I’ve Taken My Dogs on Multiple New Jersey Beach Trips—Here’s How to Plan Your Own Dog-friendly Getaway

If you have a dog, and have never traveled with them, I would highly encourage you to do so—especially on a beach trip.

I’ll admit that I had some trepidations surrounding taking a beach trip with my two dogs (a senior terrier and a young golden retriever); one is an anxiety-ridden mess and the other wants to be everyone’s best friend, all the time (I’ll let you guess which is which).

However, last year, my husband and I decided that it would just be more cost-effective to pack up the boys and take them with us, versus hiring an in-house sitter for a week. Thus, we embarked on our first dog-friendly beach trip, to New Jersey. It went so well and we all had so much fun that we ended up taking them on multiple other beach trips throughout the year, and this year we’ve continued that pattern.

We’ve repeatedly gone back to that same spot in New Jersey, though, and for good reason. We’ve found NJ to be very dog-friendly and the trip very easy, especially if you’ve not traveled with your dogs before.

So, if you’re planning a beach trip to New Jersey with your pups in tow, what do you need to know? Here’s what I’ve learned.

When going on a beach trip with your dog, I will honestly always recommend that you try to find a home rental in the area. Especially if you’re traveling to New Jersey, there’s absolutely no shortage of them throughout the state’s beach destinations.

There are a few reasons for this. 

One, if you have dogs that are sensitive to noise, staying in a hotel can lead to annoyance on everyone’s part—they’re going to be barking and/or anxious, and the other guests are going to be annoyed by your presence. 

Two, it’s always great to have a private, fenced-in yard in which to let them run around and work off some energy after being in the car.

Three, a lot of home rental owners who allow (and love) dogs often go out of their way to make your canine companion feel comfortable in ways that a hotel does not; I’ve seen owners provide dog bowls, toys, etc.

Along these lines, if you are choosing a home rental, don’t only look to see if it’s pet friendly. I always try to get a glimpse of the surroundings, to get a gauge on how loud it’s going to be outside (as a lot of traffic, foot and car, can stress some dogs out), as well as how easy it’s going to be to walk the pups. (Pro tip: Also check out if the host has any special rules about dogs on furniture—I flat out won’t book a rental with this restriction, because I just know it’s not going to happen with my dogs.)

All of that said, if you do want to book a hotel specifically, you’ll have no problem in New Jersey finding a good, dog-friendly pick. It can be difficult wading through all your options, though, trying to see just how pet-friendly a hotel is (What do you mean, you don’t want my 75-pound chill pill king, but you’ll take my 15-pound pee machine?).

As such, one resource I’ve found to be quite handy is Bring Fido, a hotel booking aggregator that allows you to search for dog-friendly hotels specifically, with all the details you need to know front and center, such as whether or not you’ll pay a pet fee, number of pets restrictions, restrictions on dog size and more.

While New Jersey’s beaches are very dog-friendly, you need to be sure that you check your specific destination’s rules and regulations regarding when and how you can use the beach with your dog. Rules can differ vastly depending on where you are, as well as the time of year.

As an example, let’s look at Asbury Park (one of my favorite destinations on the Jersey Shore) and its dog beach rules.

Here, dogs have to stay on the designated Asbury Park Dog Beach. Period. I know that other destinations may allow dogs on the “human” beach during certain hours or months, but that’s not the case here.

Dogs can be off leash on the dog beach—but not if there are seals on the beach. Dogs have to stay off the dunes, and must always be wearing a collar with their dog license displayed.

Meanwhile, there are different rules for the boardwalk. Dogs can be on the boardwalk from mid-September to mid-May, but not during the summer.

Again, it’s important to check the exact rules in your destination. It’s likely that the city will have a website that will list not only the rules regarding dogs on the beach, but also where you can find dog-friendly beaches in the area.

So which are the dog-friendly beaches in New Jersey that travelers like the most?

I’ll throw out my personal recommendation for my favorite, which is Spring Lake Dog Beach in Spring Lake, New Jersey, adjacent to Belmar. The beach does have limited hours for dogs, but it’s highly popular and filled with dogs of all shapes and sizes enjoying the waves while their owners chat on the sidelines.

The Wildwood Dog Park & Beach is also a popular favorite, and you literally can’t miss it—just look out for the giant fire hydrant. The beach is open daily, dawn to dusk. There’s a fenced area (“the park”), where dogs can be unleashed, but they need to keep their leashes while on the beach, outside of that spot. Drinking water and waste bags are provided.

In Manasquan, on the Manasquan Inlet, Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area is also well-loved. Dogs do need to stay on their leashes, and be mindful that part of the beach is designated as dog-free. Luckily, the spot where dogs are allowed is spacious, open year round and all hours.

The aforementioned Asbury Park Dog Beach is also a hit (though make sure that you pay attention to those rules and regulations!).

Really, though, I reiterate that it won’t be difficult for you to find good dog-friendly beaches in New Jersey. It’s all about finding a beach that has the facilities you want/need, as well as one that’s open to dogs during the hours you plan on visiting.

Obviously, you’re going to need all your typical dog gear—waste bags, some sort of portable water bowl, possibly a floating ball or similar toy—but don’t forget some of the beach-specific gear that your pup might need.

For instance, dogs with thin fur may need sunscreen. Before you go spraying them down with your Coppertone, though, peruse your pet-safe sunscreen options (human sunscreen can be toxic to dogs if ingested!). You have a lot of different options and they work just like human sunscreen. Spray it on and you’re good to go for the next hour or two.

If you’re going into deep water rather than just staying in the shallows, consider a dog life vest, too.

And while my dogs certainly wouldn’t stand for it, I have been recommended dog beach wear like hats and cooling bandanas to ward off the heat. So, if your dog doesn’t mind getting gussied up on occasion, you might try something like that.

Lastly, just a few tips regarding dog and beach safety:

Thankfully, the New Jersey beaches I’ve visited haven’t been absolutely littered with seaweed, and except for one incident involving an influx of horseshoe crabs, I don’t typically see a ton of marine life on the beaches, either. The sand, though, has to be considered. 

Eating a little sand here or there may seem like no big deal, but ingesting sand can lead to sand impaction, which is basically when a bunch of sand clumps together in your dog’s intestinal tract. Vet care is crucial and it’s a sure way to ruin your vacay.

If it’s too hot out, your dog could suffer, and maybe even experience heat stroke. Whereas we may love an 85-degree day on the beach, dogs aren’t quite so equipped to deal with that level of heat, so keep your beach visits to days or times of day that are generally around the 70s or lower. 

In New Jersey, I’ve found that the temperatures can be high in mid-summer but, a lot of the year, you get those milder temps especially in the mornings and early evenings. (Additionally, if you feel like the sand is burning your feet, it’s most definitely burning Fido’s.)

While swimming can seem natural to some dogs, they may still struggle with waves and currents. My golden retriever swims excellently in our natural lake at home, but when visiting the New Jersey beaches this year, I knew that some of the wave action would be a struggle for him (even though it wasn’t for other dogs, who maybe might’ve been more familiar with the terrain), so we kept him out of the water. It’s just not worth the risk.