Sea Girt Beach
Sea Girt, NJ
Sea Girt Beach sits in a small, quiet borough between Spring Lake and Manasquan, with free street parking running along four blocks of the boardwalk, an increasingly rare thing this far up the coast. The town keeps a low profile, no boardwalk businesses, no real nightlife, just a straightforward beach day.
Free parking is a genuine rarity worth noting, but the beach itself is unremarkable, a solid, quiet stop rather than a destination.
How we score beachesParking runs along both the boardwalk stretch and the cross streets, but watch for yellow curbs and resident driveways on the east west blocks. The north south stretch along the boardwalk is the more reliable bet.
Street parking is free along a four block stretch by the boardwalk and the surrounding cross streets, though some spots are restricted near driveways and drop off zones.
The boardwalk is flat with direct access points down to the sand, manageable for strollers along its length.
Leashed dogs are allowed in the designated Recreational Zone from October through mid May. Dogs aren't permitted on the boardwalk at any time.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, consistent with the rest of this part of the shore. The free parking and quiet streets make the off season an easy time for a walk here even without beach access in mind.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.