If you’ve ever tried to drive from NYC to the Hamptons on a Friday afternoon, you know the absolute agony. A single trip can easily trap you in bumper-to-bumper traffic for five hours, leaving New Yorkers to wonder if the beach is even worth the headache.
Thankfully, the MTA is stepping in to save your summer weekends.
As of Memorial Day Weekend, the MTA has officially brought back its express Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Hamptons service for the 2026 season. Known affectionately as the “Cannonball” service, this legendary route whisks East End beachgoers directly to the shore by skipping every single stop between Penn Station and Westhampton.
Here’s everything you need to know to dodge the traffic and head out East this summer.
The Cannonball Route: Where Does It Stop?
The Cannonball route is a game changer for New Yorkers looking to maximize their beach time. By bypassing the usual local stops, it gets you out East in record time.
The train runs completely express from Penn Station to Westhampton, and then makes the following stops before terminating in Montauk:
- Southampton
- Bridgehampton
- East Hampton
LIRR President Rob Free said:
Summer is finally here, and it’s time to enjoy that warm weather after that brutal winter. And what better way to get to all the summer fun than taking the famous Cannonball to kick things off?
The 2026 Cannonball Schedule & Travel Time
The iconic Cannonball gets you to the Hamptons in a blistering 1 hour and 32 to 36 minutes, depending on the day.
- Thursdays: Departs Penn Station express to Westhampton (92-minute travel time) (Note: Will not run on June 18 and July 2)
- Fridays: Departs Penn Station express to Westhampton (96-minute travel time) (Note: Extra service will run on Thursday, June 18 and Thursday, July 2 for holiday weekends)
- Sundays: The westbound Cannonball departs the Hamptons on Sunday evenings to bring you back to the city
How Much Are Tickets?
Because this is one of the most popular summer routes in New York, customers are strongly advised to buy tickets well in advance.
- Cost: $33 one-way
- How to buy: Tickets can be purchased on the TrainTime app, or at ticket machines and offices inside Penn Station
- Commuter tip: If you already hold a monthly or weekly LIRR ticket, you can use it on the Cannonball by paying an additional surcharge directly to the conductor
Bonus: More Summer MTA Service Added (Montauk, Rockaway, & Coney Island)
The Cannonball isn’t the only transit upgrade hitting the rails. The MTA is boosting service across the board for both Long Island and NYC local beaches from now through Labor Day weekend:
Additional LIRR Hamptons Trains
- To the Beach: The weekday 5:13 pm train (which normally terminates at Speonk) will now run directly to Montauk all summer
- Back to the City: For direct service from Montauk back to NYC, riders can catch the 11:36 am or 4:17 pm trains
NYC Beach Upgrades (Subway & Bus)
If you’re staying within the five boroughs, the MTA is making it easier to hit the sand now through Labor Day:
- Rockaway Beach: The Rockaway Park Shuttle service is being extended all the way to Rockaway Blvd to make transfers much smoother for beachgoers heading to the Rockaway Peninsula
- Coney Island: To cut down on wait times in the summer heat, the MTA will run D, F, N, and Q trains out of Coney Island-Stillwell Av every 3 minutes to help crowds move faster
- Jacob Riis Park: Looking to get to “The People’s Beach?” Hop on the Q35 bus for seasonal service that drops off directly at the Jacob Riis bath house. Buses run from 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 9 pm on weekends
- Orchard Beach (The Bronx): Bronx beachgoers can take the Bx12 bus directly to the beach on weekends from now through the end of August
This train is hands-down the best way to get out east of the south shore of Long Island. And there’s plenty more service going out there and coming back to ensure people enjoy every moment they possibly can during their visit. – Free
