Spring Lake Beach

One of my favorite beaches. Gets quite crowded for there being no boardwalk, but it’s one of the nicest, cleanest beach in Jersey. There’s a $13 per person fee (as of Aug 2025) to get on the beach and parking is free although if you come later than 10am you will have a very hard time finding a parking spot. There is no food or coolers allowed on the beach although you are allowed to bring water. The area is also very lovely with the big expensive beach houses and the Spring Lake greeting you as you drive up to the ocean front. I would highly recommend this beach for all.

Much more relaxed than other beaches in the area. Always feels like we’re on vacation when we’re there,, but live one town over.

Beautiful, clean beach. We were allowed to walk dog on the beach except for the boardwalk. We came off-season, so the water was still cold, but the view was great 👍

The best and most beautiful beach. Quiet, clean, ample fee parking, just get there early. Beautiful homes, nice people. My favorite always!

We always go here for our walks and relaxation!! Beautiful beach

I would love to come back!! I always thought Belmar beach water quality is not so great, few miles down the road this beach is very neat snd clean. Plenty of parking spots. My daughter loved it here. I am originally from Florida, but this beach is good because of good maintenance and care they put in.

Very nice clean beach. Water is very clean .

Clean, close to free parking along the side streets. Excellent waves and views. Kids loved it. Attentive lifeguards on duty. You can’t eat on the beach as it keeps the beach area clean and free from birds. You’ll need to leave your cooler up on the board walk if you want to eat. Although, we saw plenty of people eating.

This beach is located in Belmar, NJ. Get there off Garden State Parkway to 138. There is parking along the beach but that requires payment based on the markings on the spots. On the opposite side and in the neighborhood there are free parking spaces. Relative to the crowds, you do need to search for spaces. But it's not too long of a walk to the beach. Don't try walk on boardwalk barefoot because it is HOT. There is a hut (see photo) where you pick up your badges/wristbands which they do watch carefully. You buy them online (see photo). $12 per day. 13 and under are free. This beach is regulated and there are rules so less rowdy action. No coolers. They do have water fountains near the showers to rinse off near the entrance/exits. The 5 stars is relative to other NJ/NY beaches not compared to HI. They do have a sign that shows the water temperature which is in the 60s which is cold if you don't know ocean temps. HI is mid to high 70s. San Diego is also cold in the 60s. There are some waves but only about 1 foot and just outside of shore break. You can rent surfboards at Eastern Lines which is across Ocean Ave (see review). There is an area for only surfing but there are similar waves along the beach in most other areas so it's not like the surfers get the best waves. Some kids found a huge horseshoe crab, about 18" in diameter. I did not have my phone so I did not get a picture but that was very cool. Definitely worth a trip of nearby.

There is nothing more to say than flawless. All I can say is that all the staff and lifeguards are very nice and helpful. The beach is one of the cleanest I have ever seen not a price of garbage in sight and the beauty of the beach is great. If you are going to the jersey shore soon this is by far the bes

This is easily one of the nicer beaches in NJ. The beach is pristine and the crowd is very laid back. If going to the beach for a quiet day to read and enjoy peace and quiet this is your beach. There are pros and cons to everything, even beaches. The cons here are it isn't free ($11 beach passes available online.....you should purchase the night before). You also are limited as to what you can bring on the beach (no food, coolers, or disposable beverage containers). This is probably why it's so clean so it's understandable. The pros are that parking is close and free. It was also very easy to get the beach passes on the boardwalk. If you have a dog they aren't allowed on the beach at any time; even during the off season. The aforementioned boardwalk is very nice. Has bathrooms and verandas every so often which is convenient. The town of Spring Lake is also very nice....plenty of good restaurants to eat at before coming to the beach. Will definitely continue to frequent this beach.

My favorite beach on the jersey shore hands down especially during Covid! This location was recommended by a friend who recently patronized Spring Lake Beach. In order to go to spring lake you have to book with the location of the beach you plan on attending. There are limits on the amount of people per beach area (between street blocks) so if you have a desired area then booking the earlier the better. Anyway, we booked our area and we were pleasantly surprised with how much beach we had to ourselves. Before getting to the actual beach though we picked up our reserved wrist bands from the train station and then we were able to head to the beach. After finding parking within 10 min, we were able to just walk to our location without having to have our band checked or wait in line to have our bags searched. It was completely seamless and not stressful at all. There aren't the typical massive boardwalks and restaurants so it's a picnic beach for a low key experience.

