It's very clean also has police protection the bathroom r so clean & the showers r a great way to…read moreclean up before getting back in your car

It could look better on the approach they could monetize the parking lot. Add a blue path up on the…read moresand and make it look inviting. How about a little gift shop how about at least some food trucks nearby?

AVON-BY-THE-SEA: a peaceful town with a great big beach, leashed dogs and pets are allowed on the…read morebeach between October 1st through May 1st. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk, but you can cross over to the beach. There is a parallel sidewalk path to take a nice stroll. The town is also home to the Beach Christmas Tree.

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!

THE GOOD ----------------…read more+ Relatively clean beach like all of the popular beaches on the Jersey Shore, BUT we did find a little trash here and there - like bottle caps. ++++ For you shell and rock collectors, plenty of miniature shells and rocks can be found on this beach. + Very active lifeguards are on duty during beach hours. Observed them signaling to swimmers, multiple times, to relocate to within the swimming area. + Multiple guarded access points. ++++ Daily passes can be purchased at the beach access points. + LOTS of parking spaces right along Ocean Ave, but they fill up very fast. The spaces right along the boardwalk are not free though and cost $2 per hour through Parkmobile. THE NOT SO GOOD ----------------------------- - $14 for a daily pass as of 2026???? Inflation definitely stinks. - No restaurants located along the boardwalk or beach. All of the restaurants are located on Main St., which is 6 blocks west of the beach. MIXED THOUGHTS ---------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Arrived at around 10:30 AM on an August Saturday and it was already pretty busy. Parking spaces were still available, but they filled up VERY fast after we arrived. = Most of the beachgoers were set up where the swimming areas were. In the non-swimming areas, it was pretty empty actually, so if you want to be left alone, that's your spot. = On Park Pl Ave, there was a food truck that sold typical truck foods (burgers, hot dogs) at very reasonable prices. Also, Lynnie Lou's Ice Cream truck was right beside it too.

- Pricey at $14 admission in 2026, although kids under 12 are free with an adult…read more- Paid street parking is available along the beach - Nice playground area for the kiddos - The beach could be cleaner--pieces of litter were noticeable on the sand every few steps - Plenty of active lifeguards on duty, and flags along the shore clearly indicate designated swimming areas versus fishing areas - The only rinse station we saw had a single shower, so expect a bit of a wait when the beach is busy - A couple of food trucks are located right off the sand for a quick meal, but there isn't much else nearby without venturing inland

Beautiful Spring Lake Beach! Look a stroll on the boardwalk…read morebefore dinner! Noted the season pass for the beach was $110. Lovely potted flowers along the boardwalk. Street parking - didn't see any meters!

Spring Lake Beach is such a beautiful hidden gem! The beach was clean, peaceful, and surprisingly…read morequiet when we visited, which made it such a relaxing way to spend the day.There is a $12 admission fee to access the beach, but I personally thought it was worth it. The beach itself is really well maintained, and I loved that it didn't feel overly crowded or chaotic. It's the perfect spot if you want to enjoy the Jersey Shore without the hustle and bustle of some of the busier beach towns. I also really loved the town of Spring Lake. It's beautiful, very charming, and has plenty of restaurants, shops, and other things to do, so you can easily make a whole day out of your visit. Grab something to eat, walk around town, and then spend some time by the water. Overall, such a lovely beach and town! I had a great experience and would definitely come back.

Summer in the Garden State continues after Labor Day, marking the vibrant boardwalks, sprawling…read moresands, and memories made by the Atlantic. Over 90 miles of coastline stretch from Sandy Hook's gentle wilderness in the north to Cape May's Victorian charm in the south. Nestled within the Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Beach is a hidden gem that graces a 7-mile scenic barrier peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, offering both ocean-side and bay-side experiences. Unique among Jersey beaches, Sandy Hook is famed for its wild beauty, wildlife, and opportunities for outdoor recreation, where my partner and I visited South Beach as first-timers and the Shore this year today. The weather was ideal, as it was neither excessively hot nor lacking in sunshine. It was less crowded around 8am, and parking was free. The walk to the beach was easy and not as far as Gunnison. There is a comfort station. It's a clean, serene beach with great waves for swimming and plenty of space to relax. We always pack a cooler with food and drinks. It is a carry-in/carry-out policy where one picks up after yourself to keep the beaches clean. Beyond the sand, there are many historic sites to see, from old military buildings to historic lighthouses, making it a perfect mix of nature and history. Everyone needs a beach day once in a while.

