Keansburg Beach, NJ: Family-Friendly Beach Review with a Toddler
If you’re looking for a family-friendly beach near Keyport, NJ, Keansburg Beach is an easy option for a day trip with kids.
During our recent family day trip, Keansburg Beach is about a 15-minute drive from Keyport, NJ.
After spending the morning crabbing in Keyport and having lunch nearby, we decided to spend the afternoon at the beach.
We stayed for about two hours, and it was the perfect amount of time for our family.
Keansburg Beach Parking
We parked at the boardwalk parking lot, where metered parking is just $3 per hour.
We paid for 1.5 hours but ended up 7 minutes over and got a $55 parking ticket 😅 So, give yourself plenty of extra time!
Is Keansburg Beach Free?
Unlike Asbury Park or Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, this beach had no admission fee and was much less crowded.
We also saw plenty of picnic mats, beach umbrellas, and canopies. Enclosed tents are reportedly not allowed, although we didn’t see any during our visit.
Is Keansburg Beach Good for Kids?
The boardwalk was perfect for a relaxing walk with ocean views. The high was only 81°F, with a nice breeze, so it wasn’t too hot.
Most importantly, the beach wasn’t overly crowded, making it a great spot for kids. We were both very happy with our visit!
Since crabbing was our main plan, we regretted not bringing swimsuits, a beach mat, and an umbrella. The beach is open through September 7, so we’ll probably come back on another weekend! 😂
There were lots of kids having fun in the water, and the water wasn’t very deep.
Food & Playground
At the boardwalk entrance, there’s a small shop selling sandwiches, ice cream, and other snacks, along with a playground nearby.
There are also chairs with umbrellas, so we grabbed some Italian ice and were pleasantly surprised—it was actually really good! 😋
We tried mango and lemon. I preferred the mango, while our son loved the lemon. 😂
There are plenty of quick bites available, so we noticed many families grabbing food to go and heading back to the beach.
Restrooms & Rinse Station
The restrooms are conveniently located right next to the shop, making them easy to access from the beach.
There’s also an outdoor rinse station where you can wash the sand off your feet before leaving.
What to Bring to Keansburg Beach
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Swimsuits
- Picnic mat or beach blanket
- Beach umbrella
- Light snacks
- Water shoes — lots of small pebbles can wash up with the waves
- Sand toys for kids
Final Thoughts
Keansburg Beach wasn’t the main destination of our day, but it ended up being a great way to finish our Keyport outing.
Because it’s relatively close to Keyport, you can easily combine the two without spending most of your day driving.
If you’re a New Jersey parent looking for an easy family day trip near Keyport, consider starting your morning with crabbing in Keyport and ending the afternoon at Keansburg Beach.
Sometimes the simplest plans make the best memories.
👉 Read our [Crabbing in Keyport NJ review]
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