Spring Lake Beach
Spring Lake, NJ
Spring Lake Beach fronts one of the more upscale towns on the Jersey Shore, all Victorian bed and breakfasts and a boardwalk that stayed free of the arcades and pizza stands that define towns just a few miles south. A fenced dog beach near Pitney Avenue gives owners a narrow early morning and evening window even during peak season, a compromise most neighboring towns don't bother with.
The elegant, uncommercialized boardwalk and the rare dog beach compromise make it a standout, though the higher end badge prices and lack of the boardwalk food and games some visitors want are real tradeoffs.
How we score beachesIf you're bringing a dog in summer, the Pitney Avenue dog beach only works before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and dogs can run unleashed there during those hours. Outside that window, leave them home until October.
Beach parking isn't covered in detail by the borough's public information, so calling ahead or checking current signage before a visit is worth doing.
The boardwalk is flat, paved, and quiet compared to its neighbors, with clear access points down to the sand.
Dogs aren't allowed on the main beach from mid May through September, except at a fenced dog beach near Pitney Avenue during early morning and evening hours, where they may be unleashed. Leashed dogs are permitted borough wide from October through mid May, though never on the boardwalk.
Ocean temperatures reach the low to mid 70s by August, consistent with the rest of the central shore. The quiet, commercial free boardwalk makes the shoulder seasons here especially pleasant for a walk.
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