New York State Parks beach access
Hither Hills State Park and Montauk Point State Park charge a vehicle use fee at the gate during posted dates, and the $80 Empire Pass covers that entrance fee. Neither one needs a town or village beach permit.
- Parks
- Hither Hills State Park, Napeague/Montauk. Montauk Point State Park, including Camp Hero.
- Entry
- Vehicle use fee during scheduled times; amounts and dates are posted on each park page.
- Empire Pass
- $80. State Parks says it gives unlimited day-use entry at most facilities run by State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Town permits
- Not needed and not accepted. State parks run their own gates.
State parks are the simplest way onto Montauk’s ocean beaches. You pay at the gate or show an Empire Pass, and nobody asks where you live. See the non-resident access guide for the full comparison.
Hither Hills State Park
Hither Hills sits on Montauk Highway at Napeague, between Amagansett and Montauk. State Parks lists a vehicle use fee for the park, and says fees vary by location and season. Town of East Hampton beach permits are not what you need here.
Montauk Point State Park
Montauk Point State Park is at the end of the island and includes the lighthouse grounds and the former Camp Hero. State Parks says Montauk Point requires a vehicle use fee during the scheduled times listed on its park page.
The Empire Pass
The Empire Pass is an $80 annual card that State Parks says gives unlimited day-use entry at most State Parks and Department of Environmental Conservation facilities. It covers the vehicle entrance at Hither Hills and Montauk Point. Buy it from State Parks directly.
What this page cannot tell you
The State Parks website blocked our automated check, so the daily fee amounts and the gate calendar were not confirmed for this guide. Rather than guess, we leave them out. Read them on the official pages linked above. For beaches in Montauk that do take a daily fee, see Kirk Park and Atlantic Avenue.
Common questions
Do I need a Town of East Hampton permit at Hither Hills?
No. Hither Hills is a State Parks facility with its own gate. State Parks says most New York State parks charge a vehicle use fee, which varies by location and season.
Is the Empire Pass worth it for a summer?
State Parks sells it for $80. It covers entrance fees at most state parks, so it pays off if you plan repeat visits to Hither Hills or Montauk Point.
Sources
Checked October 2026; page updated . Rules and prices on this page describe the 2026 season unless a line says otherwise.