If you have problems with authoritarian government oversight or obeying rules as a matter of principle, the beach st Spring Lake, NJ is not your scene. No booze, beer or food of any kind and hydration of the soft drink variety may be transported via approved containers only. It sounds harsh but these requirements seem to be kryptonite to the Angie/Vinnie tanning bed clones that make the remainder of the Jersey Shore such a thoroughly amusing jerk-off circus. No judgement (actually, just a little) but hey, whatever you're into. Otherwise enjoy... but by all means in Spring Lake, mind your P's and Q's. The town elders insist.

Been visiting Spring Lake every summer for my entire life - I love it here. Spring Lake's beach is more clean, and water is more translucent than any other beach on the Jersey Shore. It's also VERY quiet - which I like, but some may find to be a problem. The actual town of Spring Lake, where there are shops and restaurants, is situated about half a mile from the boardwalk/beach entry. Clean, quiet and classy.

Still one of my favorite beaches. It has a boardwalk for walking but you won't find shops along the boardwalk. It's mostly lined with gorgeous residential properties. Easy to find parking, always clean, and a short walk to the water. It's a quiet beach, so great for families and mostly older crowd They have a cute downtown but you have to drive over or walk a few blocks. I'd advise to pack your own lunch and note where the bathrooms are located. Otherwise you may be traveling further than you'd like.

SPRING LAKE: Brie loves getting sandy paws and is happy that Spring Lake beaches are dog friendly certain times of the year; here are the rules: Leashed-dogs allowed: *10/11-5/14 *5/15 to 9/30: dogs are allowed in the fenced area near Pitney Avenue from 6pm to 8:30am. The boardwalk is not dog friendly, so you'll have to carry your dog over to the beach, or find a spot to sneak though.

Family really enjoyed this beach. Our favorite spot in NJ so far. Very clean, and had a good crowd. It was big enough to separate from others by 6ft+ on the shore at least. The water was a different story though... the swimming area was really narrow so people were packed in pretty tightly, which is my main complaint. Note about the food. We read in several reviews that either food was not permitted, or coolers had to be kept on the board walk. This was clearly not the case. We saw several big coolers on the beach, and it seemed that most people were eating. Parking is really easy (Saturday in Summer), with plenty of free street parking. Note that the spots close to the swimming area were taken fairly early, so it was a few minutes walk. Entrance @ 10pp was not bad.

My go to beach in New Jersey. If you want a clean beach with a more sedate crowd, this is your place. Spring Lake opts to be a jersey version of the Hamptons or Nantucket moreso than a Seaside or Ocean City. Ridiculous rules like no food and extremely limited beach badges create a calm environment and allow for optimal social distancing. I would much rather be on a peaceful calm beach with space between my neighbor and I and just hearing the sound of the waves. If I am hungry I can dine in town or any number of nearby towns. I don't really need the rides, crowds and cheesiness and chaos of other shore towns but to each their own. Also worth mentioning after 5 or 6 the beach is free and it's a great time to walk in peace. The sun is setting, the breeze is pleasant and the beach is quite empty around that time especially on the weekdays.

I have been going to Spring Lake Beach for many years. This is my favorite beach along the Jersey Shore. I get seasonal beach badges. You must purchase seasonal and daily badges online. I love this beach; it's so clean, beautiful, peaceful and family oriented. There is a 2 mile boardwalk and you can see the ocean clearly so you can enjoy your walk or run. There are gazebos so you can sit and relax, read a book and enjoy the beautiful ocean atmosphere. You can't bring food on the beach, but that's just fine because it helps to keep the beach clean. Many people leave their coolers on the boardwalk. You can eat on the boardwalk on the benches or walk to the Pavilion to eat. There are concession stands at the North and South Pavilion. There are no arcades or playgrounds. There are outdoor showers. The historic Essex and Sussex is on Ocean Ave. originally constructed in 1914 and began as cottages in 1882. The Breakers is a famous hotel attraction across the street from the beach. It is located on Ocean Ave between Newark and Madison Ave. It is a historic building originally built in 1882. It's very popular with many weddings held here and other events or you can just go to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has an amazing ocean view! Just beautiful inside and out with just steps to the ocean. You will love it! There is plenty of free parking. Dogs are permitted on the beach Oct. 1st - May 14th. My dogs look forward to this time of year so they can enjoy the beach too. I love taking photos of this most beautiful beach and especially sunrise!

