Asbury Park travel guide
Asbury Park Tourism | Asbury Park Guide
You're Going to Love Asbury Park
Made famous by Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park, New Jersey, is a coastal resort on the rise. In the past 15 years, the city has come into its own, making the most of beautiful 19th-century architecture, a booming arts scene and, of course, the Atlantic Coast.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Asbury Park
1. Take a Springsteen Tour
If you love the Boss, Asbury Park is the place to go. Take guided tours with fellow fans to the Boardwalk, Frank's Deli, and more locations associated with one of America's greatest musicians.
2. Step Back in History at Allaire
Just outside Asbury Park you'll find Allaire, a preserved 19th-century village where volunteers maintain the illusion with period costumes and you can explore a 3,000 acre state park.
3. Discover the Town's Thriving Art Scene
Cheap rents have drawn hundreds of artists to Asbury Park recently, filling galleries like Art629 and the Parlor Gallery with exciting works.
4. See the Victorian Architecture of Ocean Grove
Bordering Asbury Park to the south, Ocean Grove is a beautiful Victorian resort, boasting a fine beach and cultural attractions like the Great Auditorium.
5. Visit the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival
ASPMFF is one of the Eastern Seaboard's premier cultural events, attracting hip-hop, jazz, and rock artists and featuring a busy schedule of screenings.
What to do in Asbury Park
1. Asbury Park Beach: A Vibrant Coastal Vacation Hotspot
Asbury Park's beach remains a prime bit of Atlantic Ocean coastline, drawing huge crowds when the New Jersey sun shines. You can swim, sunbathe, or surf along miles and miles of sandy beach, but it's what lies along the shore that really attracts people to Asbury Park. From its 20th century heyday as one huge amusement park, Asbury Park has diversified. Dubbed by some as "Brooklyn by the Beach" due to its music scene and bars, the beach allows visitors to perfect their tan, swim, and check out some culture on the side.
2. Silverball Museum: The Perfect Attraction for Paddlers
Another beachfront attraction, the Silverball Museum is one huge homage to the Asbury Park's favorite game: pinball. The museum houses a massive collection of more than 600 machines (available on rotation) dating from the 1950s to today. Play classics like Attack from Mars or Surf Side, along with tables themed around movie franchises, video games, and pop musicians. DJ nights on Friday and a small arcade cabinet collection round off one of the most entertaining museums on the Eastern Seaboard.
3. Asbury Park Boardwalk: The Real Heart of the Resort
An icon of the city, Asbury Park Boardwalk was immortalized in the songs of Bruce Springsteen and is the heart of the city. First added in the 1870s by a local entrepreneur, the Boardwalk attracted concert venues and casinos, and became the setting for millions of romantic trysts. These days, it's been renovated as a dining hub with Korean, vegan and Cuban options, hosts thriving music venues like the Stone Pony or the Paramount Theater, and has added some stunning street art, making it a great place to visit.
4. The Stone Pony: A Legendary Boardwalk Venue
Asbury Park's premier live music venue first opened its doors in 1974 and is reckoned to be among the finest rock and roll clubs in the world. Situated on the historic Boardwalk, the Stone Pony continues to act as a launching pad for up-and-coming New Jersey musicians who want to follow in the footsteps of the Boss and Bon Jovi. Recently renovated after a tough period in the 1990s, the venue offers well known acts every week as well as all-night DJ sets and guaranteed good times. It's a must-visit for any rock music fan.
5. Asbury Splash Park: A Child-Friendly Sprayground
Another Boardwalk legend, Asbury Splash Park is the resort's leading family attraction. This Ocean Avenue institution markets itself as a "sprayground", which sums it up neatly. When they are caked in sand from the beach or salt from the waves, kids can get soaked at the Splash Park by imaginative water features like giant watering cans and spray jets shooting water out from the ground. And, once you've dried off, there's an 18-hole mini golf course on site too.
1. Asbury Park Beach: A Vibrant Coastal Vacation Hotspot
Asbury Park's beach remains a prime bit of Atlantic Ocean coastline, drawing huge crowds when the New Jersey sun shines. You can swim, sunbathe, or surf along miles and miles of sandy beach, but it's what lies along the shore that really attracts people to Asbury Park. From its 20th century heyday as one huge amusement park, Asbury Park has diversified. Dubbed by some as "Brooklyn by the Beach" due to its music scene and bars, the beach allows visitors to perfect their tan, swim, and check out some culture on the side.
2. Silverball Museum: The Perfect Attraction for Paddlers
Another beachfront attraction, the Silverball Museum is one huge homage to the Asbury Park's favorite game: pinball. The museum houses a massive collection of more than 600 machines (available on rotation) dating from the 1950s to today. Play classics like Attack from Mars or Surf Side, along with tables themed around movie franchises, video games, and pop musicians. DJ nights on Friday and a small arcade cabinet collection round off one of the most entertaining museums on the Eastern Seaboard.
3. Asbury Park Boardwalk: The Real Heart of the Resort
An icon of the city, Asbury Park Boardwalk was immortalized in the songs of Bruce Springsteen and is the heart of the city. First added in the 1870s by a local entrepreneur, the Boardwalk attracted concert venues and casinos, and became the setting for millions of romantic trysts. These days, it's been renovated as a dining hub with Korean, vegan and Cuban options, hosts thriving music venues like the Stone Pony or the Paramount Theater, and has added some stunning street art, making it a great place to visit.
