Asbury Park Beach — Gay Section

The gay section of Asbury Park Beach lies to the north of the main beach access points, roughly in the area of the boardwalk near the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall, and has been the LGBTQ+ gathering point on the New Jersey Shore since the 1990s. The geography is part of what makes it work: the boardwalk connects the beach to the bar strip on Cookman Avenue, the Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre provide shade and architectural drama at the northern end, and the concentration of gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses within a short walk gives the whole area a coherent character. On summer weekends, the beach draws visitors from across New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia — the 90-minute NJ Transit connection from Penn Station makes it one of the most accessible gay beach destinations on the East Coast for New Yorkers. During Asbury Park Pride in June, the beach and boardwalk become the venue for the festival itself, transforming the seafront into one of the most visually dramatic Pride settings anywhere in the United States. The beach requires a beach badge (daily fee) during the summer season; badges are available at beach access points.