The LIRR Cannonball, Explained

The Cannonball is the Long Island Rail Road’s summer trump card: a seasonal express that runs straight to the Hamptons, skipping the transfers and most of the stops that make off-peak travel east such a slog. For a few months a year, on the right days, it turns a three-hour ordeal into a sub-two-hour ride with a drink in your hand. Here’s how it works and how to actually get on it.

What the Cannonball is

The Cannonball is a seasonal express that operates on Thursdays and Fridays through the summer, running from Memorial Day weekend out to its final Labor Day run. Instead of crawling east with a Babylon transfer, it runs nearly nonstop to the East End, reaching Westhampton in roughly 92 to 96 minutes before continuing to the core Hamptons stops: Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and Montauk.

That speed is the whole point. A regular off-peak trip to the far end of the branch can run three-plus hours with a transfer; the Cannonball compresses the western half of that into one smooth, express leg.

Reserved seats and the bar car

The Cannonball is a reserved-seat train. You’re not just buying a fare — you’re buying a specific seat, which is what keeps it civilized on a peak summer Friday when everyone is fleeing the city at once. The ticket runs around $33, a modest premium over a standard one-way for a much better trip.

Part of the appeal is the onboard bar/cafe car, where attendants serve snacks and beverages — the Cannonball has long carried a parlor-car reputation as the most pleasant way to start a Hamptons weekend. It’s a genuine amenity, not an afterthought, and it’s a big reason regulars plan their week around the Thursday and Friday departures.

How to reserve

Because seats are reserved, you book ahead rather than just showing up:

• Use the LIRR TrainTime app to select the Cannonball, pick your destination station, and reserve your seat.
• Reserve as early as you can — these seats are released in advance and the popular departures fill fast.
• Confirm your exact eastbound stop when you book, since the train serves Westhampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and Montauk in sequence.

Treat the reservation like a flight, not a subway swipe. A walk-up on a sold-out summer Friday is exactly how people end up on the slow, transfer-heavy off-peak train instead.

When it sells out

The Cannonball sells out — reliably, on the busiest summer Fridays and around holiday weekends. Demand spikes when the whole city wants to be at the beach by evening, and a reserved-seat express with a bar car is the most coveted way to do it. The pattern is predictable:

• Friday departures go before Thursday ones.
• Holiday weekends (the Fourth of July, Labor Day) book up earliest.
• The last runs of the season carry an end-of-summer rush.

If your dates land on a peak Friday, reserve the moment you can. If you’re flexible, a Thursday departure is easier to get and just as fast.

Should you take it?

If your trip falls on a Thursday or Friday in summer and you’re headed to a Cannonball stop, yes — it’s the best ride east the LIRR offers. You skip the Babylon transfer, you get a guaranteed seat, and you arrive in roughly the time it takes to watch a movie, ideally with a cold drink from the cafe car.

Two caveats. First, it only runs two days a week in season, so it won’t help a Saturday or Sunday traveler. Second — and this never changes no matter how nice the train is — the station is not your destination. Westhampton, Southampton, and the rest are platforms, not doorsteps. Have your taxi or car arranged for the time the Cannonball pulls in, and you’ll have nailed the single best way to get from the city to the Hamptons all summer.

Frequently asked questions

What days does the Cannonball run?

The Cannonball is a seasonal express that operates on Thursdays and Fridays through the summer, from around Memorial Day weekend out to its final Labor Day run. It does not run on weekends or in the off-season, so it only helps travelers whose trip falls on one of those two weekdays.

Do I need a reservation for the Cannonball?

Yes. The Cannonball is a reserved-seat train, so you book a specific seat in advance through the LIRR TrainTime app rather than just boarding with a standard ticket. The ticket runs around $33, and because the popular departures sell out, you should reserve as early as you can.

How fast is the Cannonball compared to a normal train?

Much faster. The Cannonball runs express and reaches Westhampton in roughly 92 to 96 minutes before continuing to Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and Montauk. A regular off-peak trip to the far end of the branch can take three-plus hours because it usually requires a transfer at Babylon, which the Cannonball skips entirely.