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Suggest a Feature →Monmouth County & the New Jersey Shore
Naval weapons station in the New Jersey Shore countryside. NYC 1 hour north.
Naval Weapons Station Earle is a Navy ordnance and weapons loading facility in Monmouth County, New Jersey — about 1 hour south of New York City and 10 minutes from Colts Neck. It's a small installation with a specialized mission (weapons loading for ships at sea) and a modest military community.
The surrounding area is one of New Jersey's most desirable: Monmouth County has excellent school districts, the Jersey Shore beaches (Asbury Park, Spring Lake, Sandy Hook) are 20-30 minutes east, and New York City is accessible by Garden State Parkway or NJ Transit. The cost of living is high but Monmouth County quality of life is genuinely excellent for families.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
Asbury Park Food Scene
"The most unexpected food city in New Jersey. Asbury Park has arrived."
Asbury Park (20 min east) has transformed from a faded resort town into one of New Jersey's most interesting dining and music destinations. Porta (wood-fired Neapolitan pizza), Pascal & Sabine, and Cookman Avenue's independent restaurant row reflect a genuine food culture.
The Asbury Park food and bar scene is primarily pedestrian — park once and walk between restaurants and bars on Cookman Avenue and the Boardwalk. Thursday-Saturday evenings are the most vibrant.
Windmill Restaurant (Long Branch)
"The New Jersey hot dog institution. Five generations of Shore visitors."
Windmill Restaurant has been serving New Jersey-style hot dogs (flat-top grilled, with their house chili and mustard) at Shore locations since 1964. It's the defining Shore food experience — not gourmet, entirely correct.
The Long Branch original is the oldest location. Order the regular dog with chili and mustard, and a root beer float. This is Jersey Shore food culture in its most concentrated form.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
Jersey Shore Beaches
"Spring Lake, Avon, and the family-oriented Monmouth County beaches."
The Monmouth County shore towns — Spring Lake, Avon-by-the-Sea, and Bradley Beach — are classic New Jersey beach communities with wide beaches, affordable beach badges, and the boardwalk-free beach culture that distinguishes them from the Wildwood-style resort towns south.
Spring Lake has no arcades and maintains a quiet, upscale character. Avon and Bradley Beach are more affordable and family-friendly. All require beach badges in summer (free or reduced for NJ residents).
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Red Bank & Colts Neck Area
"Monmouth County's most charming town. Count Basie Theatre, art galleries, restaurants."
Red Bank (15 minutes from NWS Earle) is Monmouth County's downtown hub — the Count Basie Center for the Arts (major venue for concerts and Broadway touring productions), antique shops, independent restaurants, and Broad Street's walkable commercial district.
The Count Basie Center consistently brings nationally touring acts. Their Broadway touring series is excellent value compared to NYC prices. The River House Grille on the Navesink River is good for special occasions.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
Monmouth Park Racetrack
"Thoroughbred racing on the Jersey Shore. Summer Saturday evenings."
Monmouth Park in Oceanport is one of the country's historic thoroughbred racing venues — summer racing from late May through September, affordable admission, and the combination of horse racing and Jersey Shore summer culture.
General admission is inexpensive. The Paddock Bar and Grill serves decent food. The simulcast hall allows year-round racing. Summer Saturday afternoon races are the peak experience.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"Garden State Parkway to the Goethals Bridge. NYC is an hour north."
New York City is 1 hour north via Garden State Parkway or NJ Transit from Red Bank or Long Branch stations to Penn Station. The full NYC cultural infrastructure is accessible on a day trip.
"The most intact Victorian resort town in America."
Cape May at the southern tip of New Jersey is 90 minutes south — 600 Victorian buildings in pristine condition, whale watching, and the Delaware Bay beach culture that's entirely different from the Atlantic shore.
"The Ivy League campus and Nassau Street."
Princeton is 35 minutes west — the Princeton University campus, Einstein historic sites, and Nassau Street restaurants and galleries.
Sandy Hook (30 min east) is the best beach with military benefits — free National Recreation Area access and the best NYC harbor views on the Shore.
Red Bank is your town for culture, restaurants, and entertainment. Build a rotation of its establishments.
NJ Transit from Red Bank or Long Branch to Penn Station is the NYC connection. Monthly pass is worth it for regular visits.
Monmouth County school districts (Holmdel, Rumson, and Colts Neck) are among the best in New Jersey. Factor that into housing decisions.
New Jersey cost of living is significant — high property taxes, high cost of goods, and premium housing markets. BAH at NWS Earle reflects this but the market is competitive. The small military community means the assignment feels more civilian than most Navy installations. The compensations — Shore beaches, NYC proximity, excellent schools, and genuinely charming Monmouth County towns — are real and substantial.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.