During weekends in the summer months, the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road is a beautiful and vital rail line that shuttles people between New York City and Long Island’s easternmost reaches: The Hamptons and Montauk. The Montauk Branch, popular with commuters and vacationers, provides a convenient route to beach towns and summer destinations.
Famous for its seasonally surging ridership, the line offers both local and express service. If you are commuting to work or are just looking for a scenic weekend escape, the Montauk Branch is a great way to travel on your South Shore getaway, with beautiful views to boot.
Montauk Branch Overview
Below is the branch overview.
Montauk Branch stations
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Long Island City
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Hunters Point Avenue
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Jamaica
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Kew Gardens
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Forest Hills
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Woodside
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Penn Station
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Nostrand Avenue
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East New York
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Locust Manor
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Laurelton
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Rosedale
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Valley Stream
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Lynbrook
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Rockville Centre
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Baldwin
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Freeport
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Merrick
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Bellmore
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Wantagh
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Seaford
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Massapequa
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Massapequa Park
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Amityville
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Copiague
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Lindenhurst
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Babylon
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Bay Shore
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Islip
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Great River
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Oakdale
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Sayville
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Patchogue
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Bellport
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Mastic–Shirley
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Speonk
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Westhampton
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Hampton Bays
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Southampton
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Bridgehampton
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East Hampton
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Amagansett
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Montauk
Here is the complete information on the Montauk Branch Stations.
| S.No. | Station Name | Transfer Options | Zone | ADA Accessible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Island City | Limited Service | 1 | No | Weekday peak only |
| 2 | Hunterspoint Avenue | 7 train | 1 | Yes | Limited LIRR access |
| 3 | Jamaica | Multiple Lines, AirTrain JFK | 3 | Yes | Major transfer hub |
| 4 | Locust Manor | – | 3 | No | |
| 5 | Laurelton | – | 3 | Yes | |
| 6 | Rosedale | – | 4 | Yes | |
| 7 | Valley Stream | West Hempstead Branch | 4 | Yes | |
| 8 | Lynbrook | Long Beach Branch | 4 | Yes | |
| 9 | Rockville Centre | – | 4 | Yes | |
| 10 | Baldwin | – | 4 | Yes | |
| 11 | Freeport | – | 7 | Yes | Major commuter station |
| 12 | Merrick | – | 7 | Yes | |
| 13 | Bellmore | – | 7 | Yes | |
| 14 | Wantagh | – | 7 | Yes | |
| 15 | Seaford | – | 7 | Yes | |
| 16 | Massapequa | – | 7 | Yes | |
| 17 | Massapequa Park | – | 7 | No | |
| 18 | Amityville | – | 9 | Yes | |
| 19 | Copiague | – | 9 | No | |
| 20 | Lindenhurst | – | 9 | Yes | |
| 21 | Babylon | Transfer to Montauk Branch | 9 | Yes | End of electric service |
| 22 | Bay Shore | – | 10 | Yes | |
| 23 | Islip | – | 10 | Yes | |
| 24 | Great River | – | 10 | No | |
| 25 | Oakdale | – | 10 | Yes | |
| 26 | Sayville | Ferries to Fire Island | 10 | Yes | Popular in summer |
| 27 | Patchogue | Ferries to Fire Island | 10 | Yes | Weekend Montauk trains stop here |
| 28 | Bellport | – | 11 | No | |
| 29 | Mastic–Shirley | – | 12 | Yes | |
| 30 | Speonk | – | 12 | Yes | |
| 31 | Westhampton | – | 13 | Yes | Seasonal service increase |
| 32 | Hampton Bays | – | 13 | Yes | |
| 33 | Southampton | – | 14 | Yes | |
| 34 | Bridgehampton | – | 14 | Yes | |
| 35 | East Hampton | – | 14 | Yes | Popular summer destination |
| 36 | Amagansett | – | 14 | No | |
| 37 | Montauk | End of Line | 14 | Yes | Beach, fishing, summer hotspot |
Key Highlights
- However, it can be a long, leg-burning trek — the path stretches from Long Island City to Montauk and is just over 100 miles long.
- Also runs electric and diesel service, transferring to Babylon.
- Serves more than 35 stations, including popular destinations such as Patchogue and East Hampton.
- Links to NYC subway lines at Jamaica and Hunters Point Avenue.
- Gives access to ferries to Fire Island from Sayville and Patchogue.
- Scenic coastal views, particularly east of Patchogue.
- Used for summer travel to the Hamptons and Montauk beaches.
- Seasonal Cannonball Express service makes the nonstop run between Penn Station and the Hamptons.
- Year-round service, with expanded summer service.
- Links with LIRR’s Atlantic and Main Lines at Jamaica and Babylon.
- The station has plenty of parking at stations like Babylon and Sayville.
- Certain stations are ADA-accessible, such as Montauk and Southampton.
- Connections to Suffolk County Transit buses at various locations.
- For everyday commuters and weekend travelers alike.
- Regular weekday service to Babylon, with less frequent runs eastward.
- Stations such as East Hampton and Bridgehampton are major weekend escapes.
- You can track the train in real-time with the LIRR TrainTime app.
- Service is limited east of Speonk, particularly at non-peak times.
- It’s important to plan for weekend Montauk trips, as there is limited availability.
- A key route for NYC-Hamptons travelers.
