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.

Getting there

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

Getting 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 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[8] 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.

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.

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.

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