Monmouth County
Monmouth County is on the Jersey Shore. Monmouth County has miles and miles of beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast.
Regions
| Bayshore |
| Jersey Shore |
| Two River Region |
| Western Monmouth County |
Cities
Western Monmouth County
- 1 Freehold — the hometown of Bruce Springsteen, it features quaint Victorian houses, trendy dining spots, museums, and antique art galleries. Also home to Freehold Raceway and Freehold Raceway Mall.
- 2 Allentown - a quaint mill town in far southwestern Monmouth County. Home to restaurants, bars, 'mom & pop shops', and the Horse Park of New Jersey. Equidistant between Philadelphia and New York City.
- 3 Colts Neck - a wealthy agricultural community, known for its horse farms, orchards, wineries, and distilleries.
- 4 Englishtown - home to the Englishtown Auction and Old Bridge Racetrack.
- 5 Howell
- 6 Manalapan
- 7 Marlboro Township
Bayshore
- 8 Hazlet — see Keansburg; a residential community in Northern Monmouth County, with many great restaurants and shopping "strip malls" to browse. Its close location to many beach towns makes it an ideal place for Jersey Shore travelers to rest overnight.
- 9 Highlands — see Middletown; One of the earliest known discoveries of the state of New Jersey that was made by Henry Hudson. This hilly and wealthy bedroom community is known for its trendy boutiques, its beautiful coastline, and its remarkable views of New York City.
- 10 Holmdel - home to PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel Park, and the famous Bell Labs Complex.
- 11 Keansburg — located on Raritan Bay, north of Sandy Hook, offering an amusement park, and a water park.
- 12 Matawan - an historic 18th century community turned popular 21st century commuter town for Millennials. Home to many boutique shops and for its historic sites on Main Street.
- 13 Middletown - advertises itself as "the biggest small town in New Jersey".
Jersey Shore
- 14 Allenhurst — Stately 19th-century homes, magnificent beaches and residential neighborhoods give Allenhurst a unique "hometown" feel. The beaches feature bathhouses, a promenade, and snack bars.
- 15 Asbury Park — this town was an early 20th-century Victorian resort, and a rough-and-tumble rock-and-roll town.
- 16 Avon-by-the-Sea — a four-season, seaside, Victorian community.
- 17 Belmar — a great beach that buzzes with many families during the Summer season. It features a boardwalk, snackbars and picnicking. It is the perfect vacation location with many different restaurants and businesses just across the street from the beach.
- 18 Bradley Beach — enjoyable for a daily fee of $7, and has a boardwalk, mini golf, and picnicking.
- 19 Deal — a tiny borough mainly inhabited by Sephardi Jews, mainly of Syrian heritage.
- 20 Manasquan — Manasquan has been a popular destination for the under-30 crowd for many years, with its beautiful beaches and hip club scene. Manasquan's beach has fishing, a snack bar and tennis courts.
- 21 Ocean Grove — God's Square mile in New Jersey. Great Shoppes and music all year long.
- 22 Spring Lake — A picturesque community on the Atlantic Ocean.
- 23 Wall — Home of the Wall Stadium Speedway.
Two River Region
- 24 Red Bank — a "hip city" full of antique shops and cafes, it is pleasant to stroll around.
- 25 Rumson — once a summer colony for New Yorkers, it is now an upscale commuter suburb.
- 26 Shrewsbury — one of the original townships of Monmouth County has become an upper-middle class commuter town with boutiques and historical sites.
- 27 Eatontown — a diverse middle class suburb in the heart of Monmouth County. Home to the Monmouth Mall and Fort Monmouth.
- 28 Fair Haven — is a borough in Monmouth County along the Navesink River.
- 29 Long Branch — a nice little sea side community, and a former retreat for presidents during the Gilded Age.
Other destinations
Gateway National Recreation Area — The Sandy Hook section is in Monmouth County.
Understand
Monmouth County is in the midst of a residential housing explosion. Former horse and produce farms are rapidly transforming into gated communities for the rising influx of wealthy white collar workers. Nonetheless the area retains its natural beauty.
Get in
Monmouth County is pretty much accessible via any mode of transportation. By air, by road, even by water, you can get to this wonderful region and enjoy all it has to offer!
By plane
- Newark-Liberty International Airport, Newark-Elizabeth, New Jersey - This is the most convenient option when flying to Monmouth County. AirTrain service connects to New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line which can take you to the following towns in Monmouth County: Aberdeen-Matawan, Hazlet, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver, Monmouth Park Racetrack (Seasonal), Long Branch, Elberon, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake and Manasquan. In addition to the North Jersey Coast Line, the #67 New Jersey Transit bus connects from Newark-Liberty International Airport to Monmouth County, serving the following towns: Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold Boro, Freehold Township and Howell.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, New York
- LaGuardia Airport, Queens, New York
- Atlantic City International Airport, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey - This airport has more limited destinations, but it is not as crowded as Newark, the New York City airports and Philadelphia.
- Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - This is the most convenient option if traveling to the southwestern part of the county. Take SEPTA's R1 train to 30th Street Station from the airport, connect at 30th Street to the R7 train to Trenton station. There are no public transit options from Trenton station to Monmouth County. If you need a public transit connection into the county, use Newark-Liberty International Airport.
By road
Garden State Parkway - Exits 98 (Belmar/Wall) - 117A (Aberdeen/Keyport/Hazlet) serve Monmouth County.
New Jersey Turnpike - If you are coming from North Jersey & New York, use Exit 11 to access the Garden State Parkway South which will take you to Monmouth County. If you are coming from South Jersey & Philadelphia, use Exit 7A to access Interstate 195 East which will take you to Monmouth County. Exit 8 puts you on State Route 33 East which serves Freehold & various Shore Points.
By bus
New Jersey Transit & Academy run buses from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal to various destinations throughout the county. Buses also run from Monmouth County to Atlantic City operated by New Jersey Transit and Academy. For More Information: New Jersey Transit: , Academy:
New Jersey Transit also runs local bus service throughout the county, with hubs in Red Bank (Red Bank Train Station), Freehold (Freehold Center) and Asbury Park (Asbury Park Transportation Center.) Visit New Jersey Transit's website, , for more information about specific routes, times and fares.
By rail
Intercity
Amtrak - There are no Amtrak stations in Monmouth County. The closest is in Middlesex County, Metropark-Iselin, which is about a half-hour to an hours drive from Monmouth County.
If you are visiting the southwestern part of the county, it is most convenient for you to use the Trenton station in Mercer County.
However, since there are no public transit options from either Metropark or Trenton station to Monmouth County, if you need to use public transportation to get to Monmouth County, you must take Amtrak to Newark-Penn Station which is also served by New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, which will take you to following stations in Monmouth County: Aberdeen-Matawan, Hazlet, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver, Monmouth Park Racetrack (Seasonal), Long Branch, Elberon, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake and Manasquan.
In addition to the North Jersey Coast Line, the #67 New Jersey Transit bus connects from Newark Penn Station to Monmouth County, serving the following towns: Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold Boro, Freehold Township and Howell.
Local/Commuter
New Jersey Transit – North Jersey Coast Line: Line runs from Penn Station, NY to Bay Head, NJ. Stops in Monmouth County: Aberdeen-Matawan, Hazlet, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver, Monmouth Park Racetrack (Seasonal), Long Branch, Elberon, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake and Manasquan.
By ferry
New York Waterway
Belford Terminal, 10 Harbor Way, Belford. Free parking for 500 cars. Direct service to Pier 11, Wall Street & Midtown-West 39th Street. Connections to Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City. Free shuttle service from ferry terminals to various Midtown and Downtown destinations.
Seastreak: Serves Atlantic Highlands and Highlands to Pier 11 Wall Street, East 34th Street, NYC.
Get around
Besides limited rail destinations & limited local bus services, you will most definitely need access to a car to access most of Monmouth County.
See
- Jersey Shore - Monmouth County has miles and miles of beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast. Starting at Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area), Monmouth County's share of the Jersey Shore includes (from North to South): Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch, Elberon, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbor, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Lake Como, Spring Lake, Sea Girt, and Manasquan. Some towns have free beaches however most charge a daily fee, which varies by town. Check with the individual beach you are interested in going to to find out the beach fee.
- Keansburg Amusement Park/Runaway Rapids Waterpark - The water park is small but very clean and nice. Great for younger kids. Admission is $21.95 for 2-hours and $23.95 for 3-hours. The amusement park features the fun and popular Fast Trax Go Carts, which are fun for people of all ages. Overall a nice day trip. For more information[dead link]
- Monmouth Battlefield State Park
- Allaire State Park
- Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids
- PNC Bank Arts Center
- Pier Village
- Asbury Park Boardwalk
- Gateway National Recreation Area (Sandy Hook)
- Holmdel Park
Do
- Golf - Monmouth County is home to a lot of nice golf courses. Public courses include: Colts Neck Golf Club in Colts Neck, Charleston Springs Golf Course in Millstone, Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck, Howell Park Golf Course in Howell, Pebble Creek Golf Club in Colts Neck, and Shark River Golf Course in Neptune. Executive courses include Bel Aire Golf Course in Wall, Pine Brook Golf Course in Manalapan, and Quail Ridge Golf World in Wall. Driving ranges include Hole in One Golf Center in Millstone and Twin Brook Golf Center in Tinton Falls. Both driving ranges include mini golf courses and Par-3 courses.
