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    Ideal Beach

    3.4 (21 reviews)

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    Shan S.

    Pretty views but lots of litter. We ended up leaving early due to the persistent bugs that kept biting. Good for a quick trip and neat a marina.

    Ideal Beach on a Saturday in July (afternoon) -- no filter!
    Christine F.

    I second Angel T.: "I almost want to lie and give it one star so no one wants to come here." Visited on a Saturday, early afternoon. The beach was so empty, it felt like a private beach...for free! There were groups of people and solo sunbathers here and there, but there was more than enough room for everyone to be spaced out. Plenty of empty spots in their parking lot. Didn't see any litter on the sand (thank you, everyone, for cleaning up after yourselves). The sand wasn't the softest (err, finest?) I've ever felt -- I think this was mostly due to there being lots of little shells scattered around. Anyways, this didn't take away from our enjoyment in the slightest. We brought in a cooler and snacks. There was a cop on a four-wheeler patrolling the beach, but he didn't stop to go through people's coolers or anything -- just waved at us :) Beautiful breeze off the water. Felt like we were on vacation. Not sure how you can beat this!

    Angel T.

    I almost want to lie and give it one star so no one wants to come here. Ideal beach is an inlet beach, but there is a team of volunteers that rake and clean the beach, so it's not covered in broken glass and dead crabs and beer bottles like most inlet beaches. My one tip is to bring bug spray, if the wind is going in a certain direction, the flies will eat you alive. There are very small waves that little kids really enjoy. There are lifeguards and bathrooms open on weekend but during the week you are on your own. Saturday's tend to have more visitors, Sunday's are much less busy and it's practically empty during the week. They have plenty of parking. And plenty of garbage cans so you can clean up after yourself!!! Pack a lunch there is nothing close by to walk to for lunch. If you have kids under five this is a great beach for you.

    vitamin-sea
    Mona S.

    Ideal beach located near Keansburg. It is almost in the middle of a residential area & that makes the Beaching experience 10 on 10, as it feels almost like a private beach, unique & non-commercial. A hidden treasure to spend some "me" time with friends & family if you want to be away from the din & bustle of the most NJ Shore point beaches. This being a Raritan Bay beach is smaller in size & even has smaller waves unlike Atlantic Bay Beaches, making it easy for kids to enjoy more in the water. However, no boardwalk or shops or eateries near by. NYC skyline across the ocean, so staying back for the sunset is a must. It looks magical. 1. Parking is FREE, Its clean & almost empty- so parking is sorted 2. Food is allowed , so get yourself a hamper full of food & drinks, get your own trash bags as didn't see trash cans 3. Its quiet & therefore you can get a crowd -free spot in any corner of the beach 4. Best sunset view with NYC skyline backdrop , so keep either your phone cameras on full charge or your DSLRs ready 5. wear your comfy slippers, slide in the cool sun shades, rub some sunscreen & carry a hat 6. A fisher man's paradise. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including weakfish, bluefish, striped bass and flounder here. Its advisable to check with local Fish and Wildlife department to ensure the stream is open to the public beforehand 7. the beach is not squeaky clean & be aware as it has logs lying here & there wit nuts & bolts which can hurt the feet 8. There are washrooms in on of the side of the beach, we could not spot it though as we stayed not long enough

    The beach :)
    Karol H.

    We went to this beach on the bay to get a view of downtown Manhattan. It was deserted except for two teens splashing in the water a bit away. It's replenished sand with lots of pebbles.

    Nicole N.

    What a great place I have been looking for quite a while for a beach that was closer to home that is dog friendly and this is the perfect spot it's clean it's very peaceful and it's very quiet there is no fee to get on and parking is free as well the only negative thing I can say is that there is no place to purchase something to eat or drink nearby so you'd have to know that beforehand. This place is a really great spot when you just want to get away from the world for a little while the view is of the New York City skyline and it is actually the Raritan Bay

    Clean, kid friendly. Has public bathrooms and a place to wash up. I love it there! Not much waves, good spot to relax, pretty shallow water goes max to my chest several feet in. Water had some fish but nothing crazy.

    Taking a moment to clear my mind & just take in God's beauty! Its the little things that gives me leave & puts a smile on my face!

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    Ask the Community - Ideal Beach

    I've been wanting to go to a secluded beach out of Brooklyn during these times. Is this a go to place for right now? All the beaches here get crowded 🙁

    All the beaches everywhere have been crowded. Ideal Beach is not worth the drive from Brooklyn. The crowds have been bad and there is garbage (and used needles) everywhere now.

