The Ultimate Visitor's Guide to
Ocean County NJ Beaches

Guide to Ocean County NJ Beaches

Your 2024 guide to Ocean County NJ Beaches: Features  information on NJ Beach Badges, Restrooms, Boardwalks, and other facilities.

Ocean County beaches are popular with both day trippers and vacationers. They are not as crowded as the Monmouth County beaches though more crowded than the Atlantic and Cape May County beaches.

Information is provided on the major Ocean County beaches in New Jersey and has been updated (where noted) for the year 2023.

Most New Jersey beaches charge a fee in the form of a beach badge for access to the beach. This is considered a practical way for Jersey shore towns to cover the cost of maintaining a clean and safe beach. The expense is shared by both visitors and residents.

With the exception of Island Beach State Park, Ocean County beaches are administered by the local towns.

Ocean County Beaches with
Large Commercial Boardwalks

Point Pleasant - This family friendly boardwalk is alive with Jenkinson's Amusement park and Jenkins Aquarium for kids, and evening night life with Martell's Tiki Bar and Jenks Club for the 21+ crowd

Seaside Heights - One of the few NJ shore destinations with a ferris wheel, roller coaster, ski lift, a water park, and lots of rides and food stands, and more.

Ocean County Beaches with
Small, Less Commercial Boardwalks

Island Beach State Park - One of NJ's smallest and nature friendly boardwalks. At one-tenth-mile-long the boardwalk, referred to as the Fisherman's Walkway trail, it connects Barnegat Bay and the ocean beach, winding through American holly, pitch pine, bayberry and beach plum.

Lavallette - A 1.24 mile boardwalk is totally without commercial, honky tonk shops, midway along the boardwalk is a shaded pavilion with seating.

Ortley Beach - A small, laid back boardwalk with no attractions, shops, or places to eat.

Seaside Park - Located just south of Seaside Heights, this boardwalk is more laid back than Seasidxe Heights, though it has a small variety of of arcade games and food stands.

Ocean County Beaches

Barnegat Light
Guarded Bay Beach at 25th St. & Bayview.
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees
Season Badges:آآ Adult $45, Senior $12 (65 years or over with proof of age). Weekly -$22 (Saturday through Friday), Dailyآآ $5
Beach Badges are required on all Barnegat Light beaches for all beach patrons 12 years-old and over. Lifeguards are on duty beginning mid-June through Labor Day daily from 10:00am until 5:00pm.
Get your Barnegat Light Beach Badges on you mobile device!
During the season the Beach Badge Booth is open every day from 8:00am until 3:00pm and until 6:00pm on Saturdays, or badges can be purchased on the beach from a Badge Checker. All Veteran & Active Military badges must be obtained from the Beach Badge Booth before going to the beach.

Free parking at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and along side streets where the borough has designated parking areas and 10th Street and Bayview Avenue and Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
Food is prohibited on the beach. There are restaurants and stores along Long Beach Boulevard, Broadway and Bayview Avenue. Family oriented beach goers.
Barnegat Light offers a Beach Wheel Chair to any beach patron who has a mobility limiting disability
Dogs are not permitted on the beach from April 15th through September 15th.

Beach Haven
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees

Beach badges are required to access the beach from June 22, 2024 through Labor Day Weekend
Badges are only needed for ages 12 and above
Pre-Season- $30.00, available for purchase from Jan. 1st up to and including May 31st Seasonal: $40.00, starting June 1st, badges are available for purchase at the Badge office
Weekly- $20.00
Daily- $10.00
Senior Lifetime- $10.00, available for those 65 and older, only available for purchase at the beach badge office

Starting June 24th, badges can be obtained from badge checkers on the beach (cash only), at the badge office (cash, check, or credit card/fees apply), or through the VIPLY app. (you must pick up your physical badges at the badge office or from checkers on the beach if you use the app to purchase)

Life guarded beaches:
12th Street Taylor Ave., 5th Street, 2nd Street, Centre Street, Engleside Ave., Pearl Street, Belvoir Ave., Essex Ave., Liberty Ave., & Kentford Ave.

Tents are not allowed on Borough beaches

Brick Township
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Season Badge $45, Daily Wristband $10, Season Parking $45, Daily Parking $10, Senior Citizen Season Parking $15, Children 12 and Under FREE
Veterans are invited to enjoy Brick Townshipعآآs beaches admission-free.Any veteran of the United States Armed Forces can obtain a wristband for a daily access to Brick Township's beaches by showing a military ID at the beach. Limit one wristband per person.

