One of the earliest Long Island parkways, construction on the Wantagh Parkway began in 1927, with the initial 5-mile (8 km) segment opening two years later as the Jones Beach Causeway, connecting Merrick Road in Wantagh to newly opened Jones Beach State Park.

[4][5][6][7] The parkway then widens to eight lanes as it bends northeast through Jones Beach State Park, intersecting with several u-turn ramps between directions.

The parkway passes a large pet cemetery and Wantagh High School before crossing under NY 105 (Jerusalem Avenue).

[5] After exit W2, the Wantagh State Parkway continues northwest, soon crossing over the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road.

[4][5] Many have erroneously referred to the Loop Parkway as the Jones Beach Causeway, most notably in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather.

[2] It was built specifically by Robert Moses and the Long Island State Park Commission to enable vehicular access to Jones Beach.

The new roadway would be opened on December 17 and be attended by officials such as Herbert H. Lehman, J. Russell Sprague, Alfred Smith, and Robert Moses.

[8][3][15] During the December 17 opening ceremony, 300 cars were lined up on the asphalt, which was designed to make night driving much easier over the concrete.

[3][16] Smith cut the ribbon, located on the Northern State Parkway portion of new extension in Westbury, about 500 yards (460 m) east of Glen Cove Road.

[8] It would then continue north and enter the Incorporated Village of Old Westbury, soon reaching the Long Island Expressway, onto which it would merge in the vicinity of Powells Lane.

[8] When the Seaford–Oyster Bay Expressway (NY 135) was planned, it was intended to have its southern terminus at the Jones Beach Causeway section of the Wantagh State Parkway, onto which it would merge.