Day Trip to Belmar
From Newark • 1hr 5min drive
Belmar might be the best proximity-to-payoff ratio in North Jersey — 1hr 5min from the Newark area to a beach party beach day.
Timing it: Leave by 8:40 AM to beat both traffic and the parking crunch. Weekdays are noticeably quieter, and September keeps warm water without the crowds.
Getting to Belmar from Newark
car
1hr 5min
Take the Garden State Parkway south from the Newark area to Exit 98.
💡 Parkway tolls — E-ZPass strongly recommended.
train
1hr 35min typical
NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line to Belmar station from Newark Penn Station. Some trains require a change at Long Branch.
💰 $15-25 one way
💡 Summer weekend schedules differ from weekday — check NJ Transit before you commit.
Doing Belmar without your own car?
The train and bus get you to town. A one-day rental from Newark gets you to the beaches the schedules skip.
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Your Belmar Day Trip Itinerary
☀️ Morning
Leave Newark
The drive runs about 1hr 5min — leaving by 8:40 AM puts you on the sand by mid-morning, ahead of the lot-fills-up crowd.
Arrive in Belmar
Park first, then get badges. Local intel: Metered parking east of Ocean Ave. Free parking west of Ocean Ave (fills early).
Beach time
Claim your spot while the good stretches are still open
⏱️ 2 hours
🏖️ Afternoon
Lunch
Grab a casual lunch at a local spot
See D'Jais
D'Jais is the signature stop; Bar A (Bar Anticipation) is worth folding in if you have the energy.
⏱️ 2 hours
Late beach or activity
Another swim or one more stop before dinner
🌅 Evening
Early dinner
Eat before the drive home to avoid rush
Head back to Newark
Depart after dinner and the drive home stays easy.
Top Things to Do in Belmar
D'Jais
Bar A (Bar Anticipation)
NJ Sandcastle Contest
9th Avenue Pier
Beach Haus Brewery
Where to Eat in Belmar
Spring Lake Wall Sandwiches
Sonny's Grille
Shep's Sandwiches
Sharky's Ocean Bar & Grill
Practical Information
Parking
Metered parking east of Ocean Ave. Free parking west of Ocean Ave (fills early).
Budget
Plan on $50-100 per person all-in. Known costs: $12 beach badge; the rest is gas, tolls, and food.
Day Trip Tips
- Daily beach badges in Belmar run $12 in season. Kids under 13 are free. Bring cash — some badge checkers don't take cards.
- Parking: Metered parking east of Ocean Ave. Free parking west of Ocean Ave (fills early).
- Parkway tolls — E-ZPass strongly recommended.
- With only 1hr 5min of driving, this works as a spontaneous trip — even a 9 AM decision still gets you a full beach day.
- No car? The North Jersey Coast Line stops at Belmar — slower than driving, but you skip parking entirely.
Turn Your Day Trip into a Weekend
Evenings in Belmar are the reward day-trippers skip: dinner at Spring Lake Wall Sandwiches, a beach walk, no traffic ahead. The 1hr 5min drive home can wait until Sunday.
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