Nice beach Disgusting restrooms you can barely stomach…read moregoing in There was a wetzelpretzel truck on site

THE GOOD ----------------…read more+ Spacious, beautiful beach with verrrrry, verrrrrry clean sand. + Lifeguards are on duty during beach hours and they are extremely watchful of the beach as we observed them, multiple times, giving warnings to swimmers. + There is a food stand, Shore Break Grill, DIRECTLY on the beach by the pier on Embury Ave!! They sell food (burgers fries, sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken fingers), cold drinks (flavored lemonades, iced teas), smoothies, pina coladas, acai bowls, ice cream and ice! + Town area on Main Ave is small, but charming and has plenty of restaurants, including the famed (and newly reopened) Nagle's Apothecary Cafe. + A lot of free street parking spaces along the streets and angled, BUT get here early (around 10:30 AM) on the weekend during beach season! If you don't arrive early, you'll definitely be circling for awhile. THE NOT SO GOOD ----------------------------- - Nada. MIXED THOUGHTS ---------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = As of July 2026, daily wrist bands cost $13 per adult with children 11 and younger being free.

The Jersey Shore has around 141 miles of shoreline and more than 40 beach towns, each with its own…read moreunique vibe. If you're looking for a quieter, peaceful, family-friendly beach day, Ocean Grove is calling your name. First, I have to make a DISCLAIMER... This one-mile town is known as "God's Square Mile" because it was founded by Methodist ministers as a seaside Christian sanctuary. You'll definitely see that history reflected throughout the town, from streets with biblical names to worship services held on the boardwalk. Ocean Grove is overseen by a religious organization and follows some Christian blue laws, including no alcohol sales. With that being said, please do NOT let the town's religious roots scare you away! I'm not religious, but I felt completely welcomed. Not once did I feel like their beliefs were being pushed onto me. Moving on... as a seasoned beach gal, here's everything you need to know to make the most of your beach day: PARKING: FREE... you read that right! There are angled spots right in front of the beach, plus street parking in the residential areas. Come extra early on weekends if you want to snag a spot. I got super lucky and found one around 11AM on a Sunday. ADMISSION: Daily beach passes are $13 and can be purchased online or in person at the beach office. It's FREE for children 11 and under & anyone who arrives after 5:30pm. I really wish they offered free or discounted admission for U.S. veterans, active-duty military, and seniors. BEACH & AMENITIES: The beach is clean, the sand is soft, and the water has gotten noticeably clearer and bluer over the years. It's also less crowded than some nearby beaches, so there's plenty of space. Amenities include: -Umbrella & chair rentals -Public bathrooms (pretty clean) -Outdoor rinse stations -A designated surfing area No showers or changing rooms. BOARDWALK: The 0.5 mile boardwalk is wide and lined with benches, street lamps, and potted flowers. Don't expect a bustling boardwalk scene--it's definitely more laidback. There's a pavilion where Christian services are open to the public, including gospel music and prayers. The beach office also sells merchandise like hats and sweatshirts. I had a wonderful stroll in the sun and really enjoyed the atmosphere. HISTORICAL SIGHTS: -Ocean Grove has the largest concentration of VICTORIAN HOMES in the COUNTRY and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's so picturesque. I was in love with the pastel colors! -You can't miss THE GREAT AUDITORIUM, a massive 1894 landmark that hosts religious services, choir concerts, and community events. -Then there's TENT CITY, a historic colony of 114 canvas tents used for summer Christian retreats. Want to stay in one? You have to apply, pass an interview, and then get on a legendary waitlist that's apparently 10-15 years long! Rentals cost $4,000-$8,000. Who knows, maybe you'll want to add that to your bucket list haha... FOOD/NIGHTLIFE: -The nightlife is virtually nonexistent. No bars, clubs, lounges, or liquor sales--it's a dry town. I respect it. If you want a bar scene, Asbury Park is a short drive away. -There's a small food stand on the beach called Shore Break (see my separate review!) that servces ice cream, lemonades, smoothies, and standard beach grub like fries and hot dogs. -The downtown main street is a short walk away, with a handful of restaurants, cafes, and bakeries if you want to grab a bite. Some notable spots are Nagle's, SeaGrass, OG Bake Shoppe, and Tino's Pizza. I spent six hours here and had such a peaceful beach day. If you want a change of scenery from some of the livelier (and rowdier) Jersey Shore towns, Ocean Grove is a great place to unwind. I actually think its religious history adds to the charm and makes this little town stand out.

