Laurence Harbor Beach
Laurence Harbor, NJ
Laurence Harbor Beach is one of three access points into Old Bridge Waterfront Park along Raritan Bay, with the northern lot the spot for actual bay swimming, complete with bathrooms and outdoor showers. The water here stays calm rather than surf heavy, which makes it more of a walking, fishing, and sunset watching beach than a place to catch waves.
A genuinely pleasant bay park with real amenities, playground, boardwalk, benches, though the calm water and lack of surf keep it a walking and fishing spot more than a swimming destination for most visitors.
How we score beachesHead for the northern parking lot specifically if swimming is the goal. The other access points along the park are better suited to walking the boardwalk than getting in the water.
Free parking is available at the park's access points, including the northern lot near the swimming area, though some sources note limited paid spaces closer to the entrance.
A paved boardwalk and walking paths run through the park, flat and manageable for strollers, with a separate sandy entry at the swimming area.
Leashed dogs are welcome in the park, with seasonal restrictions during peak summer swimming hours.
Bay water warms into the mid to upper 70s by August, calmer and typically a few degrees warmer than the ocean beaches further down the coast.
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