Day Trip to Point Pleasant Beach
From New York City • 1hr 30min drive
For Manhattanites, Point Pleasant Beach is the quick escape: 1hr 30min of driving lands you on a family boardwalk fun stretch of Monmouth County sand.
Timing it: Leave by 8:15 AM to beat both traffic and the parking crunch. Weekdays are noticeably quieter, and September keeps warm water without the crowds.
Getting to Point Pleasant Beach from New York City
car
1hr 30min
Take the NJ Turnpike or Route 440 to the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 98.
💡 Parkway tolls — E-ZPass strongly recommended.
train
2hr typical
NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line to Point Pleasant Beach station from Penn Station New York. 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 Point Pleasant Beach without your own car?
The train and bus get you to town. A one-day rental from New York City gets you to the beaches the schedules skip.
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Your Point Pleasant Beach Day Trip Itinerary
☀️ Morning
Leave New York City
The drive runs about 1hr 30min — leaving by 8:15 AM puts you on the sand by mid-morning, ahead of the lot-fills-up crowd.
Arrive in Point Pleasant Beach
Park first, then get badges. Local intel: Limited free street parking. Metered lots near boardwalk with varying prices.
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 Jenkinson's Boardwalk
Jenkinson's Boardwalk is the signature stop; Jenkinson's Aquarium 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 New York City
Depart after dinner and the drive home stays easy.
Top Things to Do in Point Pleasant Beach
Jenkinson's Boardwalk
Jenkinson's Aquarium
Hoffman's Ice Cream
Martell's Tiki Bar
Where to Eat in Point Pleasant Beach
Spot Pizza Grill
Spano's Ristorante Italiano
Sofia Grille
Sinners Steakhouse
Practical Information
Parking
Limited free street parking. Metered lots near boardwalk with varying prices.
Budget
Plan on $50-100 per person all-in. Known costs: $13 beach badge; the rest is gas, tolls, and food.
Day Trip Tips
- Daily beach badges in Point Pleasant Beach run $13 in season. Kids under 5 are free. Bring cash — some badge checkers don't take cards.
- Parking: Limited free street parking. Metered lots near boardwalk with varying prices.
- Parkway tolls — E-ZPass strongly recommended.
- With only 1hr 30min 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 Point Pleasant Beach — slower than driving, but you skip parking entirely.
Turn Your Day Trip into a Weekend
Point Pleasant Beach moves at a family boardwalk fun pace; a single day only skims it. Jenkinson's Aquarium deserves the second one. Summer Saturdays in Point Pleasant Beach book out first.
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