Manasquan

Manasquan, a quintessential beach town along the New Jersey shore, is easy to reach from the Garden State Parkway. On a quick drive from Manhattan, you’ll trade skyscrapers for wide-open skies and asphalt for white-sand beaches.

Lifeguards are on duty in the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This same season, visitors need to purchase a pass to access the beach—available as daily, weekly, or season passes. Discounts are provided for seniors and kids younger than 13 are welcome visit the beaches of Manasquan for free. The rest of the year, it’s free for everyone to enjoy a visit at the beach. Even if it’s too cold to swim, you still could enjoy a nice walk along the shore.

In Manasquan, different beaches have different purposes—in total, there’s a mile of sand and shore between the Manasquan Inlet and Sea Grit. Surfing is allowed at one of the more remote beaches, Inlet Beach, away from the rafting beach and the swimming beach. In the summertime, Inlet Beach hosts surfing contests frequently throughout the season.

At Recreation Beach, visitors will find a long list of fun things to do both on and off the sand. Young visitors enjoy the games and wiffle ball, while visitors of all ages can be seen on the volleyball courts. Or course, all of the typical beach activities are available in Manasquan, including sand castle building, sun tanning, and swimming in the surf.

Restrooms and drinking fountains are easy to find along the various beaches. The snack bars and restaurants are a short stroll away from the beach, as are shops and rentals. Parking is readily available near the Manasquan beaches, and the train station isn’t far away from the Atlantic Ocean.