Brick Township operates three ocean beaches and one riverfront beach at Windward Beach Park. All beaches are open from Memorial Day عآآ Labor Day and are staffed 7 days a week from mid-June through Labor Day. Beach hours of operation are 8:45am عآآ 4:45pm. Beach badges are required for access to all beaches.
Brick Beach One is located at 310 Route 35 North. Amenities include outdoor shower heads, concessions, lockers, parking and restrooms
Brick Beach Two is located at 354 Route 35 North. There are no concessions, bathrooms or parking at this beach. To access Brick Beach Two, you must park at either Beach One or Three and walk to Brick Beach II.
Brick Beach Three is located at 440 Route 35 North.  The beach has restrooms, showers, concessions and lockers.
Windward Beach is located at 265 Princeton Avenue. Amenities include playgrounds, volleyball nets, restrooms, fishing and crabbing piers, bocce courts, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and a gazebo. Swimming is not permitted at Windward Beach.
They also allow BBQing but is only permitted by reserving a table. The BBQ must be a charcoal grill.

Island Beach State Park
Check on-line status
2024 Beach Access fees:
Beach access is free. You are required to pay a per vehicle entry fee when you enter Island Beach State Park.
Vehicle fees: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend Sat, Sun, holidays 7 A.M. - 8 P.M.
Weekdays: $6 (Resident), $12(non Resident)
Weekends/Holidays: $10 (Resident), $20 (non-resident)
Off season everyday 8 A.M. - dusk $5.00, $10.00 (non-resident)
The entry fee for Motorcyclists is $5.00, ($7.00 non-rsident) every day of the year. If you walk in or drive in on your bicycle there is no fee.

Two refreshment pavilions are located approximately 1/4 mile apart, one off each parking area in the bathing beach section. Showers, dressing rooms as well as restrooms are available. Pavilions are handicapped accessible with ramps onto the beach, and you can rent surf chairs to take you right to the surf line. There is a concession stand, where you can purchase hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream as well as sundries.
You can also rent beach umbrellas and beach chairs here too. There are parking lots approximately 3.5 miles from the gate next to the two swimming beaches.
A small fire is allowed on the beach from parking area A2 south and must be at least 50' east of the dunes. There are no fires allowed from the northern park property boundary through the swim areas, no fires allowed in the Gillikin's fishing area.
Island Beach is a Carry In- Carry Out park.
Alcohol, tents, and canopies are not Permitted.
Pets are allowed in the park on leashes only and are not permitted on lifeguard patrolled beaches during the summer.

Lavallette
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Season Badge $65.00, Weekly Badge $35.00, A "week" is defined as the period from Saturday through the following Saturday. Daily Badge $13. Senior Season Badge $20.00 (65 years of age or over), Season Disabled Person $15.00. ID Required.
No fee for children under the age of twelve (12) years
No Charge for all veterans of any military service and all military service personnel on active duty status. ID Required.
Parking Stickers $15. A sticker is required on motor vehicles parked in any of the Municipal parking lots on the bay front. Car Stickers must be permanently affixed to the driver's side rear window.

Seasonal, weekly and daily badges can be purchased at the Beach Badge Office, which is located at 112 Jersey City Avenue near the library. Daily badges can only be purchased at the badge office. No badges can be purchased from badge checkers at the beach.

On street parking is on a first come first served basis on the side streets and the ocean blocks. The Borough of Lavallette has residential parking permits in certain areas throughout town these spots are designated by sign and by permit only. Along the highway there are sections of two hour parking, please keep this in mind when parking along the highway. Handicap Accessible spots available all throughout the town and at the oceanfront on several streets, the most being on the wide streets of Trenton, New York, Philadelphia, & President Avenues.

Beach Wheelchair's Available on a first come first serve basis through the Lifeguard Headquarters 732-793-2566
It is unlawful to conduct or engage in any beach party, picnic or similar outing, cook, or take any alcoholic beverage, other than non-alcoholic beverages in cans or plastic containers.

