Maxson Avenue Beach is one of two municipal river beaches run by the Borough of Point Pleasant Recreation Department in Ocean County, New Jersey. It sits on the south shore of the Manasquan River at the north end of Maxson Avenue, right beside Riverfront Park (the grounds of the old Point Pleasant Hospital). This is the borough of Point Pleasant, not the oceanfront town of Point Pleasant Beach a couple of miles east. The water here is the tidal, brackish lower Manasquan, with Osborn Island across the channel and the mouth of the Point Pleasant Canal a short way downriver.

From Route 88 or River Road, turn north on Maxson Avenue and follow it to the end at the river. River Avenue Beach, the borough's other guarded beach, is one block west and has the larger parking lot and the bigger swimming area. Note that the beach strip in Riverfront Park next door is not the swim beach: the borough allows fishing and crabbing there but no swimming, and no lifeguards are posted on it. Swim only inside the roped area at Maxson Avenue.

The swim area is a small sandy beach with a roped section of calm river water. There is no surf, but the river is tidal and does carry current, so the lifelines mark the limit. The borough rules say swimming is allowed only in the designated area and only while lifeguards are on duty, and that no one may cross the lines to reach the canal, the channel or the island. Lifeguards are Red Cross certified. The season starts during the last week of school in late June and runs to Labor Day, with guards on duty 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily when the weather allows. Outside those hours and outside the season, swimming is not permitted. Flotation devices of any kind, boat launching, alcohol and animals are all banned, and children under 8 must stay with an adult.

This beach is not free in season. Everyone on the property needs a borough beach badge, and that covers the pier, the walkway and the playground as well as the sand. The badge is good at both Maxson Avenue and River Avenue beaches. Ages 6 to 59 pay $20, ages 60 and up pay $10, and children 5 and under are free. Active and retired military get in free with ID. The borough sells badges through its Community Pass registration system, with pickup at the court window in Borough Hall, 2233 Bridge Avenue. The borough page lists season badges only, so call the Recreation office at 732-892-5813 before driving in for one day.

Water quality is the main thing to watch. The Ocean County Health Department samples both river beaches during the season and closes them when enterococcus counts run high, which tends to happen after heavy rain. In 2011 both beaches closed for several days after Hurricane Irene. Jellyfish turn up in some summers, and the lifeguards will clear the water when they do. Late in August the borough has kept only one river beach open when lifeguards run short, and River Avenue gets priority because its swim area is larger.

Maxson Avenue Beach has a playground with accessible equipment, a fishing pier, an accessible walkway with shade along the river and restrooms that open when lifeguards are on duty. Riverfront Park next door adds a pavilion with grills, a bocce court and open lawn.