Long Island Aquarium
214 Roanoke Ave suite b
Riverhead, NY
A downtown riverfront aquarium where a towering coral reef tank, a penguin colony, and the marine life of Long Island's own bays all come together.
The Long Island Aquarium sits right on the Peconic River in downtown Riverhead, at the very point where the island's twin forks divide. It is best known for its giant coral reef tank, a wall of living reef and tropical fish that ranks among the largest all-living coral displays in the world, along with a colony of penguins and a full run of sharks, rays, sea turtles, and the creatures of Long Island's own waters.
Beyond the tanks, the aquarium leans into its place. Riverhead grew up as the seat of eastern Suffolk County at the head of a tidal river, and the aquarium's outdoor exhibits, salt marsh, and boat outings all connect visitors to the bays, sounds, and shorelines that surround the East End of Long Island.
What Guests Love
- The tall coral reef tank, one of the largest all-living reef displays anywhere
- The penguin colony and the daily feedings and animal encounters
- Touch tanks with local rays, sharks, and shore creatures
- A riverfront setting where you can pair the visit with a walk along the Peconic
Worth Knowing
- Summer weekends and school holidays are busiest, so early arrival helps
- Some animal encounters and boat outings need to be booked ahead
- The setting is walkable, so leave time for the riverfront and downtown Riverhead
- It is an easy stop on the way to the North Fork wineries or the Hamptons
Details
Riverhead, NY
Learn about Long Island Aquarium
Riverhead and the head of the river
Long Island is the homeland of Algonquian-speaking peoples, and the East End in particular belongs to the story of the Shinnecock and the Unkechaug, who fished these bays and shores for thousands of years and remain on Long Island today. The Peconic River and its estuary were rich fishing and shellfishing grounds long before the town existed.
Riverhead takes its name from its position at the head of the Peconic River, and it grew as a mill town and county seat where fresh water met the tidal estuary. The aquarium is part of a long effort to bring life back to the downtown riverfront, turning the old working waterfront into a place where families come to learn about the sea.
The great reef and the animals
The centerpiece is the coral reef tank, a tall column of living coral, anemones, and hundreds of tropical fish that took years to grow and stock. Divers work inside it during shows, and the sheer scale of a fully living reef indoors is what most visitors remember.
Around it, the aquarium keeps penguins, sea lions, sharks, rays, and sea turtles, along with touch tanks where children can meet local shore creatures. Animal feedings and keeper talks run through the day, and outdoor exhibits and seasonal boat trips extend the experience out onto the Peconic and its bays.
The waters of the East End
The bays and sounds around Riverhead are nurseries for a remarkable range of marine life. Ospreys nest on platforms over the marshes, diamondback terrapins move through the salt creeks, and the estuary supports oysters, clams, and the young of many fish that grow up in its shallows before heading to sea.
The aquarium's own salt marsh and outdoor tanks highlight this local life, and its research and rescue work with sea turtles and seals ties the exhibits to the living Atlantic just offshore. A visit is a good primer for the beaches, bays, and preserves that draw people to the East End.
Season by season
Summer is the busy heart of the year on the East End, when the aquarium fills with families and the riverfront and nearby beaches come alive. Spring and fall are quieter and pleasant, with the added draw of the North Fork's farm stands and vineyards nearby.
Because most of the aquarium is indoors, it makes an easy all-weather stop, and winter is one of the calmest times to see the animals without crowds. The outdoor exhibits and boat outings run in the warmer seasons, so a summer or early-fall visit gets the fullest experience.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Riverhead
North Fork wine country
About 10 miles east
A string of vineyards, tasting rooms, and farm stands running out along the North Fork toward Greenport.
Greenport
About 20 miles east
A walkable harbor village at the tip of the North Fork, with a working waterfront and an antique carousel.
The Hamptons
About 20 miles southeast
The beach villages and ocean shoreline of the South Fork, from Southampton out toward Montauk.