Point Pleasant Beach is the quintessential family-friendly anchor of the northern Jersey Shore, home to Jenkinson's, the family name now synonymous with the town's boardwalk empire.
Ocean County·North Shore·Verified May 15, 2026·Official site ↗
What people who actually go to Point Pleasant Beach know. Tips are moderated.
No tips here yet. Got one about Point Pleasant Beach? Share it below.
Sign in to share a tip about Point Pleasant Beach.
dogs
No dogs on beach during summer
tents
Check locally for current restrictions
smoking
Smoking banned on all NJ public beaches (state law since 2019). Fines $250–$1,000
glass
Glass containers prohibited on beach
alcohol
Alcohol prohibited on beach (local ordinance)
Boardwalk Beach
Inlet Beach
Beach lots
Municipal beach parking lots
NJT station, 10-min walk to boardwalk; Route 67 bus
Train drops you close to the boardwalk and beach
Point Pleasant Beach
NJ Transit 67 — Point Pleasant Beach
Point Pleasant Beach is the quintessential family-friendly anchor of the northern Jersey Shore, home to Jenkinson's, the family name now synonymous with the town's boardwalk empire. Located at the tip of the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County, it offers a clear contrast to its more urban or exclusive neighbors. It sits at what's sometimes called the "Northern Gate of the Barnegat Bay," where the Point Pleasant Canal connects the Manasquan River and Inlet to the bay's northern end at Bay Head.
The name comes from explorer Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage, when he wrote: "This is a very good Land to fall with, and a pleasant Land to see."
In the 1870s, Captain John Arnold built Arnold Avenue, still a bustling thoroughfare today, lined with shops, restaurants, and antique dealers. When Charles Jenkinson arrived in the 1920s, he laid the foundation of the boardwalk that exists now.
The crown jewel of Point Pleasant Beach is Jenkinson's Boardwalk, which stands above most other Shore boardwalks for what it packs into a single accessible strip: rides, aquarium, arcades, mini golf, food, games, nightlife, and inlet access. It's an unusual setup, the experience feels like a public town boardwalk, but most of it is run by one private family-owned operator: beach, rides, aquarium, games, mini golf, food, and nightlife. Beach badges are required in season, with daily, weekly, and seasonal passes available.
Restaurant Row runs along Channel Drive, where the commercial fishing fleet docks and unloads each morning. For a slow-paced day, head to Fisherman's Memorial Park to watch the boats navigate the Manasquan Inlet. Slower still: the Downtown Antique District on Bay and Arnold Avenues, where the Antique Emporium gathers more than 40 independent dealers under one roof.
It's a wonderful destination for parents and grandparents who want a safe, clean, and highly active environment for children.
68°
Sunny
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 18 at 2:52AM EDT until May 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
✈Rip current risk HIGH along entire NJ coast
Avoid swimming beyond waist-depth. Swim near lifeguards only.
Today
76°
Sunny
Tonight
64°
Partly Cloudy
Tuesday
81°
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday Night
68°
Partly Cloudy
Wednesday
83°
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
Wednesday Night
57°
Showers And Thunderstorms