
Montauk is the more “affordable” town for the younger crowd & popular spots such as Surf Lodge draw in the masses each weekend. Even if you’re not coming here to party, the town is a nice place to have a stroll. I also recommend making use of the free street parking (2hrs) & walkability to the great public beach, as easy access to a Hampton’s beach is not easy to come by elsewhere.
In town, grab some pastries from Montauk Bakke Shoppe and head towards Left Hand Coffee Company. Coffee & snacks in-hand, follow the same road & you’ll be able to access the beach!
In case you want to stay:
3 pm: Drive to Wolffer Estate Winery
📍139 Sagg Rd, Sagaponack, NY 11962
No visit to The Hamptons can be complete without a peaceful moment sipping locally made wine whilst overlooking rows of greenery. Wolffer Estate Winery is one of the most popular wineries in Long Island and the wine’s produced here can be found all over New York. Despite it's popularity we were pleasantly surprised with great service & the large wrap around porch on which you can sit and enjoy beautiful views of the vineyards.
Most wineries will offer a "flight" tasting, which includes 3-5 different types of their wine in small quantities. We recommend going for this. The flights here were $36 and can be shared between 2 people (which will be about 1 glass total each).
Table reservations in advance are recommended! You can also try to walk in on the day, just make sure you call them at least and ask about their availability as sometimes they are closed for weddings!
5-6 pm: Sag Harbour Town
Since you're all refreshed from taking in all those vineyard views now, it's time for another picturesque town & some dinner.
Sag Harbour is one of oldest whaling towns in the US. Here you can stroll the quaint streets, check out the beautiful Old Whaler’s Church of Sag, walk along the harbour and admire all the beautiful boats.
Then head for a super casual & budget friendly dinner at LT burger.
In case you want to stay:
7-8 pm: Stop by Southhampton
Last stop of the day will be in another “original” Hampton. The streets here are cute, clean and well-maintained. Grab a drink at one of the many eateries, walk down Main St. or drive down Meadow Lane (also known as “billionaires” lane) to gauk at all the mansions!
In case you want to stay:
8:30-9 pm: Head back to the city
Hope you enjoyed our guide to how to visit The Hamptons in one day! This itinerary should have you back in the city by about midnight, driving carefully and depending on where exactly you need to be.
As always, happy exploring!
Barbora