This is one of my favorite NJ beaches. I stumbled onto this a few years ago and keep returning…read moreevery year. I find the atmosphere to be relaxed and inviting. Can be crowed on weekends as expected but its not like a beach blanket landmine. The parking is a full day rate in a parking lot across the street or an hourly rate in street parking spaces. In off season (look it up) parking is free. For beach entry, I've only ever paid $5 for a full day beach pass and the amenities are worth it. There are outside showers and foot rinsers right as you come in from the sand to the boardwalk. And bathrooms in the center of the board walk and in the Convention hall. There are lifeguards on duty from 9- 5pm (changes seasonally). The water during all my visits was not cluttered with wash-up or sea plants as other beaches I've visited are. But that could be seasonal. If you set up near the Convention Hall end of the beach you get to enjoy an all day playlist of broadcasted music featuring mostly pop, and dance music. Fell free to dance! If you prefer to relax and not feel like you are at a beach party then simply set up to the right side of the beach when entering from the boardwalk. The people in Asbury, the visitors and locals have always been my favorite reason to return. Boardwalk store owners and restaurant personal alike. If you are a night owl like me, there are late night spots to lounge and grab drinks with friends. A few clubs to choose from as well, including, hop hop/hop, lgbtq and an upscale rooftop one in walking distance. If bars and clubs are not on the agenda, I recommend checking out the boardwalk at night. Anyone for evening mini golf or icecream?

A great beach if you're looking for a place that isn't as busy as Point Pleasant or Seaside…read moreHeights, but has the boardwalk and beach. Even on a weekend when it gets pretty busy, you should be able to find street parking not too far of a walk to the beach and it will be free. In typical jersey fashion, you will still have to buy beach passes though when you get to the water, but I believe you can also pre-purchase them. Even though it can get busy, the beach is clean and I feel people are really respectful of throwing away their trash. The beach draws not just families, but also adults, teens and the college crowd. I'm sure this is due to the fact that it has a little boardwalk area where you can find a ton of varieties of little cute restaurants, snack stands, and shops. If you are lucky and go on a night the Stone Pony has music, you can catch the sounds from the beach or the boardwalk.

A clean, well maintained, pay for badge to access beach with alot of visible security force roaming…read morearound. Restroom at some beach access but has showers in every beach access sites. Parking is serviced by ParkMobile. Please see images for reference.

Long Branch Beach is one of my favorite Jersey Shore destinations. It's clean, quiet, classy, and…read morebeautiful. The parking situation isn't as hectic as other towns. There's plenty of metered parking, paid lots, and garages. If you don't mind walking a few blocks, you can find free street parking near the neighborhoods. There are many access points to the beach with stairs, sand ramps, and wood ramps. Admission is $6 Monday-Friday, $9 on weekends/holidays, and $3 daily for individuals who are 14-17 years old. It's free for seniors and for those who are 13 years old and under. You can buy the badge online or in person. I recently went a few weeks ago and there was security checking people's bags before entering. I have absolutely no problem with this because I always advocate for safety. The beach is well maintained. The sand is clean with no trash laying around. There's a line of fake palm trees, which make for some cute photo ops. The ocean water has been so much clearer with shades of deep blues and greens. It can get crowded on the weekends, but not to the point where you feel like you're on top of each other. Chair and umbrella rentals are available. There are public restrooms at several locations along the beachfront. If you want to eat, shop, or take a leisurely oceanfront walk, Pier Village is right there along the beach and boardwalk. It has over 30 restaurants and boutiques. Fine dining, casual dining, bars, desserts, shopping, etc... there's so much to check out. The boardwalk stretches for miles with many attractions so you won't get tired of being here. Take a dip in the ocean, bathe in the sun, enjoy a lobster roll, or take a romantic stroll along the spacious boardwalk...