Long Beach Township
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Seasonal Beach Badge $50, Senior Citizen Seasonal Beach Badge $5 (with valid proof of age, 65+, required in person at time of purchase),
Weekly Beach Badge $20, Daily Beach Badge $10, Veterans Free. Badges are not required for children 11 years of age or under.
Beach badges can be purchased at the Long Beach Township Beach Badge sales location. at 68th Street in Brant Beach.
Note: Long Beach Township badges are not for Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom or Beach Haven Borough.

Restrooms are near the Centre Street Beach, on the bay side at Taylor Avenue, at the public dock on Dock Road and the bay, at the tennis courts on Pearl Street and at the playground at Nelson and West avenues.
Free parking on Street.

Ortley Beach
(Toms River Township) Includes: Shelter Cove on the bay
(732) 341-1000 ext. 8415
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Beach badges are required to access the beach from Memorial Day Weelend through Labor Day Weekend
Daily - $11 weekdays, Daily $12 weekends and holidays, Weekly- $40, Full Season - $65
Children 12 or under and local (Tom's River or Ortley Beach)& Seniors 62 and over do not need a beach badge.

Beach fees are waived for all active U.S. military, military reservists and military retirees, their spouses or civil union partners and dependent children. You must present a valid military identification card to receive your beach badge.

Badges can be purchased at theظ Recreation Administration Office at 1810 Warren Point Road, and the Toms River Senior Center on Garfield Avenue, and at the beach during the season.

Ortley Beach and Shelter Cove beaches have showers and can be used free-of-charge.

On street parking is on a first come first served basis on the side streets and the ocean blocks.

Point Pleasant Beaches
The Municipal beaches are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the East and the Manasquan River to the north and northwest. The ocean beaches are found in Point Pleasant Beach and the two beaches along the Manasquan River are maintained by the the borough of Point Pleasant

The Beach information described here applies to: Jenkinson Beach:(between Broad and Trenton Ave)
Check for on-line status
Daily beach badges can be purchased at any open beach gate. No one will be admitted to the beach without a daily wristband or season badge once the beach gates are closed for the day.
2024 Beach access fees: (Jenkinson Beach)
Daily-Weekdays- Adult $13, children 5-11 $4, children under 5 are free.
Weekends- Adult $ 14, children 5-11 $5, children under 5 are free.
Full seasonal pass, - $130,(ages 12-adult), $55 (ages 5-11). Half seasonal pass (ages 12-adult) $95 & (children 5-11) $35.

Men's and women's free public restrooms There are two bath houses (bathrooms and changing rooms) on the boardwalk. One is located at the end of the Broadway Avenue and the other at the end of Parkway Avenue. The bath houses are open from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Parking at Municipal Lot: Arnold and Ocean Avenues. On-street, Also atظ Jenkinson's lots, Manasquan River Inlet, Aquarium Parking Lot, Frank's Fun Center and Jenkinson's South Arcade.

Point Pleasant Beach has both public access and private beaches. The southern end of town is comprised of a public access beach.
Cooler Policy: No coolers larger than 13 inches in width, length or height will be permitted on the beach. All coolers will be checked before accessing the beach.
Dog restrictions - Not allowed to be or go upon the beach or in the water at any public bathing beach, except between October 1st and April 30th, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. of each year. Dogs must be under the control of a leash may utilize the municipal beach, and the approaches for access only,

Seaside Heights
Check on-line status
Beach control operations are located on the Boardwalk at Kearney Avenue. The staff includes dozens of beach attendants and cashiers.
2024 Beach access fees
Ocean Beaches: Daily fee - $13, Weekly badge - $50 (Sunday through Saturday), Season badge - $75
Senior Citizen season badge - $15 for persons 65 years of age and older (Two badges are $25 if purchased at the same time), Children 11 years of age and under - free every day
Active and retired military personnel and their dependents - free every day with the appropriate Common Access Card, Uniformed Services ID Card, DD Form 214, or Veterans Benefit ID Card issued by the VA.

Beach access for the disabled Free Surf Chair use for those needing wheelchair beach access is available. Call (732) 793-4646 for a reservation.
Restrooms located in various sites along the boardwalk. For a small fee indoor hot showers, lockers, and other accessories are available at Hiering Avenue and the Boardwalk through a private entity. Changing is available for a small fee as well.
Metered parking on street, and some parking lots.
Beach umbrellas, lounge chairs, and inflatable rafts are available from privately operated concessions along the beach and boardwalk.

