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4th of July Weekend in the Hamptons: What’s Happening, Travel Tips & More
The 4th of July is almost here, and there are many exciting events happening in the Hamptons this year. If you need some ideas for a fun holiday-weekend getaway, we’ve got you covered. Use the guide below to see what’s on tap for the 4th of July in the Hamptons, including fireworks, music, events and more – plus helpful tips to make your travel easier.
Don’t forget: 4th of July falls on a Tuesday this year, so if you’re planning a weekend trip, you’ll probably arrive on Friday, June 30 and stay until at least Tuesday.
Traveling to the Hamptons:
- By car from NYC: Using a Hamptons car service is by far the easiest and most comfortable way to travel from the city to the Hamptons. If you’re driving, beware of traffic! See our traffic tips below.
- By plane: JFK Airport and LaGuardia offer the most flight options and are about a 90-minute drive to the Hamptons. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) is closer to the Hamptons, but flights are limited (primarily to Frontier and Southwest). For private planes, consider flying direct into East Hampton Airport or Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton.
- By train: About a 2-hour ride from Manhattan to Westhampton via the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). The “Cannonball” train is also available on weekends, providing express service from the city to the Hamptons with no stops.
Tips for Avoiding Traffic
Arriving in Hamptons: Monday through Friday
- If you are driving or using a car service from the city to the Hamptons: schedule your car to depart the NYC area no later than 1 PM.
- If you are flying into JFK or LGA and then getting picked up by a car service to the Hamptons, choose a flight that lands no later than 12 PM. If you are flying into ISP, try to find a flight that lands no later than 3 PM.
- Avoid driving into the Hamptons early in the morning. If you approach the Hamptons between 7 & 9 AM, you are going to deal with an additional 1 to 2 hours of additional traffic time just to make the last 10 to 30 miles. The reason is that all the workers who live outside the Hamptons all must drive through the only main highway into the Hamptons, which is R27 (also called Montauk Highway).
Returning Monday through Friday
- If you are leaving the Hamptons from its east end (Montauk, Easthampton, Bridgehampton or Sag Harbor), try leaving before 3 PM. The workers from the morning will also create traffic on the way out.
- If you are flying out of LGA or JFK, try booking a flight midday. Avoid flights that depart anywhere between 7 and 9:30 AM to avoid traffic from those that commute from Long Island to NYC. All the highways will have heavy traffic during this time: I-495, The Northern State Parkway, The Southern State Parkway, The Cross Island Parkway and Grand Central.
Arriving in Hamptons: Saturday or Sunday
- Driving from the city to the Hamptons: the earlier you travel eastbound, the better. Traffic will be heaviest in the afternoon. That’s because people from NYC travel to all parts of Long Island, including the Hamptons, for the day.
Returning Saturday or Sunday
- Saturday: The travel from Hamptons to NYC should be comfortable all day as you will be traveling against the traffic.
- Sunday: If you cannot leave early and would like to spend most of the day in the Hamptons before heading back west, it may be better to wait until after 9 PM to depart. The traffic will be heavy westbound for most of the day starting around 2 PM until it starts getting better around 9 PM. If you decide to leave early to beat the traffic, watch out for events in NYC. Events like marathons, parades and cycling tours might require road closures. The most common bridge that closes due to such events is the 59 Street Bridge and midtown becomes the most crowded. If there is an event of that kind in the city on a Sunday, try entering Manhattan from the North via the RFK Bridge or from the South via the Williamsburg Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge. This will allow you to avoid midtown by taking either the FDR (the highway that runs in the far east of Manhattan along the east river) or the West Side Highway (the highway that runs in the far west of Manhattan along the Hudson River).
4th of July Events in the Hamptons [2023]
Please note: Information for all events is subject to change. Check with event hosts for up-to-date details.
- 6/30: Alive on 25 Summer Street Festival, Main Street, Riverhead: Annual celebration in Riverhead featuring live music, food trucks, street vendors and fireworks.
- 7/2: East Hampton Historical Walking Tours: Tour the home and artists’ studio of Thomas and Mary Nimmo Moran, 229 Main Street, East Hampton, 10am.
- 7/2: Wellness Wonderland Festival: All-day festival featuring recovery and beauty routines plus a cocktail afterparty. 16 Industrial Rd, Montauk, NY, 10am.
- 7/4: Southampton Village 4th of July Parade: A 100-year-old tradition! Parade begins at 10am at Railroad Plaza, ending at Agawam Park.
- 7/4: Live Summer Music Series – Tuesdays at Main Beach: Live performance by Latin fusion band Cango Cartel, 101 Ocean Avenue, East Hampton, 6pm.
- 7/5: Concerts in the Park – The Next Level Band: Enjoy local music outdoors at Agawam Park, 51 Pond Ln, Southampton, 6:30pm.
Hamptons Fireworks Displays
- 7/1: John A. Ward Independence Day Fireworks bv Sag Harbor Yacht Club, approx. 9:30pm. These fireworks take place in the harbor, allowing you to watch from a boat, deck, car or beach.
- 7/4: Westhampton Country Club, 9:15pm: Must be a club member to enter the property; however, the fireworks are visible from surrounding areas, including Westhampton Beach.
- 7/4: Main Beach, East Hampton: typically starts around 9pm: Check website for updates
- 7/4: “Stars Over Montauk” Fireworks, Umbrella Beach, Montauk, 9pm
- 7/8: Crescent Beach, Shelter Island, 9pm
Other Activities
Aside from 4th of July celebrations, the Hamptons offers a wide array of activities and things to do, all summer long. Wine tours, museums, farmer’s markets, beaches, boutique shops and restaurants are just a few of the many options – there’s truly something for everyone.
Navigate to “The Hamptons” at the top of this page, where you’ll find town-specific guides to the many communities on the South and North Forks.
Need Transportation?
Let our experienced drivers make your 4th of July travel so much easier. Jackrabbit Limo is an established car service in the Hamptons that provides reliable, luxury transportation throughout North and South Forks, as well as to/from NYC and all local airports.