This mid-range property is a throwback to a time when American seaside resorts were more about location than frills. The affordable and family-managed inn faces the Atlantic Ocean, but the sand is separated by a street and a row of houses. It has 26 simple rooms with ocean-themed decor, as well as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, small microwaves, and tea/coffee facilities. Suites have hot tubs. There's a cheerful courtyard with pastel umbrellas, redwood picnic tables, and a Weber barbecue grill, along with a pool at a hotel next door. Guests who arrive before check-in can drop off their luggage, grab a free soda or water from the lobby's mini-fridge, put on their swim-gear in the changing room off the lobby, and head straight to the beach. Parking is free.

The family-focused Hyatt Place Long Island East End is located next to Long Island Aquarium, between the tony South Fork that is the Hamptons and the more rustic North Fork of Long Island. Though it's not near a beach, like Ocean Resort Inn, families are drawn to the hotel for its indoor and outdoor pools, generous free breakfast, rentals of sporting equipment, and proximity to the Long Island Aquarium and Splish Splash Water Park. Hyatt Place's 100 spacious rooms have views of the Peconic River, a small marina, or its outdoor pool. Wi-Fi and parking are both free.

While Hyatt Place is a mid-range chain hotel, Kenny’s Tipperary Inn an independently-owned property with well-tended grounds with a gazebo and fire pits, a relaxed atmosphere, and local character. The 33 guest rooms and one- and two-bedroom apartments have a budget look, but they’re a bit more charming and well-appointed than typical properties in the hotel's category. Units are spacious and all have private or shared balconies or patios. Standard amenities include AC (some also have ceiling fans), flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi, but kettles or coffeemakers don't come standard. Apartments have living areas with sofa beds, plus kitchens and dining areas. 

The family-friendly Hartman’s Briney Breezes Motel is a casual and welcoming property with a great location by the water, a few minutes from Montauk town center. (Kenny's Tipperary, by comparison, isn't within walking distance of the town center or any major hotspots, though it is about a five-minute walk to Lake Montauk and the Block Island Ferry.) As a smaller property, Hartman's doesn’t include many traditional hotel features such as a fitness center or free breakfast. It does, however, offer free parking and Wi-Fi, as well as free use of a computer and printer located in the office. Guests can also use barbecue grills, a heated outdoor pool, and green space, as well as reserved tee times at the local golf course. Rooms are simple but clean and spacious and have pull-out sofa beds and kitchenettes, but balconies are shared which can limit privacy. Most rooms have a view of the ocean, but there is a main road that runs between the property and the beach.

With a location right on the beautiful beach and modern rooms renovated in 2014, the Montauk Blue Hotel is a solid pick for budget beachfront lodging. The hotel has few on-site amenities aside from a spacious indoor pool and whirlpool and large oceanfront deck for sunbathing, plus free parking and free Wi-Fi. All 82 rooms come with air-conditioning, cable TVs, mini-fridges, and patios or balconies. Studios are the smaller room option and include a sofa and a small dining area, while the larger Oceanfront Rooms have a bit more space and include balconies with views of the water. Some rooms lead right out onto the sand. Extra amenities such as irons, ironing boards, and hairdryers can be borrowed for free, but must be requested and signed out at the front desk.

Hero Beach Club is a chic, 30-room motel on the beach, within walking distance to Montauk’s central plaza. Rooms have a range of colorful styles, but all come with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and balconies or porches. Some rooms have kitchenettes, while Efficiency units have full-size kitchens, minus a microwave. However, there have been some complaints of noise in rooms. On-site features include a pool, a large lawn with picnic tables, on-site parking, and free Wi-Fi. Guests are usually couples and families looking for an affordable getaway near the beach. 

Although this quiet, 1920s-era hilltop property is well past its glamorous heyday, Montauk Manor still has some Old World panache. For starters, the red-brick Tudor Revival-style hotel is surrounded by 12 acres of impeccably maintained lawns. All of it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Gardiner's Bay, and Block Island Sound, enhancing the quiet, away-from-it-all vibe of the property. The hotel has far more features than any other pick on this list -- tennis courts, heated indoor and outdoor pools, organic spa treatments, an Italian restaurant -- but it is not walking distance from the beach. The 140 privately owned condo-style units have kitchens and flat-screen TVs and many also include balconies or terraces. However, decor varies considerably and bathrooms tend to be dated. For modern rooms at a beachfront property, stick with Montauk Blue Hotel or Hero Beach Club.

The Southampton Village Motel is a bright and fresh budget property with a quiet atmosphere and a convenience location a short drive or bike ride from the beaches. (Beach lovers might prefer Haven Montauk, which is across the street from a beautiful and quiet stretch of beach.) Renovated in 2014, the motel's 10 rooms feature air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and comfy beds with Pottery Barn linens. This family-owned property has a spacious lawn and gardens with tables and seating, and offers free Wi-Fi, bike rentals, beach passes, morning coffee, and Tate's cookies.

Haven Montauk is one of the area's many simple bungalow-style motels, but it has a trendier atmosphere to it than many of its neighbors, with bright modern colors injected into the beach-themed decor. The 27 rooms are bright and modern, with a white color scheme punctuated by turquoise cushions, vivid cerise towels, and nautical artwork. Amenities include a mini-fridge, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and coffeemakers. The bathrooms are less attractive -- they're dated, on the small side, and lack tubs. Rooms don't have private balconies, but a bistro table and two chairs are in front of every room so guests can sit on the deck outside. Common features include a pool, garden with fire pit and barbecue grill, free bike rentals, and lobby boutique. Free morning pastries and coffee available in reception, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.

This basic 10-room motel provides budget accommodations in an expensive area of eastern Long Island. The biggest draw here is the close proximity to Bridgehampton and nearby beaches. Rooms are uninteresting and starting to show wear and tear (the 2014-renovated ones at Southampton Village Motel are much comfier, plus have free Tate's cookies and bottled water), but the Enclave's front porches, outdoor pool, and a pretty lawn allow some breathing space. If you need a cheap place to sleep within driving distance to all that the Hamptons has to offer, then this is a decent choice.