Seaside Park
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Seasonal Beach tags are 70 ( Sold at bathhouse and street locations).
Senior Seasonal Beach Badges are $20 (Sold at bathhouse ONLY)
Weekly Badge (Saturday to Saturday; sold beginning June 25th at bathhouse and street locations) are $40
Daily badges $13
Children 11 & Under are Free. Active & retired military are free with proper ID.
In person badge sales Bathhouse on boardwalk between N and O Streets; Stockton Ave, L Street, F Street, Brighton Ave, 2nd Ave, 5th Bay, 7th Ave, 11th Ave, 14th Bay (Street Locations during beach season, credit card ONLY)

There is a small concession stand on Ocean Avenue, which has a snack bar and restrooms.
Parking is available along the ocean front beginning with parking lot #1, which is located on North Ocean Avenue between Farragut and Stockton Avenue. Lot #1 is equipped with parking meters, which only accept dollar coins and quarters and allow up to 7 1/2 hours of parking time. Parking is available in lots 2 and 3 and along the streets, which only except quarters and allow 4 hours of parking time. These Lots will be closed between 2:00 am and 7:00 am. There is also some meter parking available on the ocean blocks of Porter Avenue, Farragut Avenue, Stockton Avenue, Decatur Avenue, Lafayette Avenue and O Street. A Metered area is also available on North West Central
This almost two-mile-long beach has a small section of boardwalk to the north devoted to games, food operators and the Funtown Pier Amusements.
Dunes covered with tall grass line the entire oceanfront, which is mostly residential & is south of the Funtown Pier.
Fishing is permitted south of H Street in between the lifeguard stands.
The boardwalk is perfect for quiet strolls. The planks run the entire length of the borough and have benches and gazebo's that have been erected every few blocks.
Bicycles are only allowed on the boardwalk: North of N Street until 9am Only South of N Street until 11am

Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island
Check on-line status
2024 Beach access fees:
Beach Badges are required at both bay and ocean beaches from mid June through Labor Day.
Season Badge $50
Weekly Badge $25.00
Senior Badge (65+) Yearly Seasonal Badgeآآ $10.00 Must be present to purchase with ID.
Children 12 and under do not need a Beach Badge.
Veterans do not need a beach badge. Bring your Veteran ID with you to the beach and show it to the badge checker

The badges may be purchased: With check (include phone number), money order, cash, credit card (there is a small service fee with card purchases) Via their Viply app (there is an additional fee to use the app and badges can be picked up either at the Borough Hall or by any badge attendant in season) Senior Badges are only sold at the Borough Hall

Restrooms are available near the boat ramp between 10th and 11th streets and at the bay beach area between 13th & 14th streets.
Free parking along oceanfront side streets. Parking is also available at the Plaza between 18th & 22nd streets.
Beach showers are available at the SandBox Cafe at 2604 Long Beach Blv'd. Shower users also receive a 10% discount at the restaurant Ramps for the Physically Challenged at 4th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st. & 25th streets.
Beach Wheels available from Ship Bottom Beach Patrol. Call to reserve in advance

Surf City
Long Beach Island
Check for on-line status
Surf City Beach Badges are ONLY VALID IN SURF CITY, not all of Long Beach Island.
2023 Beach access fees:
Daily Badge $10
Weekly Badge $20
Seasonal Badge $50
Beach badges are required for all individuals from 12 years of age to 64 years of age whenever lifeguards & badge checkers are on duty.

Badges may be purchased on their online reservation system that accepts credit/debit cards and e-checks is available by clicking the button below for anyone that will not be able to purchase badges in person by May 31st. Reserved badges will be available for pick up starting June 1st.

Parking is allowed on Long Beach Blvd. and all side streets unless otherwise posted. Each side street has two handicapped parking spaces at the beach entrance.
Restroom facilities are available at the following locations, changing rooms and showers are not provided:
Behind Borough Hall at 813 Long Beach Boulevard. The 16th Street Bay Beach. The Division Street Boat Ramp.
Surfing beaches are south of the First Street jetty to north of the Second Street flag. Surf fishing is allowed north pf the 23rd Street jetty to 24th Street flag.
The beach, which stretches from North 25th to South Third streets, is accessible at each street end.
The N. 12th Street beach is the designated ADA access location with a mat and slope to improve accessibility.