Where to Stay in Asbury Park: The Best Hotels in 2026

Q: What is the best hotel in Asbury Park?

For luxury, Asbury Ocean Club is the top choice. For a boutique stay with the most energy and walkability, The Asbury Hotel is the move. For oceanfront value, the Berkeley Oceanfront.

Last updated: May 8, 2026

The hotel makes the Asbury Park trip. The town is compact. You can walk from the boardwalk to dinner to a sunset cocktail in under ten minutes. But where you sleep decides what kind of weekend you’re having.

I live a few miles down the Shore from Asbury, and I’ve stayed at, eaten at, or done a hard scout of every hotel on this list. Some are worth the splurge. One is the right call only if you’re fully committed to the vibe. Two are the easy answer for most people.

Here’s where to stay in Asbury Park, ranked by who each hotel is actually for.

Quick Picks: Where to Stay in Asbury Park

The two best hotels in Asbury Park are the Asbury Ocean Club for luxury and ocean views, and The Asbury Hotel for boutique energy and walkability. The Berkeley Oceanfront is the value-and-location pick. The St. Laurent is for couples on shorter stays. The Empress is the nightlife hotel.

Hotel	Best for	Price	Pool	Boardwalk
Asbury Ocean Club	Luxury, romance	$$$$	Oceanfront	On boardwalk
The Asbury Hotel	Boutique, walkable	$$$	Rooftop	1 block
Berkeley Oceanfront	Families, value	$$	Yes, plus tiki bar	On boardwalk
The St. Laurent	Couples, short stays	$$	No	2 blocks
Empress Hotel	Nightlife, parties	$$	Yes	2 blocks

Pricing reflects peak summer weekend rates. Off-season and weeknight rates often drop 30 to 50 percent.

How We Picked These Hotels

Asbury Park is small enough that almost any hotel puts you within a 10-minute walk of the beach, the boardwalk, the Stone Pony, and most of the restaurants worth eating at. So the question isn’t really where to stay. It’s what kind of weekend you want.

I evaluated each hotel on five things:

The room itself. Size, design, what you’d want to come back to at 1am.
The vibe. Who’s there, what the lobby feels like.
The amenities that matter. Pool, food, beach access.
The price-to-experience ratio.
The walk to everything else.

This isn’t every hotel in Asbury Park. It’s the five I’d actually send a friend to.

1. Asbury Ocean Club Hotel

Best for: Romantic weekends, special occasions, full-on relaxation
Price: $$$$ (typically $500 to $900+ per night peak summer)
Address: 1101 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Pool: Yes, ocean-facing
On-site dining: The Lounge, Pretty Bird
Book direct: asburyoceanclub.com

Asbury Ocean Club is the benchmark for a luxury stay in Asbury Park. The architecture is clean and contemporary, the views are the main character, and the ocean-facing pool has become the town’s most in-demand place to spend an afternoon.

The details match the price point: a spa with plant-based OSEA products, floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms (south-facing suites are worth it), and dining that’s polished and genuinely good. Service is attentive without being precious.

Book when: You want a splurge that actually feels worth it.

Insider tip: The private beach club access is the move if you want a quieter, more curated beach day. Cabanas plus food and drink service. Reserve early in summer. They go fast.

Room to book: South-facing ocean suite. The view does the heavy lifting.

2. The Asbury Hotel

Best for: Girls’ weekends, quick getaways, anyone who wants a fun, walkable home base
Price: $$$ (typically $250 to $500 per night peak summer)
Address: 210 5th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Pool: Yes, rooftop
On-site dining: Salvation, Soundbooth Lounge, the rooftop bar
Book direct: theasburyhotel.com

If you want a hotel that matches Asbury’s energy, The Asbury is the one. It feels cool, easy, and perfectly located. You can walk to the beach, walk to dinner, and never feel like you have to plan too much.

The aesthetic is mid-century meets beach town, with plenty of open spaces that invite you to linger. There’s rooftop lounge seating for sunset and a lobby lounge with long tables and cozy corners. Ideal for a drink with friends before heading out. The hotel hosts everything from movie nights on the lawn to live music in the lobby, so the energy shifts depending on when you visit.

Book when: You want energy plus convenience, and a rooftop moment.

Insider tip: The rooftop bar can get crowded on summer weekends. Go for weekday sunset drinks if you want easier seating, or arrive right at opening.

Room to book: A “Bunk Room” if you’re a group of 4 to 6. Funky, communal, surprisingly comfortable.

If you’re staying here, bookmark our Asbury Park restaurant guide. Most of the best spots are walking distance.

3. Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel

Best for: Families, wedding guests, groups who want oceanfront and value
Price: $$ (typically $180 to $350 per night peak summer)
Address: 1401 Ocean Ave N, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Pool: Yes, outdoor with a tiki bar
On-site dining: The Watermark, Coastal Grill
Book direct: berkeleyoceanfront.com

The Berkeley is Asbury’s historic grand dame. Oceanfront, classic, and a popular pick for weddings and big weekends. The location is hard to beat, especially if you’re doing Stone Pony nights, and the pool plus tiki bar setup gives that nostalgic shore-hotel feeling.

The main thing to know: rooms vary depending on the building and section. If you snag a recently renovated room (especially an oceanview) at the right rate, it’s a solid choice for value, location, and amenities. If you get an unrenovated room, it’ll feel dated.

Book when: You want oceanfront, family-friendly, and don’t need boutique design.

Insider tip: Request a recently renovated oceanview room when you book. Worth calling directly to confirm before arrival.

Room to book: Oceanview, renovated section.

