By Madison Lewis
Wave goodbye to spring and welcome the summer with rolling tides, soft sands and beachside eats. The Jersey Shore has seaside locations to help transition from the school year and ease into the warmer months.
In and around the Two River area, there are 17 stand-out destinations that provide locals and visitors with a relaxing getaway and fun in the surf and sand – all you need is a beach badge.
Asbury Park
Badges can be purchased at the Asbury Park Beach Office on the boardwalk at First Avenue or online at apbeachpasses.com. Beach office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through June 15 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 16 through Sept. 1. Adult seasonal passes are $70; teens ages 13-17 and seniors 62 and older pay $20 (identification required); kids 12 and under are free. Active military personnel, their dependents and veterans may also use the beach for free.
Daily badges are $7 Monday through Friday, and $10 on weekends and holidays.
Belmar
Seasonal badges are available for $80; $32 for seniors ages 65 and over with identification to prove age. Daily badges are $12 per day; children 13 and under are free.
Beach badge pickup is available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at Borough Hall. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, pickup is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends at Taylor Pavilion.
Long Branch
Annual passes are $70; $30 for ages 14 to 17. Daily passes are $6 weekdays and $9 weekends and holidays for adults 18 and over; $3 every day for ages 14 to 17. Passes are always free for disabled individuals, children ages 13 and under and seniors 62 and older with identification.
Annual passes can be purchased at the beach office in Pier Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Daily passes can be purchased at any point of entry to the beach.
Monmouth Beach
Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion resident beach and pool passes are $75 for children ages 5 to 11 and seniors 65 and older, and $185 for those ages 12 to 64. Beach only passes for ages 12 and over are $105. Nonresident beach and pool passes are $210 for children ages 5 to 11 and seniors 65 and older and $460 for ages 12 to 64.
Visit monmouthbeach.org to purchase passes.
Sandy Hook
From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, beginning at 8 a.m. daily, there is a $20 charge per vehicle to access beach parking. Season passes are available for $100.
Every Kid Outdoor pass holders and active military members and U.S. military veterans who own an America the Beautiful Annual Pass (military photo identification required) receive free beach parking.
Free parking days include Thursday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth National Independence Day and Monday, Aug. 4, for the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act.
Parking at Fort Hancock is always free.
Gateway National Recreation Area is cashless: Only credit and debit cards are accepted for entry.
Sea Bright
Season adult beach passes cost $100; senior season passes for those age 65 and up are $35. A daily beach badge is $8.
Visitors can purchase passes starting Memorial Day Weekend from the beach office located at 1097 Ocean Ave. Beach office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends and holidays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from mid-June through Labor Day.
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
Seasonal access is free for children 17 and under, $75 for ages 18 to 64 and $30 for seniors 65 and older. NJ State Disability Pass Holders pay $20. Seasonal parking is $75.
The daily admission fee is $10 for those 18 and over. Daily parking is $10 per car.
There is no charge for daily admission or parking for active-duty military and veterans.
The article originally appeared in the May 22 – 28, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
