10 of the best beaches near airports

Holed up at JFK? Escape to Rockaway Beach, a favorite destination for city dwellers and urban surfers. And it's just a 30-minute taxi ride away. (Expect a longer trip at rush hour, or if you take the AirTrain and subway to get there.)

You'll likely arrive in central Rockaway around Beach 94th Street, but the vast sands stretch from Far Rockaway in the east to the quieter Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden to the southwest.

Another nearby option is three-mile Long Beach, on a barrier island next door. There's a $15 entry fee.

If you have a long layover, consider venturing further out to Jones Beach State Park.

This area was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 but has undergone a multimillion-dollar regeneration program.