4. The Stone Pony: A Legendary Boardwalk Venue
Asbury Park's premier live music venue first opened its doors in 1974 and is reckoned to be among the finest rock and roll clubs in the world. Situated on the historic Boardwalk, the Stone Pony continues to act as a launching pad for up-and-coming New Jersey musicians who want to follow in the footsteps of the Boss and Bon Jovi. Recently renovated after a tough period in the 1990s, the venue offers well known acts every week as well as all-night DJ sets and guaranteed good times. It's a must-visit for any rock music fan.
5. Asbury Splash Park: A Child-Friendly Sprayground
Another Boardwalk legend, Asbury Splash Park is the resort's leading family attraction. This Ocean Avenue institution markets itself as a "sprayground", which sums it up neatly. When they are caked in sand from the beach or salt from the waves, kids can get soaked at the Splash Park by imaginative water features like giant watering cans and spray jets shooting water out from the ground. And, once you've dried off, there's an 18-hole mini golf course on site too.
1. Asbury Park Beach: A Vibrant Coastal Vacation Hotspot
Asbury Park's beach remains a prime bit of Atlantic Ocean coastline, drawing huge crowds when the New Jersey sun shines. You can swim, sunbathe, or surf along miles and miles of sandy beach, but it's what lies along the shore that really attracts people to Asbury Park. From its 20th century heyday as one huge amusement park, Asbury Park has diversified. Dubbed by some as "Brooklyn by the Beach" due to its music scene and bars, the beach allows visitors to perfect their tan, swim, and check out some culture on the side.
2. Silverball Museum: The Perfect Attraction for Paddlers
Another beachfront attraction, the Silverball Museum is one huge homage to the Asbury Park's favorite game: pinball. The museum houses a massive collection of more than 600 machines (available on rotation) dating from the 1950s to today. Play classics like Attack from Mars or Surf Side, along with tables themed around movie franchises, video games, and pop musicians. DJ nights on Friday and a small arcade cabinet collection round off one of the most entertaining museums on the Eastern Seaboard.
3. Asbury Park Boardwalk: The Real Heart of the Resort
An icon of the city, Asbury Park Boardwalk was immortalized in the songs of Bruce Springsteen and is the heart of the city. First added in the 1870s by a local entrepreneur, the Boardwalk attracted concert venues and casinos, and became the setting for millions of romantic trysts. These days, it's been renovated as a dining hub with Korean, vegan and Cuban options, hosts thriving music venues like the Stone Pony or the Paramount Theater, and has added some stunning street art, making it a great place to visit.
4. The Stone Pony: A Legendary Boardwalk Venue
Asbury Park's premier live music venue first opened its doors in 1974 and is reckoned to be among the finest rock and roll clubs in the world. Situated on the historic Boardwalk, the Stone Pony continues to act as a launching pad for up-and-coming New Jersey musicians who want to follow in the footsteps of the Boss and Bon Jovi. Recently renovated after a tough period in the 1990s, the venue offers well known acts every week as well as all-night DJ sets and guaranteed good times. It's a must-visit for any rock music fan.
Activities & attractions in Asbury Park
Activities
Other activities
Where to Eat in Asbury Park
Italian food is (unsurprisingly) king in Asbury Park. You'll find fantastic pasta and fish options at Moonstruck, great pizza at Porta, and great food by the sea at Stella Marina Bar and Restaurant. Meals usually cost no more than $20 - $25.
When to visit Asbury Park
Asbury Park is at its best between July and late September, when the temperatures are warm enough to swim, and the town's cultural calendar is at its busiest.
How to Get to Asbury Park
Plane
Asbury Park is only 30 miles from New York's JFK, Newark, or La Guardia airports, so getting there is easy.
Train
You can take the NJ Transit train from Penn Station, New York, towards Bay Head or South Amboy and get off at Asbury Park. It takes around 1 hour 40 minutes and costs $12 - $18.
Car
From New York, take I-95 then the Garden State Parkway, while I-195 runs from Trenton and Philadelphia.
Bus
NJ Transit bus 317 runs from Philadelphia (3 hours 45 mins, $23) while Academy Bus run services from the New York Port Authority (1 hour 58 mins, $17 - $19).
Airports near Asbury Park
Airlines serving Asbury Park
Where to stay in Asbury Park
The Empress Hotel and the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel are both great options near the boardwalk.
Popular Neighborhoods in Asbury Park
Asbury Park Boardwalk - built in the 1870s, Asbury Park's boardwalk has seen countless people come and go, and played a prominent role in Springsteen's 1972 album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.".
Ocean Grove - just south of Asbury Park, Ocean Grove is full of character thanks to its well-preserved Victorian houses and wonderful beach.
West Grove - just inland from the boardwalk, West Grove is home to the William F. Larkin Golf Course as well as Italian eateries like Jimmy's Italian Restaurant.
Where to stay in popular areas of Asbury Park
Most booked hotels in Asbury Park
How to Get Around Asbury Park
The Cost of Living in Asbury Park
Shopping Streets
If you want to pick up souvenirs, head down to the Boardwalk, specifically stores like the Asbury Galleria (with its memorabilia collection) and jewelry boutiques like Carla Gizzi.
Groceries and Other
Local supermarkets include QuickChek, Costco, and Wegmans, where 12 eggs will cost around $1.90.