Can You Commute to New York City From the Jersey Shore?

Yes. NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line runs from the Jersey Shore to New York Penn Station, with direct trains from Long Branch north at all times and direct trains from the stations south of Long Branch during weekday peak periods. Monmouth County also has ferry service to Manhattan from Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, and NJ TRANSIT buses run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with The Dennis Mark Group. When someone relocating to the Jersey Shore still has a job in the city, the commute decides the town list before the budget does. Here's how each option works, using the operators' own information.

What are the ways to get from the Jersey Shore to Manhattan?

• Train: NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line to New York Penn Station, with stops at Newark Penn Station and Secaucus Junction (NJ TRANSIT, Jersey Shore).
• Ferry: Seastreak runs from terminals in Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, in Monmouth County, to Manhattan.
• Bus: NJ TRANSIT bus routes run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Route 137, for one, serves Toms River year-round.
• Car plus transit: Driving to a station or a ferry terminal and riding the rest of the way is an option too.

Which one works depends on where in Monmouth or Ocean County you live and where in Manhattan you're going.

How does the North Jersey Coast Line work?

NJ TRANSIT says the line provides direct service from Long Branch to Penn Station New York at all times. For stations between Bay Head and Long Branch, there's direct service during weekday peak periods only. At other times, a connecting train runs between Bay Head and Long Branch, and you change trains at Long Branch to continue (NJ TRANSIT, Getting to New York by Train).

NJ TRANSIT also notes frequent service between Penn Station New York and Newark Penn Station, a 15 to 20 minute trip, on the Coast Line and the Northeast Corridor. Buy your ticket before you board, through the NJ TRANSIT app or a ticket machine. Tickets bought on board carry a $5.00 surcharge.

Which Jersey Shore stations have direct trains to New York?

NJ TRANSIT lists these stations as served by direct trains from New York Penn and Newark Penn, with no transfer needed on most trips:

• Aberdeen-Matawan
• Hazlet
• Middletown
• Red Bank
• Little Silver
• Monmouth Park (race days only)
• Long Branch

South of Long Branch, the stations at Elberon, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head mostly connect at Long Branch, with some weekday express trains running direct. The full list, with the towns and counties, is in which Jersey Shore towns have a train station.

Is there a ferry from Monmouth County to New York?

Yes. Seastreak's terminal list includes Atlantic Highlands, at the bottom of First Avenue at the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, and Highlands, on Shore Drive. On the New York side, its terminals include East 35th Street, the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and Brookfield Place (Seastreak, Locations and Directions). Check Seastreak's current commuter schedule for which boats stop where and when.

The ferry changes the map. Towns near those terminals, like Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, work for a Manhattan commuter in a way their train access alone wouldn't suggest.

Can you take a bus from Ocean County to New York?

Yes. NJ TRANSIT says Bus Route 137 serves Toms River year-round, and in summer it also runs seasonal service to Seaside Heights and Seaside Park from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York (NJ TRANSIT). For other routes near a specific address, use NJ TRANSIT's trip planner.

How do you test a commute before you buy?

This is the part I push hardest with buyers moving here for a city job. A schedule on a screen isn't the same as doing the trip.

1. Ride it at rush hour, on a weekday. Same train or boat you'd take to work, both directions.
2. Time it door to door. From the driveway to your desk, including the drive to the station and the walk at the other end.
3. Find out about station parking. Ask who runs the lot at your station and whether you need a permit before you count on a spot.
4. Check the schedule you'd actually use. Early and late trains, weekend service and the connection at Long Branch if your station is south of it.
5. Price the monthly pass. NJ TRANSIT and Seastreak both publish fares. Put the number next to your mortgage payment and property taxes.

How the two counties compare beyond the commute is in Monmouth County vs. Ocean County. Moving from the city itself? Read moving to New Jersey from New York. And the relocation guide and my relocation page explain how I help people buy here from somewhere else.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the train from the Jersey Shore to New York City?

It depends on your station and your train. NJ TRANSIT's trip planner shows the scheduled time from any station. I'd ride it once at rush hour before you buy.

Is there a direct train from Point Pleasant Beach to New York?

During weekday peak periods, yes. At other times, you change trains at Long Branch, according to NJ TRANSIT.

Where does the Jersey Shore train arrive in New York?

At New York Penn Station. The North Jersey Coast Line also stops at Newark Penn Station and Secaucus Junction.

Is there a ferry from the Jersey Shore to Manhattan?

Yes. Seastreak's terminals include Atlantic Highlands and Highlands in Monmouth County, with Manhattan terminals that include East 35th Street, the Battery Maritime Building and Brookfield Place.

This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Routes, stations and terminals come from NJ TRANSIT and Seastreak, checked October 9, 2026. Schedules and fares change, so confirm with the operator before you plan around them.

About the author

Dennis Mark Interdonato is a REALTOR® and Master CDRE® who leads The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living in Point Pleasant, NJ, helping buyers and sellers throughout New Jersey make their next move, with Monmouth and Ocean County as home base. Read more about Dennis Mark.

Keep reading

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• Selling a New Jersey home to move closer to the train? Start with a free home value.
• Have a question this didn't answer? Send it to Dennis Mark and it may become the next article.