- Horse racing- Monmouth County contains two nice race tracks. Oceanport is home to Monmouth Park Racetrack, a thoroughbred race track home to the famed race every August, the Haskell. Freehold Raceway in Freehold has trotters racing.
- Doorbrook Park Sprayground, 209 County Road 537 Colts Neck (Dorbrook Recreation Area), ☏ +1 732-542-1642. Mid-May to mid-Sep: Tu-Th from 11AM to one hour prior to posted park closing; M F-Su from 10AM to one hour prior to posted park closing (park closing is approximately 1/2 hour before dusk). Great for kids. This water-enhanced playground is a great place to be cool and play with water. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Free. - located in Ocean Township
- America's Keswick Retreat & Conference Center Christian retreat center in New Jersey (near the shore). Host your retreat or take part in one of theirs. They also host Christian concerts, day-long & overnight Christian conferences, road trips, and other events. Church retreats, family getaways, marriage retreats, men's retreats, women's retreats, Christian school field trips & more.
Eat
Inland, Red Bank and Freehold Boro have a nice variety of restaurants and Red Bank is especially good for nightlife. Keyport Boro and Matawan Boro are both smaller but have a few nice restaurants. Most towns have at least one strip mall with various shops and restaurants. On the shore, Asbury Park has a hip and up and coming night life scene. Most shore towns have nice bars & restaurants. Pier Village in Long Branch is very nice, but most of the restaurants are a bit on the pricey side.
Drink
Buy
Most towns have strip malls typical to the suburban New York-New Jersey metro area. You have the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown and the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, both of which are nice big shopping malls. Also, Tinton Falls/Neptune is home to the Jersey Shore Premium Outlet Mall which is very nice.
Sleep
It may be a bit hard to find a name-brand hotel room down the shore. A few miles inland, you will find Residence Inns in Tinton Falls and in Neptune, and a Courtyard by Marriott in Wall Township. These hotels are all convenient (15-20 minute range) to the beaches. Most hotels right on the shore are the old-fashioned mom and pop type and amenities vary from hotel to hotel. Check with a reputable source such as AAA before you book any hotel. Many beautiful houses are available for summer rental; a little internet searching will help you find one that suits your needs. Most people who stay on the Jersey Shore do stay in rented houses, not hotels. However, farther inland, name-brand hotels are available. In Hazlet Township, a Holiday Inn and a Best Western are on Route 35 with convenient Parkway access via Exit 117. In Middletown Township, a Best Western is on Route 35 and a Courtyard by Marriott and an Extended Stay America are in Lincroft, in the southern portion of the township a short distance from Parkway Exit 109. Red Bank has the Oyster Pointe Hotel and the Molly Pitcher Inn. Tinton Falls also has another Courtyard by Marriott & a Holiday Inn, which are right off of Parkway Exit 105. Eatontown has a Sheraton hotel. Freehold Township has a Radisson on Route 537 and a Days Inn on Route 9, which are convenient if you're going to Six Flags Great Adventure.
Stay safe
Monmouth County is very safe, however, just use some caution in areas of Asbury Park, Keansburg and Long Branch away from the beaches, especially at night as these areas tend to be a little bit rougher than the rest of the county. Although Monmouth County contains a fair deal of wildlife none of it is dangerous, poisonous, or significantly aggressive enough to cause any regular harm. Weather conditions are typically stable although some flooding does regularly occur at low sea-levels. As of January 1st 2012, the majority of the hazards caused by Hurricane Sandy have been cleared; although hikers, campers, tramps, and hobos should be aware that many trees are still unstable and large patches of forested areas and even residential parks still have branches hanging. The Police in Monmouth County are fairly friendly, and largely much like those encountered in the rest of the state, although speeding while operating a motor vehicle is taken somewhat more seriously and its enforcement is strict. Loitering by-laws are enforced more in the town centers and shopping areas than in public parks or beach areas but traveler types can often find friendly places here.
Go next
- Six Flags Great Adventure - Right outside the county in neighboring Ocean County, this 2,200-acre theme park contains the tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka.
- New York City - The "City that Never Sleeps" is only an hour away
- Atlantic City - About an hour to an hour and a half away
- Philadelphia - The "City of Brotherly Love" is about an hour and a half away