79°
Patchy Smoke
95%
36
Monmouth County, NJ · Atlantic Ocean
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)
128 S Hartshorne Dr, Highlands, NJ 07732
A 6-mile barrier-beach peninsula at the mouth of NY Harbor — part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Seven lettered beaches (A-E plus North and Gunnison) with sweeping Manhattan-skyline views. Sandy Hook has NYC's closest federally-managed ocean beach, plus Fort Hancock history and the oldest working lighthouse in the country.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
95% rain · NWS alert active · 79°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Patchy smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 5am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Weather
- 79°F air — ideal beach weather
- 95% rain — wet day — beach day is off
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — tornado watch issued july 18 at 1:55pm edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws mount holly nj
19 /100
skip
13 Swim
18 Sunbathe
26 Walk
35 Fish
59 Photo
Best for photography today
Water level 0.8 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Weather alert in effect
Tornado Watch issued July 18 at 1:55PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 3:45PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Atmosphere
Air Temp
79°F
Smoke
Wind
15 mph
S
Rain
95%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
2 Low
Peaks 10 AM · burn in ~100m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 11 AM
Tomorrow
82°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
3.0 ft
S swell
Barometer
29.82 inHg
1010 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
3 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ338)
The OKX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NYZ075 Kings (Brooklyn) — Coney Island Beach and Manhattan Beach High
- NYZ178 Southern Queens — Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beach High
- NYZ179 Southern Nassau — Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, High
- NYZ080 Southwestern Suffolk — Gilgo State Park and Robert Moses State Park High
- NYZ081 Southeastern Suffolk — Smith Point, Cupsogue Beach, High
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:40 AM
Sunset
8:23 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:40 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:57 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:55 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:06 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 6:25 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 12:48 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 6:47 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:57 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 7:12 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 1:37 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 7:45 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:47 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 8:01 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 2:24 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 8:47 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:35 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 8:53 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 3:11 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 9:47 PM | Low | 1.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:26 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 9:46 AM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| 4:01 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:43 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:22 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 10:38 AM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| 4:55 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 11:33 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8531680, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
82°
Sunny
2%
74
79°
Sunny
0%
85
80°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
70%
16
82°
Rain Showers Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
74%
15
79°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
20%
75
78°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny
15%
83
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 15 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 95% chance of rain
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Major
3:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Minor
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Major
3:40 PM - 5:40 PM
Beach Info
Parking
NPS lots at each beach. Fills by 9-10 AM summer weekends.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on recreational beaches Mar 15 – Labor Day. Allowed on leash other months.
Entry Fee
$20/vehicle daily, $100 seasonal (Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day, 8 AM – 6 PM)
Address
128 S Hartshorne Dr, Highlands, NJ 07732
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) today?
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on recreational beaches Mar 15 – Labor Day. Allowed on leash other months.
Is there an entry fee at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)?
$20/vehicle daily, $100 seasonal (Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day, 8 AM – 6 PM)
Are there lifeguards at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)?
Amenities at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) include lifeguards, seven beaches, restrooms, bike trail, fort hancock, lighthouse, visitor center, snack bars.
When is the water warmest at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) located?
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) is in Monmouth County, NJ, at 128 S Hartshorne Dr, Highlands, NJ 07732.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS