Asbury Park to Belmar
- On light traffic days, you can zip across Interstate 95 to Asbury Park in just under an hour. The town, part of the nation's collective consciousness since the launching of Bruce Springsteen's career, has passed its heyday, but its wide expanse of sparkling white beaches have some of the Jersey Shore's least costly daily beach badge fees. Beach tags are pricey at Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and the upscale Avon-by-the Sea, but Bradley Beach has a one-mile stretch reserved solely for surfers, and Ocean Grove and Avon beaches attract families for their oceanfront volleyball tournaments, kite-flying challenges and sand sculpture contests. Belmar, a bustling town with a lively nightlife and an enviable beach, is the closest ocean beach to Trenton. If you don't hit traffic, a 45-minute drive gets you surf-side. Each water sport has its own designated beaches, and metered parking runs adjacent to the sand.
Spring Lake to Manasquan
- The combination of an inviting downtown, two spring-fed lakes, elegant Victorian homes, the Jersey Shore's longest noncommercial boardwalk and 2 miles of family-oriented beaches entice visitors to picturesque Spring Lake. During the peak season, food and drink are not permitted on the sand, so the beach is super clean. Parking can be a hassle during summer weekends, but watching parades of dolphins frolicking in the surf makes it a worthwhile trip. Sea Girt, a 55-minute drive from Trenton, is a narrow strip of sand just south of Spring Lake that's popular with sunbathers, surfers and anglers. Hurricane Sandy slammed Sea Girt's 1-mile stretch of beach and its noncommercial boardwalk, but comebacks now beckon eager beachgoers. One of the Shore's premier surfing spots, Manasquan's Inlet Beach draws surfers from all over the east coast for its reliable, year-round breakers. It also boasts the only handicapped-dedicated beach along the state's 127-mile coastline.
Point Pleasant to Bay Head
- Jenkinson's Boardwalk calls Point Pleasant Beach home. Its smorgasbord of carnival games, T-shirt shacks and water ice stands overlook the Atlantic. Although pricey beach badges are enforced, the white-sand beach in front of the boardwalk is a hot spot for families. Your wallet won't take as big a hit at the public beaches near the southern end of town. Bay Head provides clean, quiet beaches, but seasonal beach tags are expensive and public restrooms are hard to find. Your car may have difficulty finding a spot on summer weekends, so go early to avoid parking dilemmas.
State Park Beaches
- Home to a more than 2,000-acre reservoir that ranks as New Jersey's deepest inland body of water, scenic Round Valley Recreation Area is a 55-minute drive from Trenton. A day-use only beach on the west side of the reservoir allows swimming during the summer when lifeguards are on duty. Clear water makes the reservoir one of the state's prime freshwater scuba diving spots. With 15 miles of shoreline, Spruce Run Recreation Area contains the state's third largest reservoir. Beachgoers can enjoy the water from Memorial Day to Labor Day during lifeguard hours. A concession stand, first-aid station, restrooms, showers and changing area are housed in the beach complex, and a playground and sports fields are nearby.