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    Review Highlights - Ideal Beach

    Ideal beach is an inlet beach, but there is a team of volunteers that rake and clean the beach, so it's not covered in broken glass and dead crabs and beer bottles like most inlet beaches.

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    Bayshore Waterfront Park - Enjoy some beautiful weather

    Bayshore Waterfront Park

    4.3(15 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Love the fact that this beach is so quiet, and, relatively clean!…read more I've come to this beach on multiple occasions now, once for a Friday company volunteer clean-up event and on a Saturday just with my family. On the 1st occasion that I came here, I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the beach actually was as we didn't have to do much work to spruce it up. Garbage is rarely found on the beach, BUT there are a lot of broken shells and little rocks laying around. It was very quiet when I arrived at 9 AM for my volunteer event, but activity did begin to immediately pick up around 10:30 - 11:00 AM as families began rolling in to the parking lot. The beach isn't huge and neither is the parking lot, but on the summer Saturday that my family and I visited, it didn't feel all that crowded still. No lifeguards are on duty here and I don't think they ever are here since it's relatively small compared to more popular beaches. The one downside of the beach is that there isn't a whole lot around either as the beach is surrounded by a residential neighborhood and stores and restaurants are far off. BUT, the best thing about this beach is that it's FREE and no fee is required to enter!!

    Great beach, very clean and dog friendly. My dog is actually the cover of this page lol. Would 100%…read morerecommend this beach.

    Photos
    Bayshore Waterfront Park - Our Fam @ Bayshore Waterfront Park/Beach

    Our Fam @ Bayshore Waterfront Park/Beach

    Bayshore Waterfront Park - Bayshore Waterfront Park/Beach

    Bayshore Waterfront Park/Beach

    Bayshore Waterfront Park - Our pup enjoying the beach air

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    Our pup enjoying the beach air

    Ocean Grove Beach

    Ocean Grove Beach

    4.5(57 reviews)
    16.9 mi

    I stumbled across Ocean Grove Beach this summer, and I think it might just be my favorite beach so…read morefar. Now, fair disclaimer: Ocean Grove is very Christian-based. There's a specific tented area with benches on the boardwalk where Christian services are held multiple times a day. You'll also find people on the boardwalk handing out tracts. If that's not your thing, just keep walking--they don't pressure you, and once you're actually on the beach, it all fades into the background. What really stood out to me was how pleasant and peaceful everything felt. Parking is free with lots of street parking available, and you can get from your car to the sand in seconds--which is a huge plus. The scenery is beautiful, bathrooms are clean, and there are food trucks around for when you get hungry. We forgot our umbrella one day and ended up renting one. It was super easy--$16, and you can pay with cash. They let you keep it until 4:45 pm and even come around to collect it for you. Chairs are also available to rent. For beach entry, however, it's cash-free--you scan the QR code and pay online. Overall, I loved the atmosphere here. Everything felt calm, well-kept, and welcoming. I can't wait to return--definitely one of the most peaceful beach experiences I've had.

    I have been visiting Ocean Grove beach for over 10 years. It is a well-kept and clean beach with…read moreplenty of free parking. Main Street is a short walk away from the beach where you can shop and eat. There's a great boardwalk for a nice stroll. Hands down, my favorite beach down the jersey shore!

    Photos
    Ocean Grove Beach - Rough waves after the storm

    Rough waves after the storm

    Ocean Grove Beach - Ocean grove craft fair

    Ocean grove craft fair

    Ocean Grove Beach

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    Sandy Hook Beach

    Sandy Hook Beach

    4.0(96 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    Great Beach!…read more Beautiful beach with clear water and pet friendly. I wanted to take my dogs to a clean beach for a while and I decided to go to Sandy Hook Beach. It was a wonderful experience. The recreation center is huge, miles and miles of beach, park, lake, and trails. Pets and their owners may visit bayside beaches throughout the year. Pets are only allowed on oceanside beaches from September 15-March 15. Pets are not permitted on oceanside beaches during the spring and summer, but you can still take them to the parks, trails and other areas. We went in October and entrance was free, we parked near the beach, and we spent a wonderful day.

    I go down to the shore probably once per summer, just because it's a bit of a trek for me from…read moreNorth Jersey. When I do go, I usually look for a beach more north so that I'm not driving for 2 hours each way. I haven't really found a go-to beach, but I think I finally found it this year! I really enjoyed Sandy Hook. It doesn't have a boardwalk, which I don't mind - so if you're looking for boardwalk/bar/restaurant vibes, this is not it. But if you're looking for a quiet, family day at the beach, then this spot is great. You don't need a beach pass per person (which I hate paying) but parking is $20 per day. Better than the anxiety of having to look for street parking somewhere. They have a few lots, but I've read several reviews that they get full if you get there after 8:30 to 9. We got there at around 8 on a Saturday, so we were good. They have bathrooms (pretty clean for a beach) and showers (8 of them!). I love a good rinse after the beach so that I'm not sitting in my car with a bathing suit full of sand. There was one food truck that day but they were selling acai bowls, so definitely bring your own food and lots of snacks. Waves were rough that day and there were a lot of surfers, but there had just been some thunderstorms the night before, so that probably played a factor. Can't wait to go back next year!