Spring Lake is a large high dollar community. We walked there from Belmar on the street and cut over to the beach and walked back on the boardwalk. My fitbit was happy. The houses were gorgeous. Bell towers, lots of windows and yards with beautiful plants blooming everywhere. The town was kind of creepy though with the fake people lining the sidewalks. I get the idea and I can see the family friendly statement it makes but I watch a lot of T.V. So, my mind is thinking they come alive at night and walk the streets and peer into your bedroom. Lol...hey, my imagination is vast and roaming! The beach there is very very nice. It's more quiet there and the shoreline is a lot closer to the boardwalk. Lifeguards and great parking availability. Nice place for a quick visit.

Great area to spend time with family! Unlike Belmar and most beach places, it's free to enter. There are large, accessible bathrooms. Next to the stairs are the clean water sprinklers so you can wash off any sand on your feet and body after the beach. Parking is way easier to find here and there is more space of the beach! Only problem is that there aren't any food stores nearby.

I have such a hard time writing this review because the beach itself is really beautiful that is the only reason it got 3 stars the beach deserves a 5 star to be honest and they are monitoring how many people go on the beach so it is not over crowded keeping it very easy to social distance from the other visitors there, but the bathroom facility was so unbelievably filthy dirty I could not believe it.... don't get me wrong I'm grateful that there was an open bathroom but it looked like it had not been cleaned EVER. Especially during the time of hand washing and social distancing you would think some extra care would be given to keeping it clean, so for the person in charge of making sure the bathrooms are cleaned, I would strongly suggest having them taken care of because they are disgusting...

You have to get $10 tickets from the city's website. They email you a voucher which allows you to redeem your wristband from the city's train station. The process makes no sense considering you have an electronic voucher and they could just stop selling when they reach a certain number of tickets. And then eliminate the extra step of going to the train station. The beach is about a mile down from the station though. The beach seems like a family place. There was not a very diverse population visiting here but there was people of various ages. You can bring food and coolers so ignore the other posts that say you can't. And I highly suggest that you do because there's no where to get food or drinks nearby. I did see a fruit bowl food truck near the end of the boardwalk. The bathrooms on the far end of the beach are really large single stalls and fully equipped to make you feel safe during covid-19. Ample free street parking for a week day visit.

No need to get your GTL on for this beach cause you won't find bro's at Spring Lake. I was in town for a wedding and stopped by on a weekday with some locals. I was shocked at how easy it was to find parking right in front of the beach. I was then equally stunned to find out that it cost $10pp to get on the beach if you don't have a season pass. Apparently that's the status quo around here, but I've never heard of paying to access a public beach in my life. We didn't bring anything so we didn't have any trouble, but according to other reviews, you cant bring your own food or drinks onto this beach. Also seems a bit wacky compared to what I'm used to, but there was an upside. The beach wasn't busy, parking was free as well as a snap, and the beach was absolutely pristine. No party packing fist pumpers means no meat-heads leaving trash everywhere. Although this likely wouldn't be my first choice beach if it was back home in Charleston (I do like to bring a cooler with adult bevs), but it was extremely relaxing and I had a great time.

Nice clean beach! You must pay to come into the beach though and you have to keep your food on the boardwalk area..so that's weird!

Beautiful beach!! Friendly people!! Lovely coastal aesthetic and mansions! Don't eat at Spring Lake Seafood.

