From Long Branch, the route follows the Atlantic Ocean north to Sea Bright and turns west, running to the south of the Raritan Bay.

Route 36 begins at the intersection of Hope Road (CR 51) and exit 105 on the Garden State Parkway in Eatontown, heading east along a four-lane divided highway.

The route heads northeast, passing by Shore Regional High School, and crosses the intersection of Eatontown Boulevard/Broadway (CR 547).

In Long Branch, the route crosses the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line.

Here, Route 36 heads north onto a narrow peninsula between the Shrewsbury River and the Atlantic Ocean, meeting the intersection of Rumson Road (CR 520).

The route continues north along the peninsula to a trumpet interchange that provides access to Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook.

The route crosses the intersection of Middle Road (CR 516) and passes between an Academy Bus Lines terminal to the north and a shopping center that contains a park and ride lot to the south before it enters Keyport.

[3] In January 1916, State Senator Henry E. Ackerson Jr. introduced a bill to extend Ocean Boulevard from Bay Head to Manasquan with an extension planned to the Shrewsbury River.

This included Benjamin Morris of Long Branch, Commissioner George Pittenger of Asbury Park and a representative of the Waterway League of New Jersey.

Pittenger stated that the construction of Ocean Boulevard would help bring new motorists to resorts on the Shore in Monmouth County.

The opposition's spokesperson, Senator Clarence E. Case, stated that Monmouth County was already given preference in their decision making of the current highway map.

[14] Senator William A. Stevens, Ackerson's replacement, brought back a bill to construct the Ocean Boulevard stretch between Atlantic Highlands and Keyport in January 1925.

[15] Unlike the bill from Ackerson in 1919, Stevens' vote passed the Senate unanimously to build the 5.5-mile (8.9 km) road.

It would pass through Keansburg on Church Street and follow Shore Road east to the Belford drawbridge and then on through more rural fields and meadows.

[17][18] This routing as proposed was considered impractical as it consisted entirely of local roads, went through the downtown areas of Keyport, Keansburg and Atlantic Highlands, and contained many hazardous sharp curves.

[26] Between 2008 and 2011, the Highlands–Sea Bright Bridge, which was originally a drawbridge, was replaced with a fixed span with a clearance 30 feet (9.1 m) higher than its predecessor.

[29] Additionally, the Quick Stop Groceries and RST Video stores from the 1994 film Clerks are located just north of the highway's intersection with Leonard Avenue in Leonardo.