Beat the Parkway traffic. Take the train to the Shore.
Skip the Garden State Parkway and summer parking fees. NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line connects you to some of New Jersey's best beaches.
From Aberdeen/Matawan to Long Branch, the North Jersey Coast Line runs direct from New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station with no transfer needed. Heading to Asbury Park, Belmar, Spring Lake, or Bay Head? Most services connect at Long Branch — a quick, easy transfer that gets you to the sand without the traffic. Seasonal bus service also runs to Seaside Heights, Wildwood, and Cape May.
Plan Your Trip Download the NJ TRANSIT App
Shore Stations on the North Jersey Coast Line
Take the North Jersey Coast Line from New York Penn Station, Secaucus Junction, or Newark Penn Station. Rail passengers traveling from Passaic and Bergen Counties connect with the North Jersey Coast Line at Secaucus Junction. Check the Trip Planner for your specific departure.
Direct from New York Penn & Newark Penn
The following stations are served by direct electric trains — no transfer needed on most services:
Aberdeen/Matawan
Hazlet
Middletown
Red Bank
Little Silver
Monmouth Park (race days only)
Long Branch
Transfer at Long Branch
For the following stations, most services require a transfer at Long Branch, where you connect to a diesel train southbound. The connection is straightforward — follow the signs on the platform. Some weekday express trains run direct to New York; use the Trip Planner to check your specific train.
Elberon
Allenhurst
Asbury Park
Bradley Beach
Belmar
Spring Lake
Manasquan
Point Pleasant Beach
Bay Head
Seasonal Bus Service to the Shore
All seasonal summer extensions and extra trips begin Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Seaside Heights
Bus Route 137 serves Toms River year-round. Beginning June 20, 2026, Route 137 operates direct seasonal service to Seaside Heights and Seaside Park from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York.
Note: Island Beach State Park is no longer served by NJ TRANSIT.
Updated timetables will be available approximately two weeks before service begins. Check njtransit.com/bus-to for the latest schedules.
Wildwood & Cape May
Express Bus Route 316 operates daily seasonal summer service between Philadelphia and Wildwood and Cape May beginning June 20, 2026.
Save more than 25% with a round-trip excursion fare: $35.50 Philadelphia–Wildwood | $39.05 Philadelphia–Cape May. Excursion tickets are valid for up to 10 days from date of sale. Buy via the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App, at ticket vending machines at Philadelphia 30th Street Station, at Wildwood Bus Terminal, or at Market Street bus stops in Philadelphia.
Board in Philadelphia at: JFK Blvd & 30th St (30th Street Station) | Market St & 30th St | Market St & S 20th St | Market St & S 16th St | Market St & 10th St | Market St & 7th St.
Year-round service to Wildwood and Cape May is also available on Bus Routes 313/315.
Once in Wildwood, Bus Route 510 provides local seasonal service between Wildwood Bus Terminal and Rio Grande. Use the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App or Trip Planner for stops and schedule.
⚠ Fares are subject to change. An automated fare adjustment takes effect July 1, 2026. Visit njtransit.com/hearing for details.
Find Your Shore
New Jersey's coast is not one place — it's dozens of towns, each with a different character. Find your vibe, then find your train.
- Live Music & Arts
The Shore has a cultural center, and it's Asbury Park. Once a faded resort city, now one of New Jersey's most celebrated destinations — music venues anchored by the Stone Pony, a revived boardwalk, independent restaurants, and a vibrant arts community. Red Bank is the area's cultural hub inland, with the Count Basie Center for the Arts, independent boutiques, and some of the best dining in Monmouth County.
- Asbury Park — North Jersey Coast Line to Asbury Park station. From Philadelphia, Bus Route 317 runs direct to Asbury Park Transportation Center.
- Red Bank — North Jersey Coast Line to Red Bank station. Bus Route 838 (Sea Bright–Freehold) and Route 831 (Long Branch–Monmouth Mall) serve Red Bank Station.
- The Classic Boardwalk
Arcades, beach bars, amusement rides, fried food, and the full-volume Jersey Shore experience. Belmar draws a younger, social crowd with a packed beach and a busy Main Street restaurant strip. Long Branch has Pier Village and a growing dining scene alongside Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. Point Pleasant Beach has Jenkinson's Boardwalk — rides, games, an aquarium, and the kind of summer-night energy that's hard to find anywhere else. Seaside Heights, reachable by seasonal bus, rounds out the classic boardwalk scene.
- Long Branch — North Jersey Coast Line to Long Branch station. Bus Route 831 connects Red Bank to Long Branch via Route 36.
- Belmar — North Jersey Coast Line to Belmar station.
- Point Pleasant Beach — North Jersey Coast Line to Point Pleasant Beach station. Bus Route 830 runs from Asbury Park Station to Point Pleasant Beach (no Sunday service).
