Beach B at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

---

Sandy Hook Unit Home Page | Sandy Hook Beaches Home Page

---

Beach B is accessed from the second parking lot you come to once entering the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. This is not a lifeguarded beach, so the National Park Service does not allow swimming here. This does not mean wading up to your knees and splashing in the waves, which most people do, but actually swimming or wading into deeper water. Ocean Beaches C, D, and G have lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend between the hours of 10 AM and 6 PM.

While there is no fee to enter Sandy Hook or to enjoy the beaches, there is a fee to park at any of the beach access parking lots from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend between the hours of 8 AM and 6 PM. Such lots will have a US FEE AREA sign at the entrance (to the best of my knowledge these are Parking Lots B, C, D, E, G, I, J, and K). Daily and seasonal passes are available (no cash accepted). See the National Park Service’s official Gateway National Recreation Area Fees and Passes web page for the latest prices. Again, fees are for parking only, so if you walk, bike, or get dropped off, there is no charge to use the beaches.

The Beach B parking lot can hold over 300 vehicles and is extremely long (.3 mile) and narrow. However, you can get to the beach at four locations on paths that cut across the dunes from the parking lot to the sand. Three of the paths have stairs: the southern- and northernmost ramps and the ramp at the bathhouse located near the center of the parking lot. A ramp just north of the bathhouse does not have stairs, so if you are in a wheelchair or have trouble walking up and down stairs, park near the bathhouse and use this ramp.

Access ramp without stairs near the bathhouse at Sandy Hook’s Beach B, Gateway National Recreation Area

Beach entrance at the northern end of the Beach B parking lot at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

You can also walk across the street from the north and central sections of the parking lot to access the bay beaches on Plum Island. There is no bay access from the southern end of the parking lot.

Satellite view of access points to Plum Island

Except for service animals, pets are not allowed on the Atlantic Ocean beaches from March 15th through September 15th. You can bring them to the Sandy Hook Bay beaches anytime provided they are on a leash.

Umbrellas can be no larger than 8 feet in diameter and must be supported by only one post. Canopies are allowed as long as they are not enclosed (no camping tents) and not longer than 25 feet. There must be at least 15 feet between any such structures.

Umbrellas and canopies are allowed at Sandy Hook’s Beach B in Gateway National Recreation Area

BEACH B REVIEW

The walk across Beach B from the parking lot to the ocean is like crossing the expanse of a desert. It’s a tenth of a mile if it’s a foot! On top of that, it is full of shells and small pebbles, though once you get near the water the sand is much nicer. I suggest wearing something on your feet until you get to your final destination. Strap-on sandals won’t do much good because the pebbles get stuck between your foot and the sole of the shoe. Flip-flops fare better since the sand and pebbles can easily fall away as the shoe flips and flops. I wore my hiking books on the subsequent beaches I visited, so closed-toe shoes aren’t a bad idea either. Furthermore, regardless of soft sand or pebbles and shells, never attempt to walk across a beach this wide barefoot because the sand can become hot enough to burn your feet.

It’s a tenth of a mile from the Beach B parking lot at Sandy Hook to the ocean, Gateway National Recreation Area

All beaches at Gateway National Recreation Area suffer from the National Park Service’s failed “Trash Free Park” program, which means that no trash cans are provided, and you must bring your trash home with you. Yeah, right! Besides, it’s a little too late when you arrive at the beach only to discover that there are no trash cans when you didn’t bring any bags with you. I hate to be negative about humanity, but most people have no qualms about tossing trash on the sand, behind a dune, in the restrooms, or in the picnic areas, especially when there are no trash cans around.

AMENITIES

Beach B at Sandy Hook has a large bathhouse with outdoor rinse-off showers and two soda vending machines. There is no concession stand, but food is available from mobile food trucks. However, trucks may not be at the beach each day, especially at the less popular beaches like Beach B.

Bathhouse at Sandy Hook’s Beach B in Gateway National Recreation Area

Restrooms and rinse-off showers at the Sandy Hook Beach B bathhouse, Gateway National Recreation Area

Back to the Top