Right Beaches › New Jersey › Highlands
Sandy Hook Beach
4.7★ · 1,700 Google ratings · Highlands, New Jersey
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Picnic tables✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 130 ft away · paid
Walk
320 ft · 1 min
Restrooms
Yes · 150 yd away
Cost
Paid parking
Water
79°F
Tide
3 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Sand
300 yd from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Wed 8am
Map of Sandy Hook Beach
1
2
1Parking130 ft from the listing2Restrooms150 yd from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 14 visitors · 2018–2026
Choose bay side for calm water
The bay-side beaches have gentler waves and shallow water, while ocean-facing areas have stronger surf and more crowds.
Plan for sunset and nature walks
Beyond swimming, the park offers extensive trails, historic military sites, a lighthouse, and excellent wildlife and bird viewing.
Arrive by 9am on weekends
The park closes to new vehicles at maximum capacity, typically by mid-morning on summer Saturdays and Sundays.
Visit September through May for free parking
Parking is charged only between Memorial Day and Labor Day at $20 per vehicle.
Bring your own trash bags
This is a carry-in, carry-out beach with no trash cans, so pack garbage bags for everything you bring.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
74°F · clear
Water
79°F
Waves
1.2 ft · 7 s apart
Wind
5 mph from the SW
Shelter
Offshore · wind blowing off the land
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 02:18 | High tide | ↑ |
| 08:16 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 14:48 | High tide | ↑ |
| 21:21 | Low tide | ↓ |
Last updated Aug 20, 5:16 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 Hartshorne Dr, Highlands, NJ 07732, United States
🅿 Parking 130 ft from the listing, Lot E
🌊 Water 320 ft away, about 1 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 150 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
175 yd away
425 yd away
0.7 miles away · shorter walk
0.8 miles away · shorter walk
1.3 miles away · shorter walk
1.5 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Sandy Hook Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 130 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Sandy Hook Beach?
320 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, about 1 min. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Sandy Hook Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 150 yd from the listing.
When is Sandy Hook Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Wed 8am and the busiest at Sun 2pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