Finally, a beach for grown-ups and their (well-behaved) kids. Treat it with respect. There are laws that keep the beach nice. No food or drink on the beach - it doesn't matter how "discreetly" you think you're indulging- the law applies to everyone, resident or visitor, and you aren't an exception. If you can't treat this beach with respect, go to another one. Coolers must be stored at the boardwalk before you enter onto the sand. No one is interested in taking your cooler - look around at the houses fronting the boardwalk. There are pavilions on the boardwalk where you can enjoy the food you brought. There is a food and beverage concession, but it looks like typical concession stuff, only pricier. I've only ever bought a soda there. Parking at the boardwalk is free, but unless you get there very early, you may have to park on one of the side streets. The beach is beautiful - clean and quiet. If just zoning out on the sand is your thing, you'll love this beach. The people are pleasant, and nobody will bother you, unless you make a nuisance of yourself. If I sound harsh, a story: I remember when Gov. Christie closed the state beaches (the town beaches stayed open.) That Saturday, the Spring Lake beach was jammed to the gills with out-of-towners. From the boardwalk, my husband and I saw that the police had been called (not by us!) on a family that, instead of taking their toddler to the rest rooms, had him poop into a bucket, which they then washed out in the ocean. And no dogs are allowed on the boardwalk at any time of the year; at least, that's what the latest sign says. I've seen some big dogs running on the beach in the early spring months. Perhaps they fly over the boardwalk. Maybe there's a secret portal. For those who have mobility/access issues, the beach has 6 "sand chairs" for rent to enable those people to get onto the sand. I don't have a link, but do a web search for rental details. It's a beautiful, wholesome, quiet, family-friendly beach, as long as your family isn't the Manson family.

This is by far my favorite beach on the Jersey shore. You will not see the cast of "Jersey Shore" here, if you know what I mean...

Spring Lake is one of my favorite Jersey beaches. It's a family friendly beach that is simple and pristine. It has a new (since Sandy), long boardwalk with a just a single promenade selling food and drinks. Entrance is $10/pp and free for kids under 12. The beach is wide and the sand is fairly fine and very clean. You won't find that many shells, rocks, debris, and trash. The reason it is so clean is bc food (ie meals and such) is prohibited on the beach and was told you can get fined. Snacks and non alcoholic drinks are ok. My family went on a Sat in July and we did not have any problems finding street parking for free. Also the beach was not overly crowded. Spring Lake, the town, is really nice and quaint and has a cute little Main Street. It's also filled with large beautiful homes, so the town is more upscale. If you're looking for more dining options, Belmar is just the next town over.

This is my go-to beach when I wanna get away from my bellicose fraternity bros and my ubiquitous guidette hos. It is dubbed, "the bourgeois beach", where it is quite evident that the patrons have to make more than 150K/year in order to come chill and get a sweet tan. Needless to say, it is very very very vanilla. Ghetto peeps will not be found on this beach.

This beach is absolutely gorgeous and super clean. The people who come to Spring Lake are also not Jersey trash, which is always a positive in my mind (though if that's what you're looking for, keep moving on). The water is really clean, there's no trash on the beach (probably because you can't bring coolers and aren't supposed to bring food - feel free to leave your cooler on the boardwalk at the entrance). There's a ton of parking off of Ocean on any of the side streets, though you may have to hike a little bit. It's definitely a quiet, family oriented beach versus a party atmosphere, but if you're looking to get a tan/read a book without being hit on by douchebags, this is definitely the perfect beach, plus, it's less crowded and traffic-y than going to Pt. Pleasant or Belmar.

If you're looking for a quiet beach that's not overly crowded with screaming kiddies... This is your place! I feel like this place is either a very well kept secret, or just not popular because there's no boardwalk with vendors (there is a boardwalk just for walking, though). So if you're at the beach for just the beach, this place is perfect. It's the only beach in New Jersey that doesn't remind me of a big toilet. You can actually see your feet when they are in the water because the water is so clear. They have clean bathrooms, too! Cost is $10 a day per person, and children under 12 are free. They keep this place pretty darn clean. I just don't like the mussel shells that get clumped up on the beach. I can just picture my clumsy self getting cut on them.

This beach does not allow food. So it's better than others along jersey shore. Enjoyed the waves in the ocean and sun tan. Everyone loves beach anyway.

I love this beach. Nice people. Beautiful community and oh so clean. Not to mention the beautiful old Victorian homes and hotels are so quant and adorable. My favorite beach in NJ.

Love it! Went 3 times this summer. Clean,nice and enjoyable. Parking is a pain in the neck but totally worth it. No coolers allowed on the beach,and its $10 per person for 12 years old and older. We always go to eat in town. The only complaint I have is their bathroom,they are not very nice;they could use some serious renovations.

