Sunken Meadow State Park — Attraction in Town of Smithtown

There is a lot going on at this park. For 1 it has a beach on the other side which is gorgeous. They managed to keep it overall clean especially the benches, patios, and the restaurant quarters. They have binoculars you can use for 25 cents at a time for about 5 minutes or so to look far into the abyss. Be careful though about the sand because it does get pretty hot during the day. I would also recommend not walking on the pier with bare feet because you may get tetanus which is hard to treat. There are several parking lots located all around the park which have several hundreds of spots for you to park. You also have access to grills in the forest and nature areas which are perfect to bbq and picnic. The hills are oddly shaped to be honest but pretty fun regardless. The roads are also creased with several flaps so make sure if you’re riding with a bike or scooter you may encounter several obstacles. There is an area in the middle of the park where you can host several events like an annual gathering or a family reunion but it’s on a first come first serve basis. The nature walks are awesome because you have lakes and ponds to explore, wildlife to marvel at and the skyline looks beautiful during sunset. The park does close roughly around 8 PM or so on the weekends but may stay longer during the weekdays. I also do recommend being plenty of bug spray, mesh nets or a zapper because you will encounter plenty of mosquitoes and flies. There are also areas to be weary of ticks as they are super small and difficult to spot. The park is perfect for nature outdoor activities and communing with nature. I went on several bbqs and picnics with my mosque from sunnyside and my family and we had the best time of our lives. Playground sets around for the kids and posts set up for volleyball if need be. There are park rangers patrolling around to make sure everyone is safe and secure and to ensure nobody is messing around with anything. Lifeguards on standby at the beach with even flags to guide and limit the exposure to the beach tides and waves. Despite knowing how to swim you can’t match up against the earth natural forces thus the barriers and faculty to ensure everything...

Sunken Meadow State Park: A Hidden Gem for All-Day Outdoor Fun!

As a founding member of several nonprofits who has had the honor of organizing summer day trips for nearly 30 years, I can say without hesitation that Sunken Meadow State Park is one of the most versatile and welcoming parks in the tri-state area. Year after year, it serves as the perfect backdrop for our community gatherings, easily accommodating groups of hundreds with comfort and charm.

What makes this park truly special is its sheer size and thoughtful design—from shaded picnic areas perfect for large-group BBQs, to kid-friendly playgrounds that keep the little ones happy for hours.

But what truly sets Sunken Meadow apart isn’t just the land—it’s the tides, the seawater, the beach, and everything else that friendly nature has to offer.

Spend a full day here, and you’ll experience a dynamic lineup of beachside activities shaped by the shifting sea levels: • 🎣 Early Morning: A peaceful time for fishing at sunrise, while the world is still quiet. • 🏖️ Midday: As the tide rises, the water becomes waist-deep—perfect for first-time saltwater swimmers and families looking to splash and play safely. • 🧑‍💼 Evening: As the sun sets and the crowds disperse, the park becomes a tranquil haven for an executive board meeting or a simple moment of group reflection before heading home.

For those unfamiliar with ocean swimming, Sunken Meadow’s low-tide hours offer a rare, confidence-building introduction to saltwater. The calm, shallow waters are ideal for all ages—and especially great for those dipping their toes into the sea for the very first time.

More than just a park, Sunken Meadow gives you a true sense of what America and Americans stand for:

👉 Beautiful land, stretching green and wide under the open sky; 👉 Wonderful people, gathering with warmth, respect, and a strong sense of community; 👉 A welcoming beach, where the sand gently massages your feet, and the soothing seawater embraces you with a gentle summer cool-down.

If you come with appreciation, you will fall in love with this place—just as we have,...

Love the place. There's a lot of people today, maybe because it's the 4th of July. People having their picnic in field 2 are close to each other (over-crowded) AND... almost all of them doesn't wear mask. So, we decided to go up all the way to field 3... the people around this area are not too close to each other and are wearing masks. So we settled near the beach entrance. We had so much fun...

One thing I don't like about it, is you don't have any place to buy some food/snacks or something you need to buy incase you forget or you ran out of... like ice... so half of us took went out to grab some ice together and some drinks to refill our cooler (we brought my neice with us so that she can take a short nap in the car on our way to get the ice and other stuff but then when we were about to go back all the entrance are closed... we tried to ask and show our parkong ticket to the police officers but then they said we really can't go back inside because the park is over packed. We tried our best and talk to.. 2/3 officers but still got denied going in. They said to just look for a parking down then just walk going to our place. Anyway... to make the story short.. yes we did walked by foot going to our spot. We are so exhausted but then we just took it on a positive way.

So just a reminder, before entering the park, make sure that you are loaded with everyrhing you need because for sure while there's this pandemic... the park will still limit all the people going in and out the park vicinity.

I also uploaded photos from the...