Long Branch Beach
Long Branch, NJ
Long Branch Beach runs the length of this Monmouth County city's oceanfront, anchored by Pier Village at its center, where a boardwalk, restaurants, and two parking garages replaced what used to be an amusement pier. The badge system here covers only the municipal beach, not the separate Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park at the north end of town.
Pier Village gives it more going on than most Jersey Shore downtowns, but the beach itself gets crowded and the badge system covering only part of the city's beaches trips up first time visitors.
How we score beachesIf Pier Village parking is full, the municipal lots a few blocks inland run about the same price and are usually easier to find a spot in.
Municipal lots run about $10 a day, and Pier Village has two parking garages if the beachfront lots fill up first.
The Pier Village boardwalk is flat, paved, and easy to navigate, with ramps down to the sand at several points along its length.
Dogs aren't permitted on any Long Branch beach, boardwalk, or park property from May through September.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, peak season for Pier Village's restaurant scene as much as for the beach itself. Fall brings a quieter boardwalk and a still swimmable ocean into September.
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