Lake Ronkonkoma, New York
Lake Ronkonkoma is a community of 18,221 people in Suffolk County, New York.
Why visit Lake Ronkonkoma
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 43 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Spaceplex, Regal Ronkonkoma, Bald Hill Schoolhouse and Halliock Inn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 25°F, and about 32 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lake Ronkonkoma
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Ronkonkoma
Lake Ronkonkoma is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 18,619 at the time of the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Ronkonkoma, New York (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Spaceplex
Monument and historic site · 2.9 mi
Indoor amusement park and arcade in New York, US
Museums and landmarks6
Bald Hill Schoolhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Building in New York, United States
Halliock Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Historic commercial building in New York, United States
Islandia Veterans Memorial Triangle
Monument and historic site · 3.4 mi
Park and veterans memorial in Islandia, New York, United States
Historic Lake Towers Hotel
Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi
Ruins of the hotel's stairway and patio.
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes43
Gino's of Ronkonkoma
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian · 0.5 mi
214 Portion Road, Lake Ronkonkoma
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Maria's
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
211 Smithtown Boulevard, Nesconset
Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr 11:30-23:00; Sa 13:00-23:00; Su 13:00-22:00
Phayathai Restaurant
Restaurant · Thai · 0.4 mi
735 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma
Mo-Th 11:30-20:30; Fr 11:30-21:30; Sa 12:00-21:30; Su 12:00-20:30
Red Lobster
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.4 mi
5010 Expressway Drive South, Lake Ronkonkoma
Mo-Th, Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Redefine Meals
Restaurant · American, Italian, Mexican, Asian · 0.5 mi
781 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Grove
Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
Redefine Meals
Restaurant · Italian, Mexican, American, Asian · 1.6 mi
1015 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Grove
Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
The Corner Cafe
Restaurant · 2.0 mi
Restaurant, Burger , Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Sandwich , Brunch, Catering , Family Restaurant , American Food
204 Smithtown Blvd, Nesconset
Su-Tu 07:00-15:00; We-Sa 07:00-20:00
31 more on the map.
History
The actual lake, Lake Ronkonkoma, adjacent to the CDP, is the largest lake on Long Island. The land surrounding one side of the lake is in the jurisdiction of the Town of Islip. The elevation of the lake surface is given as 55 feet (17 m) on the most recent USGS map, but as the lake is a "groundwater lake", not fed by streams, it has no surface outlet and its water surface reflects the current level of the local water table. This can undergo significant changes over time, and the lake level experiences slow periods of rise and fall. In the late 1960s it was quite low; after several intermediate changes in level, in 2007 the lake was higher than at any time since, with a difference of well over 5 feet (1.5 m) between the 1960s low and the 2007 high.
As a result of the lake's existence, Lake Ronkonkoma was once a resort town, until the area experienced a population explosion in the mid-20th century. Remnants of old resorts and hotels can still be seen around the lake's shores. Many summer cottages and bungalows from that period remain, now converted to year-round use.
From the History section of Lake Ronkonkoma, New York on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship12
First Congregational Church of New Village
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 0.8 mi
307 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma
Lake Ronkonkoma United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.5 mi
792 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Grove
Saint Joseph's Church
Church · Catholic · 0.9 mi
45 Church Street, Lake Ronkonkoma
Suffolk Islamic Center
Place of worship · Muslim · 0.8 mi
232 Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma
St Pius X Residence for Retired Priests
Church · 1.2 mi
310 Cenacle Rd, Lake Ronkonkoma
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries52
Sachem High School - North Campus
School · 0.8 mi
212 Smith Road, Lake Ronkonkoma
Healthcare6
Map of Lake Ronkonkoma
156 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 25°F | 3.7 in | 10.3 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 26°F | 3.3 in | 9.4 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 4.5 in | 6.5 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 41°F | 4.1 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 51°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 61°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 67°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 66°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 59°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 38°F | 3.4 in | 0.5 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 30°F | 4.7 in | 4.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Islip Li Macarthur Ap 72505 (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Suffolk County has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-21: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-08-25: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-15: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-22: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Lake Grove 2 mi north, about 3 min by car
- Centereach 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
- Holbrook 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Holtsville 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Farmingville 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Hauppauge 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Central Islip 5 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- East Setauket 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Coram 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- East Patchogue 8 mi southeast, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 朗康科馬湖, Vitsuha, CC0
- Lake Ronkonkoma Ducks - panoramio, dans362, CC BY 3.0
- Bald Hill Schoolhouse, DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Halliock Inn; Village of the Branch-2, DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- At Long Island 2024 024, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 027, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 026, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 025, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 023, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Book House - panoramio, dans362, CC BY 3.0
- St. Marys Pomeroy, Thelakeheritage, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Icesurfing (386244285), Joe Shlabotnik, CC BY 2.0
- Ice Windsurfing (1920312278), Joe Shlabotnik, CC BY 2.0
- At Long Island 2024 021, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 019, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 020, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Long Island 2024 022, Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Symphyotrichum racemosum 233133134, David LaMagna, CC BY 4.0
- Symphyotrichum racemosum 233133644, David LaMagna, CC BY 4.0
- Gabriel Oak Rose, Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gabriel Oak Rose (cropped), Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Forget-me-nots in spring, Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dr. W. Van Fleet Rose, Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emily Bronte Rose, Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emily Bronte Rose (cropped), Goldfinch94, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MTA Prepares for Winter Weather - 50892418531, MTAPhotos, CC BY 2.0
- MTA Prepares for Winter Weather - 50892418706, MTAPhotos, CC BY 2.0
- Ronkonkoma LIRR station (December 2023), Kiran891, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20771573920), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- Mid-Suffolk Train Yard Information Center (16210407668), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20959614945), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20967051221), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- Mid-Suffolk Train Yard Information Center (16398048085), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20949821102), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- Mid-Suffolk Train Yard Information Center (16398047945), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20772859639), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- Service to Greenport Extended (10405195723), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
- LIRR Double Track Press Conference (20967050441), Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, CC BY 2.0
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