    Photos
    Sandy Hook Beach
    Sandy Hook Beach
    Sandy Hook Beach

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    Avon By the Sea - The Columns: This Victorian mansion-turned restaurant/club is the heart of nightlife in Avon.

    Avon By the Sea

    4.3(59 reviews)
    18.2 mi

    Wow. I LOVE IT HERE. I'm a gal who prefers a more quiet, peaceful beach experience. I spent the…read moreday at Avon By the Sea on a weekday in September and it was perfect. All parking is FREE. Can't complain about that! There's plenty of street parking right in front of the boardwalk as well as residential parking nearby. Since I visited after the summer season ended, I had no problem finding a spot at 12pm. If you're going during the season, I would suggest coming much earlier if you want to get a good spot closer to the beach. During the summer season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), beach badges are required from 9am-5pm on weekdays and 9am-5:30pm on weekends/holidays. It's $13 per person. Children ages 11 and under + active military and their dependents are free of charge. They don't accept credit/debit cards, so remember to bring CASH. The beach is beautiful - clear, blue water and clean, soft sand. The crowd is more mature and family-oriented. They do have a lot of rules (no alcohol/smoking/cannabis/canopies/tents/sound systems), but I don't mind. It's not rowdy here, so you'll have a peaceful experience. There are bathrooms, a playground area for children, and a boardwalk. The boardwalk is small, but charming. There are benches for you to sit, relax, and enjoy the ocean view. There aren't many restaurants, bars, games, or entertainment around. They have a snack/food pavilion, but I'd suggest driving a few miles away to Asbury Park or Long Branch for a better dining and night life scene. Seeeeee yaaaaaaaa at the shore!

    Avon-by-the-Sea is perfect if you're looking for a quiet, peaceful beach day. It's way more low-key…read morethan Belmar -- not much going on, mostly retirees and families, which honestly makes it super relaxing. Don't come here expecting to walk to a bunch of restaurants or bars -- it's more of a bring your own vibes kind of place. But they do have a snack shack, bathrooms, and the beach itself is really clean with clear water. Daily entry is $13, and there's lots of street parking, which is rare and amazing for beach towns. If you just want to chill, read, and enjoy the ocean without the crowds, this is the spot

    Photos
    Avon By the Sea
    Avon By the Sea - Avon Pavilion is a very famous restaurant around here so have a bite over there

    Avon Pavilion is a very famous restaurant around here so have a bite over there

    Avon By the Sea

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    Belmar Beach 5th Ave

    Belmar Beach 5th Ave

    4.3(24 reviews)
    18.9 mi

    Came here and was so so happy we chose to spend our first beach day of the summer here. Everyone…read morewas friendly at the badges booth and I think the $12 day pass was beyond reasonable. The water is clean, I saw no garbage floating around and I could actually see through the water which was wonderful. Everyone was quiet, very calm vibes. Only complaint are the "police" who I saw trying to overexert their authority with more than two groups of people for the most absurd reasons. Just seemed like they had nothing better to do tbh. I'm not talking about the actual real police, I'm talking about the beach police who clearly aren't real police but seemed to want to make a name for themselves. Seeing things like this annoys me especially when the people being bothered weren't doing anything. But other than that; clean water, good vibes, 5 star beach in my opinion.

    Belmar has one of the most decent boardwalks around central jersey area. It's newly renovated and…read morehas a nice set up of bars and restaurants around it. The boardwalk is kept not just safe (security guards on site), it's also very clean ( many housekeeping employees on site available). In the summer, if you are looking to enter the beach for FREE, you got to arrive before 9 am. If you enjoy riding a bicycle on the boardwalk you are good to go between 6 AM and 9 AM! If you are a fitness guru, you could enjoy beach pull up bars in every other block of the boardwalk. Thirsty or hungry? No problem, Belmar boardwalk has a variety of stores: playabowl restaurant , ice cream places and even 7 eleven! Thank you for reading this and I hope you find this helpful.

    Photos
    Belmar Beach 5th Ave
    Belmar Beach 5th Ave - Wheel chair accessible beaches!!!

    Wheel chair accessible beaches!!!

    Belmar Beach 5th Ave

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    Ideal Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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