4. The St. Laurent Guest Rooms

Best for: Couples, solo travelers, shorter stays where you’ll be out all day
Price: $$ (typically $200 to $350 per night peak summer)
Address: 506 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Pool: No
On-site dining: No, but you’re on Cookman, every restaurant is downstairs
Book direct: thestlaurent.com

The St. Laurent is right on Cookman Avenue, the beating heart of downtown Asbury. The rooms lean minimal and streamlined: light-wood built-ins, platform beds, smart use of space.

The catch is exactly that, space. The rooms are tight. It’s a great choice if you want a stylish, central place to crash, but not the move if the room itself is part of the experience. Everything you’d want is two minutes out the door, including the beach.

Book when: You’ll be out all day, only sleeping in the room, and value walkability over square footage.

What to know: Compact rooms. Choose it for location, not lounging.

5. Empress Hotel

Best for: Party weekends, groups who want to be close to nightlife
Price: $$ (typically $150 to $280 per night peak summer)
Address: 101 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Pool: Yes
On-site dining: Paradise, the in-house club
Book direct: theempresshotel.com

The Empress is the “we’re here for the nightlife” hotel, and it delivers exactly that. It’s high-energy, social, and steps from the action. Paradise, the in-house club, is one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ venues on the Jersey Shore.

This is not a quiet weekend hotel. It’s not trying to be one. If you’re going for a bachelorette, a Pride weekend, or a group trip where the whole point is staying out late, the Empress is exactly right.

Book when: Nightlife is the trip.

What to know: It is exactly what it advertises. Commit to the vibe or skip it.

How to Choose Your Asbury Park Hotel

Romantic getaway: Asbury Ocean Club. The rooms, spa, and ocean-facing pool earn the splurge.

Girls’ weekend: The Asbury Hotel. The rooftop bar, central location, and group-friendly room types make it the easy pick.

Family beach trip: Berkeley Oceanfront. Oceanfront, pool, value pricing, and family-tolerant rooms beat the boutique competition for actual families. Also worth considering: vacation rentals in the surrounding neighborhoods, or nearby Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach for a quieter family-focused stay.

Solo trip or weekday business: The St. Laurent. Walkable to everything, you’ll only be in the room to sleep.

Bachelorette or nightlife weekend: Empress Hotel. Don’t fight the vibe.

Beyond Hotels: Asbury Park Vacation Rentals

Asbury’s hotel scene skews boutique and couples. If you’re traveling with kids, a multigenerational family group, or staying for more than a long weekend, an Airbnb or VRBO is often the better call.

The neighborhoods to look at: Ocean Avenue for boardwalk-adjacent (premium pricing), Sunset Lake for quieter residential streets, and Bangs Avenue for character-y rentals walking distance from Cookman.

Bonus: most rentals come with parking and a kitchen, both of which you’ll appreciate after a Berkeley Oceanfront garage fee or a third overpriced breakfast.

Best Time to Visit Asbury Park

Peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day): Maximum energy, maximum prices, maximum crowds. Hotels can charge two to three times off-season rates. Book 2 to 3 months ahead for any summer weekend.

Sweet spot, May, early June, September, October: Beach weather still holds (especially through September), prices drop meaningfully, and the boardwalk feels like a town again instead of a parade. This is when locals visit.

Off-season (November to April): A different town. Many boardwalk businesses close. The hotels stay open, and the prices are excellent, but you’re coming for a quiet, atmospheric weekend, not a beach trip.

What to Do Once You’re Here

A great hotel is just the start. Pair this guide with our other Asbury Park coverage:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hotel in Asbury Park?

For luxury, Asbury Ocean Club is the top choice. For a boutique stay with the most energy and walkability, The Asbury Hotel is the move. For oceanfront value, the Berkeley Oceanfront.

Are Asbury Park hotels expensive?

They can be, especially in peak summer. Expect $250 to $900+ per night on summer weekends, with luxury properties (Asbury Ocean Club) priced well above boutique options (The Asbury). Off-season and weeknight rates drop 30 to 50 percent. The Empress and The St. Laurent are usually the most affordable hotel picks. Vacation rentals can offer better value for groups.

Do Asbury Park hotels have beach access?

Yes. Every hotel on this list is within a 1 to 2 block walk of the beach. The Asbury Ocean Club and the Berkeley Oceanfront are directly on the boardwalk. The Asbury Ocean Club additionally has a private beach club with cabanas and service.

Are there pet-friendly hotels in Asbury Park?

Yes. The Asbury Hotel and the Berkeley Oceanfront both accept dogs (with fees). Confirm directly with the hotel before booking, as pet policies vary by season and room type.

What’s the closest hotel to The Stone Pony?

The Berkeley Oceanfront and the Empress are the closest. Both are a few blocks from the venue. The Asbury Hotel is also walking distance, about 8 to 10 minutes.

When is the best time to book hotels in Asbury Park?

Summer weekends (May to September) and holiday weekends book up fast. Reserve 2 to 3 months in advance. Spring and fall are the sweet spot for better rates and fewer crowds. For peak summer dates like July 4 weekend, book by April.

Do Asbury Park hotels offer parking?

Most offer paid parking or valet (typically $30 to $50 per night added fee). Street parking exists but gets challenging in peak season. Once you’ve parked, you’ll likely walk everywhere.

What hotels in Asbury Park have pools?

The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, Asbury Ocean Club, the Empress, and The Asbury Hotel all have outdoor pools. The Asbury Ocean Club’s pool is ocean-facing. The Asbury’s is on the rooftop with sunset views.

Where do locals stay in Asbury Park?

Locals don’t stay in Asbury Park. We live nearby. But when friends come from out of town, I usually send them to The Asbury Hotel for the right balance of location, vibe, and price, or to the Asbury Ocean Club if they’re celebrating something.

Asbury Park Hotels Guide last updated: May 8, 2026

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