Jessica Norton A good cry can happen anywhere, but some Jersey Shore spots are decidedly better suited for it than others. Maybe it’s after a breakup, a rough day, or an overwhelming week. While therapy is always a great place to work through big emotions, sometimes a little fresh air, a waterfront view, or the privacy of a Wawa parking lot can help, too. So, we’re rounding up some of the best places to cry at the Jersey Shore and rating them based on privacy level, scenery, and overall crying potential. Consider this a judgment-free guide to feeling the feels, tissues not included. Read on to learn about the best places to cry at the Jersey Shore.
The Beach | All of Them
Honestly, is there a more classic place to cry than the beach? The ocean is basically a giant emotional-support body of water. You can sit in the sand, stare at the waves, let the wind dry your tears, and tell yourself that whatever is happening will feel significantly less dramatic by the time you leave.
Privacy Level: 9 — Obviously not during a peak summer day, but especially if you walk a little away from the main beach entrance. Between the sound of the waves, the sheer amount of people, and everyone staring toward the ocean anyway, no one is paying enough attention to notice your breakdown.
Belmar Manutti Marina / Maclearie Park | Belmar
Belmar Marina is a good option for a cry that needs a little scenery and some solitude. There’s water, boats, benches, and enough activity around you to make your breakdown blend into the background. It’s also a good place for the post-cry ritual of sitting quietly and decompressing.
Privacy Level: 4 — You’re probably not going to be completely alone, but you can stay in your car or there are enough places to sit and stare at the water without attracting too much attention.
The Boardwalk — All of Them
The boardwalk is for the person who wants to cry but maybe wants to treat themselves a slice of pizza afterward. There’s something comforting about walking past arcades, rides, fried food, and beach crowds while quietly having an existential crisis. And if the crying gets too sad, there’s always the option to immediately buy a funnel cake and reset.
Privacy Level: 3 (during the summer) but 8 (during the off-season) — You’ll definitely be seen, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. Nobody knows if you’re crying over a breakup, a bad day, or just because you dropped your Kohr’s.
Brick Reservoir | Brick
Brick Reservoir has everything you need for a contemplative cry: water, trees, a walking trail, and enough distance from the chaos of everyday life to actually hear yourself think. It’s particularly good for the “I need to walk until I figure out what I’m doing with my life” variety of crying.
Privacy Level: 4 — There will be runners, walkers, and people getting their steps in, but everyone is pretty much in their own world. Put your headphones on and keep moving.
Cattus Island | Toms River
If the goal is to cry somewhere that feels like you have temporarily left civilization but not fully commit to going off-grid, Cattus Island is a strong contender. The trails wind through the wetlands and woods, so you can walk until you find a quiet spot to sit, stare at the water, and have your moment. It’s also a good option if you need to cry and get some fresh air.
Privacy Level: 5 — This is one of the better options for a truly private cry. Just be mindful that you are still on a nature trail, so there is always a chance another hiker will round the corner right as you are having your menty-b.
Manasquan Inlet | Manasquan side
The Manasquan side of the inlet has a little bit more privacy than the Point Pleasant side, since it’s a little further from the main downtown area and is more desolate in the off-season. Grab a spot by the water, watch the boats go by, and let the waves provide the soundtrack to your emotional spiral.
Privacy Level: 4 — Not super crowded and you can stay in your car and have a moment.
Manasquan Inlet | Point Pleasant side
The Point Pleasant side of the Manasquan Inlet is ideal for a dramatic waterfront cry. It’s typically where you go when you need to get out of the house but don’t know where else to go because there’s always a parking space available and you can stay for however long you need. There are boats coming in, people fishing, the ocean in front of you, basically everything you need to stare into the distance and wonder where it all went wrong.
Privacy Level: 7 — There are usually people around, but everyone is doing their own thing. Stay in your car or sit on a bench, put your sunglasses on, and no one needs to know that you’re having a moment.
Manasquan Reservoir
At the Manasquan Reservoir, there are miles of trails, plenty of water views, and enough quiet moments that you can have a good cry without feeling like you’re being watched. Bring water, headphones, and maybe a friend to vent to. And you can get steps in at the same time.
Privacy Level: 5 — With that much trail to work with, you can usually find a relatively quiet stretch. Just keep an eye out for fellow walkers who may be equally committed to their own emotional-support nature walk.
NJ Transit
There’s something uniquely cathartic about crying on NJ Transit, mostly because no one is going to bother you. Put your headphones in, stare dramatically out the window, and let the tears happen somewhere between Bay Head and New York Penn Station. The train also gives you the added bonus of being able to pretend you’re in the scene of a movie.
Privacy Level: 4 — Most people are minding their own business, and if anyone does notice, they’ll probably assume you’ve had a long day at work. Just maybe save the full sobbing for a less crowded car.
St. John’s Island | Asbury Park
St. John’s Island is a particularly good spot for quietly staring at nature while reevaluating your entire life type of cry. Tucked away on Sunset Lake, it feels a little removed from the busier parts of Asbury Park while still being close enough to civilization if you need coffee, food, or a walk on the boardwalk afterward.
Privacy Level: 4 — There is not much foot traffic on the island so almost guaranteed to have a relatively private and contemplative moment.
Wawa Parking Lot
Sometimes you don’t need a scenic overlook. Sometimes you need to sit in your car in a Wawa parking lot with the air conditioning blasting and a huge sugary drink in the cup holder. Wawa parking lots are one of New Jersey’s great judgment-free zones, and there’s something comforting about knowing that someone nearby is probably having a much stranger day than you are.
Privacy Level: 5 — The car provides a built-in crying booth and nobody cares. Just park strategically so you don’t accidentally take up a prime Wawa spot while going through it. Go inside to get a sweet treat before the tears start flowing.
Windward Beach Park | Brick
Windward is a solid choice if you want your breakdown to come with a water view and the chance to touch some grass. The park has plenty of spots to sit and stare out at the Metedeconk River while processing whatever has gone terribly wrong.
Privacy Level: 5 — Unless there is a farmer’s market or fireworks, it’s never really that crowded. The playgrounds are spread out enough that you don’t have to subject your sobs to families who are there to have fun.
See More: 13 Jersey Shore Landmarks Every Bruce Springsteen Fan Should Visit
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