78°
Sunny
0%
83
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
Ideal for a beach walk.
78°F air · 71°F water
Full NWS forecast for Today
Sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 0 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 78°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 71°F water — swimmable, refreshing
82 /100
great
80 Swim
82 Sunbathe
87 Walk
87 Fish
82 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 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.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
5 to 10 mph
SE
Rain
0%
Today
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
80°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
71°F
Refreshing
Next High Tide
6:50 PM
6.1 ft · in 3.6h
Wave Height
2.0 ft
8s · S swell
Barometer
30.19 inHg
1022 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
5:35 AM
Sunset
8:26 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:37 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 6:27 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 12:30 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 6:50 PM | High | 6.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:34 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 7:26 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 1:29 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 7:46 PM | High | 6.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:29 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 8:21 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 2:27 PM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 8:39 PM | High | 6.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:22 AM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 9:15 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 3:23 PM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 9:31 PM | High | 6.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:10 AM | Low | -0.6 ft |
| 10:09 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 4:15 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 10:22 PM | High | 5.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:56 AM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 11:03 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:05 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 11:14 PM | High | 5.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:40 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:57 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:55 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8531680, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
80°
Sunny
0%
81
88°
Sunny
0%
78
92°
Sunny
5%
71
86°
Mostly Sunny
4%
82
83°
Mostly Sunny
6%
83
83°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
24%
43
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
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
9:50 PM - 11:50 PM
Minor
2:40 AM - 3:40 AM
Major
10:20 AM - 12:20 PM
Minor
7:00 PM - 8:00 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