Sandy Hook Beach — Attraction in Middletown Township

Sandy Hook Beach sits like a seven-mile finger pointing toward Manhattan, a federal enclave where clothing-optional sunbathers coexist with families building sandcastles and military history buffs exploring crumbling coastal batteries. This barrier peninsula in New Jersey's Gateway National Recreation Area represents something interesting: a beach that refuses to be just one thing.

The journey begins with sticker shock at the entrance gate, where parking costs $20 daily during peak season—steep for a public beach, until you realize what you're buying. Unlike the Jersey Shore's boardwalk carnival atmosphere, Sandy Hook offers raw, undeveloped coastline with Manhattan's skyline shimmering across pristine waters. The fee funds lifeguards while keeping crowds manageable, clever behavioral economics disguised as simple pricing.

Choose your adventure carefully. Beaches B through E cater to traditional beachgoers with lifeguards, bathhouses, and food trucks serving overpriced ice cream. The sand varies dramatically—shell-studded and pebbly near parking lots, smooth and golden at water's edge. It's a quarter-mile trek from car to ocean, so pack light or invest in a beach cart. The clear Atlantic delivers consistent waves perfect for surfing, though rip currents demand respect.

But Sandy Hook's crown jewel is Gunnison Beach, the East Coast's largest legal clothing-optional destination. Federal jurisdiction trumps New Jersey's anti-nudity laws, creating a unique haven attracting nearly 5,000 naturists on busy summer weekends. The transition from textile to clothing-optional areas happens organically—no garish signage, just understood geography of comfort levels. Rangers patrol regularly, maintaining order where lewd behavior draws swift enforcement.

The peninsula's military DNA remains visible everywhere. Fort Hancock's officers' quarters stand sentinel over the bay, while Battery Gunnison anchors the nude beach's northern boundary. The 1764 Sandy Hook Lighthouse, America's oldest working beacon, offers tours for climbers. This layered history transforms simple beach days into something more contemplative—you're sunbathing where soldiers once scanned horizons for enemy ships.

Timing matters enormously. Arrive after 11 a.m. on summer weekends and face traffic snarls stretching for hours. The peninsula regularly hits capacity, forcing closure until afternoon departures create space. Smart visitors buy $100 season passes or arrive early.

Dog owners get a split deal: bay-side beaches welcome leashed pets year-round, but ocean beaches ban them March through September to protect nesting piping plovers. This reflects Sandy Hook's broader balancing act between recreation and conservation.

The food situation requires strategy. Scattered trucks offer basics at captive-audience prices. Most visitors pack coolers for the long haul, though alcohol remains strictly prohibited—unusual among clothing-optional beaches worldwide. The no-trash policy means everything you bring must leave with you, lending unusually pristine atmosphere.

Sandy Hook's appeal transcends simple beach recreation. Birders flock here during migrations, kayakers launch from Horseshoe Cove, and history enthusiasts explore Nike missile sites. The seven-mile multi-use path accommodates cyclists and joggers seeking car-free exploration.

What emerges is a beach that works precisely because it doesn't try to please everyone equally. Families claim southern beaches, naturists gather at Gunnison, history buffs explore Fort Hancock, and nature lovers bird-watch at protected coves. The $20 parking fee creates artificial scarcity preserving the experience for those willing to pay premium prices for uncommercial beauty.

In an era of overdeveloped coastlines and Instagram-optimized beach clubs, Sandy Hook offers authentic complexity. It's simultaneously New Jersey's only nude beach and family destination, military monument and nature preserve, urban escape and historical landmark. This refusal to be easily categorized may be its...

I go down to the shore probably once per summer, just because it's a bit of a trek for me from North Jersey. When I do go, I usually look for a beach more north so that I'm not driving for 2 hours each way. I haven't really found a go-to beach, but I think I finally found it this year! I really enjoyed Sandy Hook. It doesn't have a boardwalk, which I don't mind - so if you're looking for boardwalk/bar/restaurant vibes, this is not it. But if you're looking for a quiet, family day at the beach, then this spot is great. You don't need a beach pass per person (which I hate paying) but parking is $20 per day. Better than the anxiety of having to look for street parking somewhere. They have a few lots, but I've read several reviews that they get full if you get there after 8:30 to 9. We got there at around 8 on a Saturday, so we were good.

They have bathrooms (pretty clean for a beach) and showers (8 of them!). I love a good rinse after the beach so that I'm not sitting in my car with a bathing suit full of sand. There was one food truck that day but they were selling acai bowls, so definitely bring your own food and lots of snacks. Waves were rough that day and there were a lot of surfers, but there had just been some thunderstorms the night before, so that probably played a factor.

Can't wait to go...

Filled with weird adults who must curse at least once in every sentence, and crazy fortnite-loving public school kids, but there still are some friendly grandpas and fishers around. This beach was pretty littered and unsanitary- I found some empty snack bags and random junk, but it wasn't too bad. This one lady didn't wash her hands after using the bathroom- and people wonder how covid is still around! Speaking of the bathrooms, they are very dirty- people leave whatever they want and the floors are covered in water. At least, I think it's water. I saw someone leave a half-empty bottle of coke and a bowl of fruit salad in one of the stalls! There is also no space to change your clothes (that I know of), so my poor sister had to try her best in one of the stalls. Even after all that, I had a great time- it's easy to relax there, lots of shells to be found, and everyone does their own thing. Just be careful- the waves are rough, or at least when I visited! I lost my Disney bracelet to the ocean because I thought I didn't need to keep it in my bag! I know, an unwise decision, but a decision made nonetheless. Overall, an okay beach.

Love, Timmy's...