Manasquan Beach
Manasquan, NJ
Manasquan Beach ends Monmouth County's stretch of coastline at the inlet that splits it from Point Pleasant Beach and Ocean County just across the water. Surfers cluster near the inlet jetty while the rest of the beach stays more of a families and towels scene, and the whole strip has a slightly rougher, more local feel than the manicured towns just north of it.
The inlet gives it a genuine identity, real surf, real fishing, real boat traffic, that a lot of interchangeable shore towns lack, though the beach itself is nothing fancy without that context.
How we score beachesWalk out toward the inlet jetty even if you're not surfing. It's one of the better spots on this stretch of coast to watch boats come through and see the surf up close without getting in the water.
Several municipal lots near the beach charge $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and holidays, plus a small app surcharge if paying by phone.
Flat paths lead from the lots to the sand, with the inlet jetty area requiring a bit more careful footing over rock and uneven ground.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach from October through mid April. Dogs aren't permitted on the boardwalk at any time.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, and the inlet's jetty creates more consistent surf than most beaches to the north, drawing surfers into the shoulder seasons when the water's still cold enough to need a wetsuit.
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