I love this beach. It's quiet It is the perfect place to go enjoy a day in the water or just laying in the sand. Not everyone's cup of tea cause the boardwalks doesn't have arcades and no bars. Perfect for me.

Nice, clean beach and very family friendly. The only drawback is that you can't bring food on the beach. Nice, safe crowd. I'm not sure about other concessions in the area, but there is a snack bar on site, but you have to eat in the pavilion.

Nice clean quiet beach. We went today, Saturday and it wasn't overly crowded. There are two PAVILIONS North and South - this is where you find the RESTROOMS (cleaned on a regular basis throughout the day), outdoor SHOWERS, and FOOD. It's true, you can't eat on the beach, which is a good thing -- no seagulls diving down or flying over your head all day. People eat on the BOARDWALK or at the pavilion, where there is a lot of comfortable and clean SHADED seating. No birds harassing you here either. You can take water on the beach, but must be in plastic containers. No problem with leaving your cooler on the boardwalk. I know this sounds weird - as it did to us - until we tried it. If you're not comfortable with this, you can purchase drinks, sandwiches, burgers and fries, etc., at the pavilion along with other small snacks and fruit - all reasonably priced. Daily beach tags are $10. but you get FREE PARKING steps from the beach. Oh one more IMPORTANT note -- beach is HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE, so are the restrooms and there is a ton of HANDICAP PARKING and a RAMP near the pavilions. I didn't notice anywhere on the beach to rent umbrellas and chairs. I think you'll have to bring your own. All in all a great place to unwind... 4 Starts instead of 5 -- Too many little planes flying overhead pulling advertisements.

One of my fav beaches anywhere. Covid protocols are intense. Buy beach pass two days ahead online (link on town website) - not available before that and they go quickly. Last time I went done 6 was surfing btw. Zone 2 and 3 are by the pavilion. Then you go to the train station to pick up the pass, by the way they will just scan your phone if you have downloaded the link already. Then they give you a bracelet. Then that gets you want to the beach. I think it's to limit the amount of people but also just to make it so prohibitive that people stay away. It is still full with lots of people around you and funneled into small sections of the beach with the green flags. Lifeguards are constantly blowing a whistle because people try to get out of the green flag zones because there are very crowded. They don't let you have an umbrella on its side, etc,, lots of restrictions for behaviors and equipment so read the website. But because we don't want any of the Hoopla, we really appreciate all the hoops to jump through. It keeps the trash away. The town is gorgeous. There's a really awesome shaded playground overlooking the lake. The Hewitt Wellington is also a nice place to stay and it has a pool overlooking the lake. I wish the downtown was more happening though. But there's a Wawa you can catch subs on the way in. Water can be rough check the seas ahead of time.

The beach experience for me is more relaxation and winding down than what you see on The Jersey Shore. This presents an interesting dilemma, as the closest beaches to me are by the Jersey Shore. One, however, stands out as the ideal spot - and that's Spring Lake Beach. In case your beach ritual is different from mine, let me draw you a quick picture. Mine doesn't include t-shirt tiiime, red bull, or 2 pounds of hair gel. My ritual is getting up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday, picking up a bagel & iced coffee to go, and getting to Spring Lake by 7:30 AM. At that point, it's me, the surfers, and 65+ older early birds. It's also the optimal time to get all the parking spots you want and no charge to get in because the volunteer grandma bouncers are still home chugging down with prune juice. Jaeger bomb! If getting here at 7:30 seems like too early and simply impossible, you are not alone. 7:30 AM for us musicians is still considered "yesterday." To catch up on sleep, you can do what I do - sprawl across a beach blanket and sleep for another 30 mins. Hot sand is the perfect orthopedic mattress, by the way. The waves here can get a bit rough, if you are not surfing or boogie-boarding, your swim will be mostly diving into the waves or dodging them. The lifeguards get there around 9ish, so at that point, someone will let you know if you are swimming too far. If you don't get to swim, it's still not a complete loss because Spring Lake is one of the cleanest beaches by the Shore Points. The money that the people arriving much later than me pay to get in actually goes to a service that upkeeps the beach and cleans it on a regular basis. Therefore, enjoy the sand. Make sand castles. Bury yourself. That's my Spring Lake. If what I described does not seem like your ideal beach experience - fantastic. Keep your ass off my beach.

