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Major city · United States

Red Bank

Give Red Bank one night, two if a Count Basie show is on: the walkable downtown is a half day, the rest is food, river and the Jersey Shore.

Red Bank is a small Monmouth County river town of about 13,000 people, built around one compact downtown of theatres, bars and restaurants on the Navesink River. It is not a beach town and has no oceanfront: you come for a show at the Count Basie Center, a meal, and a base for Sandy Hook and the northern Shore. Most visitors need one night, or pass through on the way to Asbury Park.

basic guide: no trip line yet
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3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
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Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (humid, crowded Shore weekends), Jan–Feb (cold, quiet)
Airports
Newark Liberty International (EWR) · John F. Kennedy International (JFK) · LaGuardia (LGA)
Nights
1–2

About Red Bank

Red Bank is a small city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, with roughly 13,000 residents as of 2022. It sits on the Navesink River and has a compact downtown that is easy to cover on foot. The city is associated with Count Basie, who was a native, and with Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and filmmaker Kevin Smith, whose movies Chasing Amy and the series Comic Book Men were set or shot locally. In 2012 Smithsonian Magazine ranked it third among small towns in America, pointing to its theaters, galleries and art festivals.

The downtown holds most of what a visitor comes for: the Count Basie Theatre, smaller stages, shops and a broad choice of restaurants. A municipal lot and a paid garage serve the center, and the train station on the New Jersey Transit Coast Line connects the city to the wider region.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Red Bank: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices

See

What is worth your time in Red Bank.

  • Count Basie Theatre — A 1,568-seat venue built in the 1920s and named for the Red Bank native, used for live shows and touring productions.
  • Count Basie Field — A large recreational park with sports fields, courts, a playground and a pond, popular with local teams and residents.
  • Riverside Gardens Park — A small park on West Front Street overlooking the Navesink River that hosts concerts in summer.
  • Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash — Kevin Smith's comic store on Broad Street, carrying comics, graphic novels and props from his films.
  • Red Bank Armory — A former National Guard armory now used as an indoor ice complex for hockey games and public skating.

Do

  • Attend a play or concert at the Count Basie Theatre or Two River Theater Company.
  • Watch new releases and independent films at Clearview's Red Bank Theatre, a two-screen cinema on White Street.
  • Shop for produce and crafts at the Sunday farmer's market at Bridge Avenue and West Front Street, open 9AM to 2PM.
  • Rent a rowboat or try crabbing on the Navesink River, or skate at the Red Bank Armory.

Eat and drink

Specialities of this place.

  • Basil T's Brewery and Italian Grill — An Italian restaurant on Riverside Avenue with homemade dishes, house-brewed beers and a large wine list.
  • Juanito's — A Mexican restaurant on Monmouth Street a block from the Count Basie Theatre, with good-value lunch and takeout.
  • Strollo's Lighthouse — A summer-only spot on North Bridge Avenue known locally for Italian ice and soft ice cream.
  • Saim Garden — A Thai restaurant on Bridge Avenue serving sate and curries.

Customs

  • The downtown is compact and suited to walking.
  • The city has a bohemian character and draws theater crowds from neighboring communities and New York City.
  • Local sports teams, including the Bobcats pop warner football team, play at Count Basie Field.

Events

  • Farmer's Market — Held weekly from 9AM to 2PM in the Galleria parking lot at Bridge Avenue and West Front Street.Sunday
Emergency numbers for Red Bank911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Red Bank, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and 6.625% sales tax.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealDraught beer in a Broad Street bar$6–9
  • Budget bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$110
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Count Basie Center for the ArtsNavesink River waterfrontBroad Street shops and barsKevin Smith's comic storeJersey Shore base
Airports
EWR Newark Liberty International (About 45–60 min by car; NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line from Newark Penn, about 1 h 15 min with a change at Long Branch) · JFK John F. Kennedy International (About 1 h 30 min–2 h by car; longer by rail via New York Penn) · LGA LaGuardia (About 1 h 30 min by car)

Map of Red Bank

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

Shrewsbury, New JerseyFair HavenMiddletown, New JerseyEatontownLong BranchHolmdelColts NeckKeansburg

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Red Bank
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  5. May

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F) low), wettest Apr (11 rain days), driest Sep (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Red Bank: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C (39°F)

−4°C (25°F)

