74°
Mostly Cloudy
4%
76
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
Great day for photography.
74°F air · 70°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 15 mph.
Tonight
A chance of rain showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Weather
- 74°F air — ideal beach weather
- Cloud cover — overcast reduces uv exposure but the vibe too
Water
- 70°F water — swimmable, refreshing
79 /100
great
80 Swim
74 Sunbathe
81 Walk
78 Fish
84 Photo
Best for photography today
Atmosphere
Air Temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
15 mph
S
Rain
4%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 04 PM
Tomorrow
74°F
Chance Rain Showers
Water
Water Temp
70°F
Refreshing
Wave Height
2.3 ft
5s · S swell
Barometer
30.03 inHg
1017 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 Moderate
- NYZ178 Southern Queens — Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beach Moderate
- NYZ179 Southern Nassau — Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, Moderate
- NYZ080 Southwestern Suffolk — Gilgo State Park and Robert Moses State Park Moderate
- NYZ081 Southeastern Suffolk — Smith Point, Cupsogue Beach, Moderate
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:27 AM
Sunset
8:30 PM
Moon · 89%
Waxing Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:02 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 5:54 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 11:57 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 6:19 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
74°
Chance Rain Showers
49%
61
78°
Partly Sunny
14%
84
80°
Mostly Sunny
0%
82
82°
Mostly Sunny
6%
82
83°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
18%
50
85°
Mostly Sunny
14%
82
What to Bring Today
Nothing unusual - conditions are unremarkable today.
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.
Major
8:50 PM - 10:50 PM
Minor
2:10 AM - 3:10 AM
Major
9:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Minor
5:40 PM - 6:40 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
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA).
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
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