Coastal suburbs between the Long Island Sound and pine barrens
When the New York Daily Mirror sold yearly subscriptions paired with parcels of land in the neighboring seaside hamlets of Sound Beach and Rocky Point in the late 1920s, New Yorkers pitched tents and dug out basements for summer cottages atop miles of waterfront cliffs. Nearly a century later, Rocky Point's main selling point continues to be the saltwater swells of the Long Island Sound. “The North Shore is Long Island’s Gold Coast. In Rocky Point, we have a very long, beautiful shoreline sitting on bluffs and cliffs,” says Gary Pollakusky, president of both the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Rocky Point Civic Association. “We want to see people moving here, but we’re never going to have as much density as the South Shore. One of the nicest things about our municipality is that we preserve green space.” With more modest prices and home sizes than North Shore communities like Huntington, Rocky Point preserves both the wild beauty of nearby pine barrens and the coastal cottage character that marks its early history, updated with the developing year-round residential necessities of highly rated schools and winter-proof insulation.
Rocky Point offers many home types from Colonials to bungalows.
The Rocky Point Pine Barrens are on the south side of Route 25A.
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Private beaches along the Long Island Sound
Down steep bluffs covered in coastal bushes, wooden staircases lead to the sand-and-pebble beaches along the Long Island Sound. About a mile of shoreline is controlled by the North Shore Beach Property Owners Association, and members pay annual dues of $475 to park near key-controlled access points from Beech Beach to Friendship Beach. While the shore is accessible throughout the year, lifeguards and security staff, as well as open restrooms, cater to an influx of beachgoers from the end of June through Labor Day. “People do a little of everything. I walk my dog, some beaches have racks where you can store your kayaks, others have a Little Free Library nearby to grab a book before heading down,” Pollakusky says.
Between Rocky Point Yaphank Road and the North Shore Little League baseball fields, hikers and bikers can find a parking lot off state Route 25A from which to start down the Paumanok Path, pedaling past the ruins of old radio towers in the Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve and further east for 125 miles. Cyclists not wanting to endure a thorough post-ride check for ticks might opt for the North Shore Rail Trail which weaves through Rocky Point on the way from Wading River to Mount Sinai.
Enjoy peace and quiet on your private beach in Rocky Point.
Rocky Point locals love to spend their summer days at the beach.
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Single-family homes from Route 25A to the Long Island Sound
North of Route 25A, a network of narrow streets lead up slopes toward the coast, shaded on all sides by the cover of mature trees. Small single-family homes built from the prewar era into the 1950s, including Cape Cods and minimal traditional cottages, sell for $230,000 to $590,000. “Most of the little homes in Rocky Point were built in the 1920s when people were coming out from the city and building their summer houses,” says Joy Bryant, an Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker American Homes who has specialized in waterfront properties throughout Suffolk County for 35 years. “You’ll see now a lot of cottages that have been built onto over the years.” Larger homes, like ranch-style homes from the 1960s and New Traditional construction mimicking farmhouses and Queen Annes that popped up from the 1990s through 2020s, sell for $300,000 to $750,000. Especially large, well-renovated, waterfront or multi-lot homes may go for up to $1.2 million. Rocky Point has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Check out this cute farmhouse style home in Rocky Point.
This Rocky Point ranch features a garage under.
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The Miller Place-Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Bagpipers march in formation behind the grand marshal each March during the Miller Place-Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Upward of 50,000 green-clad spectators line the 3-mile parade route along Route 25A from Harrison Avenue to Broadway. While the Friends of St. Patrick organization hosts a number of Irish heritage celebrations throughout the year, other groups like the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce are responsible for events like the Rocky Point Farmers & Artisans Market, a Sunday morning pop-up that brings farm-fresh produce to the parking lot near VFW Post 6249’s pickleball courts from May through November.
Shopping and dining along Broadway
Bright pedestrian and bike crossing signs mark crosswalks on Broadway, drawing attention to trail riders and locals traveling between restaurants and storefronts in Rocky Point’s tiny downtown. Within a block of each other, Sea Basin has served seafood dishes on white tablecloths for nearly half a century and Del Fiore Italian Market has been the spot to pick up homemade mozzarella and pasta for even longer. Between the two businesses, kids sit still for a fresh cut at Anthony’s Star Wars Barber Shop, surrounded by out-of-this-world sci-fi collectibles and video games the owner has amassed over the years. Nearby, St. Anthony’s of Padua Church has brought its congregation together since the 1950s. Further away on Route 25A, more of a suburban-style strip mall shopping district introduces staples like Stop & Shop.
Broadway Market is a great place to check out in Rocky Point.
Lacrosse Unlimited is your one stop shop for the newest gear out there close to Rocky Point.
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Varsity cheer at Rocky Point High School
Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade and earns a B from Niche, as does Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School which serves third through fifth grades. Rocky Point Middle School earns an A-minus and Rocky Point High School earns a B-plus. Supporters of the Rocky Point Union Free School District had cause for celebration in 2024 when the varsity cheer team won first place in Small Division II at the national competition in Orlando.
This is the main entrance to Rocky Point High School.
Rocky Point High School is a large campus with top notch sports fields.
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Commuting via the Long Island Expressway and Rail Road
Route 25A runs through Rocky Point, starting drivers toward the Long Island Expressway for a 74-mile ride into Manhattan or a 7-mile ride to Port Jefferson Metropolitan Transportation Authority Station. By way of the Port Jefferson and Long Beach branches of the Long Island Rail Road, commuters can reach Penn Station in just under 2 hours. Driving 20 miles to Ronkonkoma Station cuts the train trip to an hour and 20 minutes. The Suffolk County Transit bus makes stops along North Country Road and 25A, offering a public transit option for getting into Port Jefferson or heading further up the North Fork toward Riverhead.
Coastal erosion maintenance by North Shore Beach Association
Rocky Point’s coastline provides natural protection from rising water levels. “It would take a flood of Moses and Noah’s time to actually impact our community at all,” Pollakusky says. Bluff erosion is of greater concern and has caused rare partial collapses of the coast-hugging Soundview Road. The North Beach Property Association owns Soundview and is charged with maintenance and emergency repairs.
Cedar Beach West has a paved walking path that runs along the beach, close to Rocky Point.
The Robert A. Pole Memorial Gazebo provides a great lookout over Long Island Sound.
Mike Carroll is a veteran RE/MAX professional who has been part of the network for over 30 years. He is a savvy real estate professional who understands markets and trends. Mike has been a Sales leader on Long Island since 1989 and has previously been in the Re/Max top 10 salespeople in the Country He works closely with many lenders, attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, and fellow real estate professionals to sell Long Island properties quickly.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