10 rd

Feb

6°C (43°F)

−3°C (27°F)

9 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

1°C (34°F)

10 rd

Apr

16°C (61°F)

6°C (43°F)

11 rd

May

22°C (72°F)

11°C (52°F)

11 rd

Jun

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

10 rd

Jul

29°C (84°F)

20°C (68°F)

10 rd

Aug

28°C (82°F)

19°C (66°F)

9 rd

Sep

25°C (77°F)

16°C (61°F)

8 rd

Oct

19°C (66°F)

10°C (50°F)

8 rd

Nov

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

9 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

−1°C (30°F)

10 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes. Seven municipal lots give 4-hour metered parking Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, free on Sundays; the train station lot and a 330-space garage at West Front and Pearl serve evenings. NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line runs to New York Penn with a change at Long Branch. A car helps for beaches and Sandy Hook.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sandy Hook

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via Route 36 north, about 20–25 min

Beach, bay and ocean sides; parking fee in season (check).

Asbury Park

go

Door to door: About 40 min

NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line, about 30 min, or 25 min by car

Boardwalk, music venues and a bigger bar scene.

Ocean Grove

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Car or train to Asbury Park then a 15-min walk

Victorian tent camp and a quiet beach; pairs with Asbury Park.

Freeholdcaution

Door to door: About 35 min

Car via Route 35 and Route 9, about 30 min

Mostly a shopping and raceway stop; skip unless you have a reason.

New York Citygo

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line to Long Branch, change for New York Penn

Doable as a day, but a long one; the Atlantic Highlands ferry is faster on weekdays (check).

Manasquan and the southern Shore

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Car via the Garden State Parkway, about 40 min

Better as an overnight in summer than a return day.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Broad Street

Walk to Count Basie, bars and the river; few rooms, book early.

West Front Street / Navesink riverfront

River views, Molly Pitcher Inn and Oyster Point; 5–10 min walk to Broad Street.

Route 35 / Middletown and Lincroft

Chain hotels with parking; 5–10 min drive, not walkable.

Atlantic Highlands

10-min drive north; pairs with Sandy Hook and the ferry to Manhattan.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$80–130 excl. bed
Mid
$130–220 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Downtown inn or riverfront hotel double1 × 1 night × US$260US$260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$170US$340
NJ Transit, Red Bank to New York Penn, one way2 × US$17 · checkUS$34
Sandy Hook parking, per car in season1 × US$20 · checkUS$20
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$68
Trip total≈ US$376 per person per day, bed includedUS$752

2026 estimate in US dollars, before sales tax and tips; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Deli sub or a slice$8–15
Sit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and 6.625% sales tax.$18–35
Draught beer in a Broad Street bar$6–9
Count Basie Center ticketVaries by show; check the official site.$40–150
Yestercades arcade$8.75/hr or $25/day pass
Rideshare, downtown to Route 35 hotels$10–18

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-crime downtown that is busy and well lit on weekend nights. The real issues are Shore-weekend traffic, parking tickets and drinking on an empty stomach: stay on the main blocks after midnight and keep to lit streets.
  • Red Bank banned short-term hospitality exchanges (Airbnb-style rentals) in 2023: book a hotel, not a private room.
  • Metered parking is enforced Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00; some permit streets flip to metered after 14:00 — read the signs.
  • The garage at West Front and Pearl has evening-only entry on show nights: check before a matinee.
  • Summer Shore traffic on Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway is heavy on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

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Red BankRed Bank

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Red Bank; consulates-general are in New York City.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • NJ Transit Red Bank → New York Penn: about $17 one way, 1 h 30 min–1 h 45 min with a change (check)
  • Rideshare EWR → downtown Red Bank: $60–90, about 45–60 min
  • Downtown parking meter: 4-hour metered Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, free Sundays

Say or show

  • Where is the train station? — Where is the train station?
  • Can I get the check, please? — Can I get the check, please?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • One ticket for tonight, please. — One ticket for tonight, please.

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink at the bar.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Red Bank. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (humid, crowded Shore weekends), Jan–Feb (cold, quiet) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for EWR: last Coast Line departures field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with anchors: Broad Street, the riverfront and Marine Park, the train station and White Street.
  3. Place pages with verified show-night cutoffs (Count Basie, Two River Theater, Yestercades) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Sandy Hook and Asbury Park day-trip fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Red Bank

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