Transfers & Connections
Jamaica Station
Transfers:
- Atlantic Branch
- Right — Main Line (Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson)
- Branches in Hempstead, Far Rockaway, and West Hempstead
Connections:
- NYC Subway (E, J, Z lines)
- AirTrain JFK
Babylon Station
Transfers:
- Electric trains to/from Penn Station & Grand Central
Connections:
- SCT = Suffolk County Transit (SCT) buses
- Ample parking for Park & Ride
Sayville Station
Connections:
- Ferry service to Fire Island
- Local taxis & shuttles
Patchogue Station
Transfers:
- Suffolk County buses
Connections:
- Patchogue Ferry Terminal (Davis Park, Watch Hill)
Speonk & Westhampton
Transfers:
- Few connections to later Montauk-bound trains
- Seasonal limited express train platform
Montauk Station
- End of the line
Connections:
- Local bus services
- Taxis and rideshares
- Bike rental and summer shuttle service
Hunters Point Avenue
Transfers:
- 7 Subway line
- Other LIRR diesel trains
- Limited weekday service
Long Island City Station
Transfers:
- NYC Ferry at nearby Gantry Plaza
- Weekday-only service
Parking & Accessibility Facilities
- They tend to have sufficient parking at most of the major stations, such as Jamaica, Babylo, and Montauk; parking is usually a town or LIRR permit for long-term use.
- Primary stations, such as Jamaica and Babylon, Patchogue, and Montauk, have ADA ramps and elevators.
- Smaller stations like Speonk and Westhampton have little parking and might not be fully ADA accessible.
- Many of the Montauk Branch stations have bike racks to encourage green commuting.
- Parking is regulated by the station (there are seasonal permits in summer haunts like Westhampton), and availability also varies.
Nearby Attractions:
- Montauk Point Lighthouse (Montauk Station) – Historic cry with ocean views and museum tours.
- Fire Island National Seashore (Bay Shore Station) – Reachable by ferry from Bay Shore, perfect for beaches and nature trails.
- Robert Moses State Park (Babylon Station) — A highly visited beach and recreation area that’s close to Babylon.
- Patchogue Village (Patchogue Station) — Great dining, theaters, and vibrant nightlife.
- Westhampton Beach (Westhampton Station) Handled and pent up at upscale shops, beaches, and cultural events.
Train Schedule
Weekday Eastbound Train Schedule:
| Train No. | Departing From | Jamaica | Babylon | Patchogue | Westhampton | Bridgehampton | Montauk (Arrival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8700 | Penn Station | 06:40 | 07:20 | 07:50 | 08:35 | 09:10 | 09:45 |
| 8704 | Grand Central | 09:10 | 09:55 | 10:25 | 11:10 | 11:45 | 12:20 |
| 8708 | Penn Station | 12:15 | 13:00 | 13:30 | 14:15 | 14:50 | 15:25 |
| 8712 | Penn Station | 15:45 | 16:30 | 17:05 | 17:50 | 18:25 | 19:00 |
| 8716 | Grand Central | 18:10 | 18:55 | 19:25 | 20:10 | 20:45 | 21:20 |
Weekday Westbound Train Schedule:
| Train No. | Departing Montauk | Bridgehampton | Westhampton | Patchogue | Babylon | Jamaica | Arrives Penn Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8701 | 05:30 | 06:05 | 06:40 | 07:20 | 08:00 | 08:40 | 09:00 |
| 8705 | 08:00 | 08:35 | 09:10 | 09:50 | 10:30 | 11:10 | 11:30 |
| 8709 | 12:30 | 13:05 | 13:40 | 14:25 | 15:05 | 15:45 | 16:05 |
| 8713 | 15:45 | 16:20 | 16:55 | 17:35 | 18:15 | 18:55 | 19:15 |
| 8717 | 18:15 | 18:50 | 19:25 | 20:05 | 20:45 | 21:25 | 21:45 |
Weekend Schedule (Both Directions):
| Train No. | Direction | Penn Station | Jamaica | Babylon | Patchogue | Westhampton | Bridgehampton | Arrives Montauk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8710 | Eastbound | 07:45 | 08:05 | 08:45 | 09:25 | 10:00 | 10:35 | 11:00 |
| 8712 | Eastbound | 10:15 | 10:35 | 11:15 | 11:55 | 12:30 | 13:05 | 13:30 |
| 8714 | Eastbound | 14:20 | 14:40 | 15:20 | 16:00 | 16:35 | 17:10 | 17:35 |
| 8716 | Eastbound | 17:45 | 18:05 | 18:45 | 19:25 | 20:00 | 20:35 | 21:00 |
| 8711 | Westbound | — | — | 05:50 | 06:30 | 07:05 | 07:40 | 8:10 AM (Dep. MTK) |
| 8713 | Westbound | — | — | 08:15 | 09:00 | 09:40 | 10:15 | 10:45 AM (Dep. MTK) |
| 8715 | Westbound | — | — | 13:25 | 14:10 | 14:45 | 15:20 | 3:50 PM (Dep. MTK) |
| 8717 | Westbound | — | — | 17:30 | 18:15 | 18:50 | 19:25 | 7:55 PM (Dep. MTK) |
| 8719 | Westbound | — | — | 19:30 | 20:15 | 20:50 | 21:25 | 9:55 PM (Dep. MTK) |
Additional tips:
- Make a plan, and check real-time updates using the MTA TrainTime app.
- Avoid paying more at the counter onboard the ship or waiting in long lines by purchasing tickets in advance.
- And arrive early, especially on summer weekends, when trains to Montauk fill up fast.
- Be aware of your transfer points — Jamaica or Babylon for westbound trips.
- Weekend travel may find you on off-peak fares, so this is another budget-friendly option.