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.

I grew up in Brooklyn and was never much of a beach person. Though we lived near Coney Island, we…read moreknew never to touch our bare feet to that sand lest we end up cut up by broken glass. So when friends said they rented a car to drive 90 mins away to Asbury Park, I hesitated to go. Was it worth waking up at 8am on a Saturday morning (to beat the traffic) just for this quintessential Jersey Shore experience? Turns out it was! We paid about $10 each to enter this beach, which was well worth that cost for the clean bathrooms alone. The sand and the water were also quite clean, as far as East Coast beaches go. I really enjoyed all the bars, shops, and bars along the boardwalk too. We brought a huge cooler, a speaker, umbrellas, and plenty of blankets to lay out on. Side note: people like to say when you're feeling insecure about your body, go to a beach and look at how "normal" everyone's bodies look. I have to say perhaps there's a culture of self selection here but so many people were incredibly fit here? It was quite the trek for some beach time, but I wouldn't mind a once a summer trip down the shore, because this beach does beat all the nyc beaches combined any day.

You need a pass to get on the beach and they have staff checking at the entrance…read more The beach is wide and lots of space to pitch your tent or canopy and you walk a long stretch or walk on the boardwalk. Nice to spend a relaxing day at the beach.

Honestly, food, service, and ambiance all 5/5! The prices are slightly higher than an average place…read morefor lunch but theres nothing average about this place. So this was perfect!

This place is a private shower & lounge area. Clean as a whistle. They offer season passes but $10…read moregets you an all day admission to showers, changing rooms, and a much nicer bathroom than what's on the beach. If that wasn't enough they have lockers, shampoo & conditioner, liquid body soap, and hair dryers. Private showers and changing rooms allow you to keep your dignity as you disrobe. To top it all off they have an outdoor, hammock filled lounge area where you can relax after your shower. Free unmetered parking spaces right outside the door. The only thing they don't give you is a towel. It's BYOT. They are not exactly trying to make a huge announcement about it, but this place is a GREAT find. I have a feeling it was created for the convenience of the people who purchased condos in the area. But it's clearly open to the public.

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.

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

The young people who work in the kitchen are tricksters and give you false information if you ask a…read morequestion because they're super childish and just want to laugh and have fun. They should all be fired!

My friend suggested a beach day, stationed at the Conover Pavilion. She mentioned that there was a…read morelarge, grassy parking lot that was for daily guests, and that I could purchase parking time for my spot through the Premium Parking app. Well, when I arrived, the area was full of cars, but a crossing guard told me that I could park on any of the neighboring residential streets, as an alternative. So, the closed lot wound up being helpful in that I was able to park for free and with almost the same level of convenience. Once my friend and I resolved our parking situations, we walked up to the main building to pay the $12 beach entrance fee, for which they only accepted credit cards. After we obtained our daily bracelets, we approached the main pavilion area, which included reasonably clean bathrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, several tables, and a well-stocked snack bar and grill. In fact, we decided to get lunch from the stand, and my Grilled Chicken California whole wheat wrap (with grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, and tomato) was pretty great! The chicken was a tad dry, but the vegetables were super fresh. I was shocked at the selection of healthy and flavorful options they had; your standard hot dogs and hamburgers were not the only items on offer. They also served a variety of chips, novelty ice cream bars, non-alcoholic drinks, and more. We were even able to easily get a table at which to enjoy our food. The beach was fluffy, clean, and not overly crowded. Plus, they had showers both on the beach itself and up on the deck of the Pavilion, making it easy to clean off before leaving the venue. Overall, it was a beautiful and relaxing day at the shore. In fact, while I had not been sure if I had been to Conover in the past, I immediately recognized it from my childhood, which was a nice memory with which to be surprised!

Went on a whim and everyone working there was SO NICE. Weather was delightful and anyone walking on…read morethe path next to the lake was so chatty and fun. Life jackets were clean, boats were clean, experience 10/10.

Great customer service . Fast and easy booking . Nice view and cute attraction for kidsread more

The Deal Casino is an amazing beach club. The beach is well maintained, as is the pool. The lockers…read moreand cabanas are well maintained. The club serves all ages from the kids to the card players and seniors.

I love the huge pool and I can swim hours in this gorgeous one of a kind pool. The best in the…read moreuniverse. This is home. The place is huge, gorgeous and grwat

Chadwick Cottage is beautifully decorated but in a way that is so comfortable that our group never…read morefelt anything but relaxed. The fireplaces were an added treat on a chillier than usual evening, and the kitchen is large enough and so well-stocked with cooking apparatuses that it almost was a "Big Chill-ish" experience to stay there, with groups gathering in the kitchen while others held court in the living areas. There is also a lot to recommend the location, with easy access to the more grownup social activities available in Asbury Park. We will be going back.

What a great place! It has every amenity - the kitchen is a dream. Love the porch - perfect for…read morepeople watching. The owner, James, is great to work with and provides a fabulous primer on the house and the area. You just have to show up and read the book...it's all there! Ocean Grove is charming. A great Main Street. Lovely beach. Highly recommend.