Dawn patrol surfing in Shirley

Shirley, New York

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Shirley means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

2:30 AM
First Light: 2:00 AM

Day length: 14h 54m

-1 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

2:30 AM

First light: 2:00 AM

Sunset

5:24 PM

Last light: 5:54 PM

Data from Smith Point County Park· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

2:30 AM

Sunset

5:24 PM

Day Length

14h 54m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

2:31 AM

Sunset

5:24 PM

Day Length

14h 53m

Tue, Jul 14

Sunrise

2:32 AM

Sunset

5:23 PM

Day Length

14h 52m

Wed, Jul 15

Sunrise

2:33 AM

Sunset

5:23 PM

Day Length

14h 50m

Thu, Jul 16

Sunrise

2:33 AM

Sunset

5:22 PM

Day Length

14h 49m

Fri, Jul 17

Sunrise

2:34 AM

Sunset

5:22 PM

Day Length

14h 48m

Sat, Jul 18

Sunrise

2:35 AM

Sunset

5:21 PM

Day Length

14h 46m

Best dawn patrol spots in Shirley

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Featured Beaches(1)

Smith Point County Park

Intermediate

Smith Point County Park is an exposed Fire Island barrier-beach setup with rolling Atlantic surf, a large summer crowd, and plenty of room when the conditions are calm. It can be the closest real ocean option for central and eastern Long Island surfers, but it stops being beginner-friendly quickly once the shorebreak hardens or the sweep starts pulling sideways.

Dawn patrol access guide for Shirley

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Smith Point County Park
beach
lower-intermediate

Smith Point County Park is an exposed Fire Island barrier-beach setup with rolling Atlantic surf, a large summer crowd, and plenty of room when the conditions are calm. It can be the closest real ocean option for central and eastern Long Island surfers, but it stops being beginner-friendly quickly once the shorebreak hardens or the sweep starts pulling sideways.

Early access

The beach access is direct from the lot and boardwalk areas, but guarded hours can compress surfing into designated sections.

Parking

County parking and seasonal beach traffic make timing matter; arrive early on summer weekends and expect the lot to feel busy well before midday.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Shirley

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Shirley

Dawn patrol in Shirley typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

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