Here’s how to get to the Hamptons this summer, whether you’re ballin’ on a budget or have cash to burn
Ah, the Hamptons: Where the rich and famous mingle with regular New Yorkers just looking to cool off. The only bummer about spending a weekend laying out on some of the best beaches near New York is figuring out how to get there. We’ve got you covered: Just consult our handy guide to the Hamptons transportation at every price point—from the good ol’ Hampton Jitney to crowd-sourced helicopter rides.
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Sex and the City fans might remember Carrie Bradshaw’s trip on the Jitney, the massive bus that schleps weekenders between Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island all summer long. Tickets are cheap, but the buses make a lot of stops and the traffic can be brutal—expect to spend a minimum of two or three hours on board. Thankfully, all Hampton Jitney coaches offer onboard WiFi. $19 to $33 each way
Regular LIRR service doesn’t have a lot of frills, but works just fine when you don’t much to spend. The air-conditioned train will get you to Westhampton in two hours and Montauk in a little over three hours. These trains don’t sell food or drinks on board, but you can BYOB. Pro tip: You can't reserve seats either, so get there early if you don’t want to stand the whole way. $21.27 to $35 each way
This Jitney competitor follows a similar route, but with nicer accommodations. The Hampton Luxury Liner employs a fleet of Mercedes buses with amenities like reclining leather seats, outlets, WiFi, magazines and complimentary snacks and bottled water. Daytrippers can also book the company’s vineyard tour of Long Island to get a taste of the Hamptons lifestyle, even if they don’t have a summer home. $37 each way; $189 for a full-day vineyard tour for two
Reserve a seat on the zippy Cannonball East to make the trip to Westhampton in just 95 minutes. This premium express train offers reserved seating, two bar carts and in-seat snack and drink service. It runs on a very limited schedule, though: A train departs Penn Station every Friday at 4:06pm and leaves Montauk every Sunday at 6:37pm. Making reservations is also a little more complicated than buying regular LIRR tickets. You actually have to email a form to the MTA, and unless you’re willing to book eight or more trips at once, you can only make reservations the Monday before your travel dates. It’s worth it for that in-seat bar service, though. $51.25 eastbound, $43.25 westbound
Coming in from out of town? Get picked up from LaGuardia or JFK by a professional chauffeur. Your driver will be waiting at the terminal after you collect your bags. It’s an ideal option for vacationers heading to the Hamptons for a week, a month or the whole season. $454.90
Don’t even try to convince an Uber driver to take you out east—we don’t want to think about the surge pricing on that ride. Instead, take advantage of the Hamptons private driver service from black car company GroundLink. You can book your trip ahead of time in a sedan, SUV or van, depending on the size of your group. $275 to $649
This NYC-based app allows you to reserve individual seats on choppers headed to various Hampton hamlets from Manhattan helipads. Those traveling with a crew can also charter a private helicopter and sell any extra seats through the app to save a few bucks—although we’re guessing you’re probably not too worried about money if you’re willing to charter your own helicopter. Blade is undeniably pricey, but you’ll get to your summer home in under an hour. Seats start at $695
The Hamptons and Montauk have a reputation as the land reserved for the rich and pretentious. Well, forget what you heard!
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