- Seaside Heights — Bus Route 137 seasonal service from Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York, beginning June 20, 2026.
- The Quiet Shore
No arcades, no amusements — just wide sand, calm water, and the kind of beach day that actually lets you slow down. Spring Lake is the definitive quiet Shore town: a non-commercial boardwalk, Victorian architecture, and a peaceful freshwater lake. Bay Head, the last stop on the line, is mostly residential with direct beach access and almost nothing else to get in the way. Sea Bright is a narrow barrier island with a small-town feel and good surf. Elberon and Allenhurst sit between Long Branch and Asbury Park with lower-key beaches and a slower pace.
- Spring Lake — North Jersey Coast Line to Spring Lake station.
- Bay Head — North Jersey Coast Line to Bay Head station.
- Elberon & Allenhurst — North Jersey Coast Line (transfer at Long Branch on most services).
- Sea Bright — Bus Route 838 (Sea Bright–Freehold Raceway Mall). No Sunday service.
- The Surf Town
Manasquan is one of the Shore's best-known surf destinations, with a reliable break at Manasquan Inlet and a compact, unpretentious downtown. Sea Bright offers consistent waves on a quieter stretch of beach for riders who want to skip the crowds.
- Manasquan — North Jersey Coast Line to Manasquan station.
- Sea Bright — Bus Route 838 (Sea Bright–Freehold Raceway Mall). No Sunday service.
- Nature & Views
Sandy Hook, Highlands, and Atlantic Highlands offer a completely different Shore experience. The views of the Manhattan skyline from the Highlands bluffs are some of the best in the state. Sandy Hook — part of the Gateway National Recreation Area — has miles of undeveloped beach, a historic lighthouse, and hiking trails. Neither has a boardwalk. Both are worth the trip.
- Highlands — Bus Route 834 from Red Bank Station to Highlands (via Route 36). No Sunday service. Sandy Hook is accessible from Highlands by local connection or taxi.
- Atlantic Highlands & Belford — Bus Route 817 from Perth Amboy Station via Route 36. No Sunday service.
- Family Beach Days
Not every shore day needs a packed agenda. Bradley Beach is a neighborhood beach town — low-key, low-cost, and easy to manage with kids. Manasquan has a great family beach alongside its surf culture. Point Pleasant Beach's boardwalk offers enough amusement for a full day without the intensity of the busiest Shore spots.
- Bradley Beach — North Jersey Coast Line to Bradley Beach station.
- Manasquan — North Jersey Coast Line to Manasquan station.
- Point Pleasant Beach — North Jersey Coast Line to Point Pleasant Beach station.
Who Are You? Find Your Best Way to Ride.
Day-Trippers from New York
- Board at New York Penn Station — direct North Jersey Coast Line trains run to most shore stations.
- Check the schedule for your destination: some stations may require a transfer at Long Branch.
- Round-trip ticket recommended — buy before boarding to avoid the $5.00 surcharge.
Families & Groups
- Children ages 5–11 travel at half price; up to three children 4 and under ride free with a paying adult.
- On weekends and holidays, up to two kids (5–11) ride free with a fare-paying adult.
- Group travel options for groups of 8 or more.
Seniors & Riders with Disabilities
- Reduced fares available at all times.
- North Jersey Coast Line trains are fully ADA accessible.
- Learn more about Reduced Fares and Access Link.
Safety & Security on NJ TRANSIT
Your safety is our top priority — every trip, every time.
- Transit Police Presence — NJ TRANSIT Police patrol trains, stations, and platforms 24/7, with enhanced presence during major events.
- See Something, Say Something — Report suspicious activity through the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App or by texting NJTPD to 65873.
- Well-Lit Stations & Security Cameras — Major stations feature lighting, surveillance, and emergency call boxes throughout.
- Real-Time Alerts — Stay informed with live service updates via the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App.
Ticketing & Fares
NJ TRANSIT Mobile App
The most secure way to buy NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes. Available free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Buy, store, and scan tickets from your phone before you board.
Tap & Ride
NJ TRANSIT buses support Tap & Ride. Tap your credit/debit card or phone at the front of the bus and let the driver know your destination.
Web Tickets
Purchase train tickets online at webtickets.njtransit.com.
Ticket Vending Machines & Ticket Offices
Available at major stations for cash and card purchases. Ticket offices at select major terminals.
⚠ Buy before you board. Train tickets purchased on board add a $5.00 surcharge. Bus excursion round-trip tickets must be purchased in advance — not available on board. Fares are subject to change — an automated fare adjustment takes effect July 1, 2026. Visit njtransit.com/hearing for details.
The Shore is waiting.
Trade the parkway for a platform. NJ TRANSIT gets you to some of New Jersey's best beaches without the parking hassle — direct from New York and Newark for most northern destinations, and one quick transfer at Long Branch for the rest. Plan your trip now.