Sea Bright Beach
Sea Bright, NJ
Sea Bright Beach runs along a narrow barrier strip between the Shrewsbury River and the Atlantic, a town that's rebuilt itself more than once after storms took chunks of it out. Six numbered access points lead onto the municipal beach from Ocean Avenue, and the sand stays less crowded than the beaches immediately south in Long Branch.
Reliable surf and less crowding than its bigger neighbors, but the narrow beach and history of storm damage mean it can feel exposed compared to towns with more room to spare.
How we score beachesBuy the day badge online or at a kiosk before you go if you can. Lines at the beach entrances move slow on summer weekends.
Municipal lots at both ends of the beach use pay kiosks and the mPay2Park app rather than an attendant. Rates apply through the summer season.
Each of the six numbered access points leads onto flat sand from Ocean Avenue, a short, level walk with no boardwalk or stairs involved.
Leashed dogs are welcome on most public beaches from the day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day. Dogs aren't permitted on the beach during the summer season, when nesting shorebirds are protected.
Ocean water climbs into the low to mid 70s by August, and this exposed stretch catches more wind and swell than the more sheltered beaches to the south, part of why it holds a following among surfers.
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