Spring Lake is still one of the few unspoiled beaches in the area. It is clean because the town has acquired a service that cleans the beach. A front loader pulls a screen across the sand to remove debris. The life guards here are great. At the Jersey shore in general if there is a storm down the coast they only let people they know who are strong swimmers in the ocean. I am just commenting on that because of a few of the other reviews. Do not come here if you are looking for the type of Jersey shore you see on TV or if you are looking for a drunken fest. You will be asked to leave. The people in Spring Lake are wealthy but not snobby like in other beach communities such as the Hamptons or even their neighbor beach town Sea Girt. However the people in Spring Lake are a refreshing throw back to Americana. Yesterday one of the hottest days of the summer at the shore we went to Spring Lake and I was already sitting on the board walk when my husband finished parking the car and came to meet me at the beach. There were other people just getting to the beach as well. Locals all know each other so they know when there are visitors. A middle aged lady hearing my husband's Brooklyn accent started singing Frank Sinatra's New York New York and said here they come. She didn't say it in a mean spirited way it is just how the people there are. We met some friendly locals and they were talking about the cost of living there. I said if we won the lotto I would like to buy a house here. They told my husband the neighbors would probably think you are the local take out guy. They were just being honest. That is how you might be viewed if you are a minority. I am just saying this so you won't go and feel out of place. It is primarily an Irish community but has become a little more diverse the last few years. I love the beach there and the people are refreshing and real. It is still one of the few pristine beaches in the area when so many other beaches are being taken over by Beny's. BENY is a term used by the shore residents to describe those who descend upon the shore in the summer. The origin of the term remains the source of some debate. It has been correctly described as an acronym for the names of the cities along the North Jersey Coast Line: Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York. The term has no specific racial or religious connotations; The New Jersey chapter of the Anti-Defamation League has described the term Benny as "neutral shore slang." It is used overwhelmingly to describe rude tourists and their disrespectful behaviors at the Jersey Shore. We have been called honorary shore people and not BENY's. Spring Lake is not a good town for BENY"S but only for real beach people or couples celebrating an anniversary. I would not advise it for singles unless you are a surfer. It is still a romantic beautiful beach and town!

Very Clean, great drive, alot of cool things to see. The police are super annoying though, no coolers on the beach, but you may bring coolers and leave them on the boardwalk, dumb. The bathrooms are really clean and open to the public free of charge. The parking is also free, which is great. A great NJ beach that's near everything but not in the middle of craziness.

The beach is clean and not too many people go so you don't have to worry about fighting for a spot to set up your chairs! Its great for day trips. They do have a pavilion with a snack bar for lunch, however the food is a little pricey so I would suggest choosing to bring your own food. Coolers are not allowed on the beach, which may sound like a turn off, its not huge inconvenience. Everyone leaves their coolers on the boardwalk and when its time for lunch, you grab your cooler and head over to the pavilion- which gives you a nice break from the sun (not to mention an actual table). We've never had any trouble with our cooler sitting on the boardwalk and we haven't heard of anyone ever missing items or entire coolers. It is on-street parking which is free however there is a $10 fee for daily beach badges. Beaches are clean and quiet; you really can't ask for much more

Our Go-To place. Clean, friendly, great beaches. Love to walk the boards for our exercise. The sound of the surf, scent of the ocean...heavenly.

Might be one of the cleanest beaches I've ever been to, at least here in the grand state of New Jersey. A few facts you should know... - Parking is free but limited. It'll take you a while to find a spot if you don't arrive early in the AM - $9 fee to get on the beach - No food or drink on the beach...Coolers must be left on the boardwalk - Pristine, quiet, family-filled - Awesome boardwalk And as a bonus, the drive through Spring Lake itself if absolutely lovely. It's a beautiful town with beautiful homes. Spring Lake is my new "go to" day-trip beach on the shore.

Uuuuugh... ...this is our go to beach when we need a QUIET, peaceful, relaxing day. The parking can be a pain especially on the weekend, but it's free which is great. There is a 10 dollar fee per person to get onto the beach, but they have a boardwalk (if you can call it that) where you can sit and look at the water and eat (no food allowed on the beach). There is a clubhouse with restrooms and a snack bar. The closer you get to the clubhouse, the louder, denser, and children-ier the crowd gets. But if you're looking for peace...walk the few extra steps down the beach.

