Fire Island in the offseason: Fall getaway with fewer crowds, better deals

On Fire Island, Labor Day doesn’t mark the season’s end. 

 For Long Islanders looking for a last-minute summer escape, September and October in hot spots like Ocean Beach, Seaview and Ocean Bay Park are a hidden gem: fewer people, warmer water and lower prices.

"The water is much warmer than Memorial Day," said Joe Bonocore, a Dix Hills resident and one of the owners of The Palms Hotel, CJ’s Restaurant & Bar, and Ocean Beach Trading. "The weather also tends to be warmer than on the mainland because the Great South Bay holds the heat. The crowds are gone, but it’s not desolate."

Bonocore said the mix of locals and visitors keeps dining and shopping open. "Up through Columbus Day, almost every restaurant and shop is open on weekends at a minimum. There’s still plenty to do, with weddings every weekend, football on Mondays and Thursdays and a big Halloween celebration at CJ’s. It’s crowds above college-age enjoying the island."

Score the best rental deals of the year

Along with the laid-back vibe,  the cost of rentals drop dramatically after Labor Day.

"You can expect to save 30 to 50%  compared with peak summer," said Joan Woletsky, an agent with Fire Island Sales and Rentals. "It’s a great time for renters who are flexible."

September and October are easier to book, too. "You can call me today and I’ll still find a good selection," Woletsky said. Options range from classic cottages to newly built homes with pools, which have become increasingly popular since COVID.

A five-bedroom, three-bath house in Ocean Beach recently listed for $5,500 for a Thursday to Sunday stay in September. A new four-bedroom, four-bath went for $6,000 for the same stretch.

Hotels offer late-season specials

Not looking for a full house? Fire Island hotels and motels offer late-season deals. The Palms Hotel (168 Cottage Walk, palmshotelfireisland.com, 631-583-8870) in Ocean Beach has midweek rates for a variety of rooms and suites. A full-size room is $249 per night ($449 for two nights), a king-size room is $299 per night ($499 for two nights), and a connecting room or efficiency suite that sleeps four is $369 per night ($669 for two nights). Larger suites include a six-person suite at $549 per night ($949 for two nights), an eight-person suite at $749 per night ($1,349 for two nights), and a 10-person suite at $899 per night ($1,599 for two nights). The hotel stays open through mid-October.

Other options include Clegg’s Hotel (478 Bayberry Walk, cleggshotel.com, 631-583-9292) in Ocean Beach, with September and early October rates from $249 per night, and the Seashore Condo Hotel (78 Bayview Ave., seashorecondomotel.international, 631-583-5860) in Ocean Bay Park, with rooms from $222 per night from late September through Oct. 16. Fire Island Boatel (110 E Lighthouse Walk, fireislandboatel.com, 833-342-6283) in Kismet offers suites as low as $265 per night in October.

Who’s visiting now

The post-Labor Day crowd looks different from the midsummer rush. "Families often come out around the holidays in September. It’s become a tradition for some," Woletsky said, noting Ocean Beach and Seaview as hot spots. With the college-aged crowd gone, Ocean Beach is also a popular destination for reunion trips, friend groups and couples who wait for a quieter season. 

Long weekends are more common than full-week rentals. "It’s more common now to see Thursday-to-Monday stays," Woletsky said. Remote and hybrid work schedules make extended trips possible even in October.

Summer's still on

September and October bring perks beyond lower prices. Beaches are less crowded, the water is still warm, and the island retains a sense of summer. Homeowners return, keeping neighborhoods lively, while vacationers enjoy a slower pace, fewer college-aged visitors, and still plenty of activities.

Most island restaurants and markets stay open through Columbus Day, with some extending hours into November. CJ’s Restaurant & Bar (479 Bay Ave., cjsfireisland.com, 631-583-9890), home of the Fire Island famous Rocket Fuel cocktail, is open year-round just steps from the Ocean Beach ferry dock.

"From Columbus to Veterans Day, some restaurants are still open. The bayfront places tend to close earlier due to weather, but in town there is still a lot to do," Bonocore said. Weddings also keep the island busy, with ceremonies and receptions nearly every weekend in September and October.

CJ’s also hosts one of the island’s biggest offseason events. A Halloween party will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, with giveaways and prizes. Water taxis are arranged for the night, because ferries run on limited schedules after Labor Day.

"From Columbus Day to Veterans Day, some restaurants are still open, but by Veterans Day, pretty much everyone is gone," Bonocore said. "Until then, it’s business as usual on weekends."