The beach is clean and well maintained $10 for a daily badge sounds expensive considering that other beaches on jersey shore can be enjoyed for free. Coolers are allowed on the beach. We had water bottles and coconut water with us. The restrooms are very basic and there could be a line to get into one A limited number of open showers are available on the boardwalk. The beach is rocky in some parts. Waves do get rough which I like. I would highly recommend wearing water socks because the water and sand are full of sea shells and I returned with multiple cuts and bruises on my feet (and palms and knees) after playing in the water. Now, if you can deal with no restrooms/open showers then I would suggest you should go to long beach island instead. It is free, less crowded and lots of free parking. Tip: While parking the car, please make sure that the curb is not painted yellow (any shade from 50 shades of yellow) Otherwise you will end up with a parking ticket like we did!

This beach is fantastic. If you are looking for quiet, family beaches and away from the boardwalks of the jersey shore this is your place. It is one of the best beaches in NJ I have ever been to. If your not looking to drive over 2 hours from the city to the east end of Long Island for some beautiful beaches; this is your go to spot.

Spring Lake is the cleanest and most well kept beach that we've been to on the shore. It is expensive, but you get what you pay for - clean, good lifeguards, nice people, safe area. Great place a quiet beach experience, a fun family day or just a good day with friends. Looking to go the shore and eat wings and drink beer? Go north to Belmar because Spring Lake is not the place for you. Expensive at $8 a day, but worth it!

This is a beautiful beach with beautiful scenery. It is quiet and restful. God only knows why they can't keep the bathrooms fixed and clean. On the south side, one stall was broken. In addition, the entire bathroom was dirty including the remaining toilet. What is going on here, or does Spring Lake think the filth is ok?

Pros: Warm water in summer, very clean, a glaring lack of Snooki, the Situation or any of their impersonators, nice waves if you're a surfer/body boarder type. Cons: $8 a head usage fee, a seemingly unlimited number of families willing to pay the surcharge. Not a bad beach, by any means. But it's on the crowded side if a more introspective beach trip is what you're looking for.

I grew up thinking that Ventnor, Margate and Longport were the best beach towns on the Jersey coast... what a sheltered boy I was! Spring Lake is a great beach community. I attribute this to the apparent lack of a singles scene...you will not find the MTV "Jersey Shore" types here--only families and couples. The beach is probably one of the cleanest and well maintained in New Jersey. There is a boardwalk but it is conspicuously void of commercial interests (except for the snack bar which is owned and operated by the town). So, I say "kudos" to Spring Lake for keeping their community a beautiful, friendly and family-oriented place.

I went here, expecting an easy day trip, but i was disappointed. It was about a 2 hour drive and we originally drove to Belmar Beach but that was too crowded for our likings during this pandemic. When we arrived at Spring Lake, it was not crowded at all, but when we spoke to the beach tag sales women, she informed us that they were sold out of beach tags. She said we would have to buy them online but we couldn't find anything. Overall, I was very disappointed in the management and organization of this beach. I was so confused because I was standing on the boardwalk looking at empty yards of beach, and still wasn't allowed to purchase a beach tag. What I thought would be an enjoyable day trip, turned into an awful hassle to find a beach to go to.

I love this beach! A beautiful community. Also, Janet is a great chief lifeguard. Very kind and loves her job! Wouldn't be the same without her!

PROS: The cleanest beach I have seen in NJ; facilities are clean; beautiful, well-maintained boardwalk. CONS: They don't allow you to bring food onto the beach (see PROS above); $8/day for a pass is expensive.

This is a very nice beach clean easy to park nice I little town that you can sit outside and eat and enjoy your meal Spring Lake is the beach to go

Spring Lake, I hardly knew ye. I grew up here and was here almost every day when I was younger. I finally had the opportunity to go home and what an experience. It made me realized how much I missed the beach, surfing, and even sand. I also had a walk down memory lane. Anyway, Spring Lake is awesome. Nice wide beaches without the Seaside Heights drunk type. The surf here and Mansquan is always top notch and it is nice to see 3Rd Avenue Surf Shop open (where I learned to surf). Just an awesome clean beach.