Vacation In Nj Beaches
Vacationing in New Jersey beaches? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a quick list of complete beach guides for each of the 11 NJ counties, plus tips for 100s of famous and hidden beach gems.
NJ Beaches are popular among locals, and tourists. Located on the Atlantic Coast, there are many of them to choose from! If you plan to head out to the coast in NJ, you may want to check one or a few out. However, with the amount of them available, it would be hard to know what is good and not worth your time.
If you are looking for the best beaches all over the New Jersey, you will get a lot of options. The state has many beautiful beaches that will make your vacation worthwhile.
In the state of New Jersey, there are numerous places to visit. The famous Jersey Shore area is one of the best areas to visit on vacation in New Jersey. Located in the southern part of New Jersey, Ocean City NJ is a great place to spend your summer vacation. There are always nice accommodations available that will fit any budget and there is never a dull moment! Whether you want to enjoy a great meal together with your significant other or want to get away with just your family, this is definitely the place for you to visit!
If you’re a busy individual – like most of us these days – you possibly aren’t able to take a considerable amount of time off to travel. To obtain your vacationing fix, it may mean taking a weekend break or an afternoon off. Assuming this is the case, you can still have a fantastic getaway by exploring one of the outstanding shorelines close-by to New Jersey in the United States!
Fronted by nearly 130 miles of pristine coastline, New Jersey is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Northeast. We’re talking beaches perfect for kitesurfing, sandcastle building, and fishing. Plus, others are so serene, they’ll make you forget you ever had worries.
With 44 beautiful beaches spanning the coast from Cape May (south) to Sandy Hook (north), the Garden State could have easily been called the Beaches State. Not surprisingly, New Jersey’s best beaches are the go-to summer destination for locals and tourists alike.
Vacation In Nj Beaches
Whether you’re looking to spend the day lapping up the sun with a side of gently crashing waves at Stone Harbor or hope to people watch on the more touristy Wildwood Beach, you’ll find a perfect spot to indulge your beach fantasies in New Jersey. Arrive early to stake your claim, especially if you choose to visit on a summer weekend.
Not sure where to start? Narrow your options with our list of the best beaches in New Jersey.
Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.
1. Cape May Beaches
Cape May is arguably the most charming of the Jersey Shore beach towns, and its city beaches are frequently dubbed the best beaches in New Jersey. No wonder so many New Yorkers choose this beachy spot as a weekend getaway destination from the Big Apple.
Technically one long (about 2.5 miles), wide beach, Cape May’s vast, sandy shore is divided into 16 different beaches, most of which are named for the nearest street intersecting Beach Avenue (like Queen Street, Decatur Street, and Broadway).
A perfect place for singles, couples, and families, Cape May City Beaches offer up a slew of fun activities, with lifeguards on duty to keep everyone safe (from 10am to 5:30pm from July 1st to Labor Day, that is). Visitors can swim, fish, kayak, skimboard, play a game of beach volleyball, or try surfing (at Poverty Beach, The Cove, Surfing Beach, and South Queen beaches, only).
Visitors require a beach tag if traveling between Memorial Day and Labor Day. These can be purchased from a kiosk on the promenade at the Broadway, Gurney Street, Howard Street, Madison Avenue, and beach entrances. If you choose to buy them online, you’ll still have to pick them up in person.
Known as the nation’s oldest seaside resort, Cape May’s beaches are lined by adorable streets dotted with Victorian houses, quirky shops, and quaint bed-and-breakfasts. If you’re looking for sustenance, head to one of the tasty restaurants nearby and take your food to-go, so you can enjoy it on the sand.
Those who’d like to beat the heat or enjoy a rainy day indoors can visit one of the top attractions in Cape May – like the Cape May County Park and Zoo, Fireman’s Museum, or the Cape May Lighthouse, or relax in one of their many spas.
After a busy day, stop in at Uncle Charley’s Ice Cream for some homemade, hand-dipped ice-cream, an all-time favorite of those visiting the Jersey Shore. A short walk from the beach, The Virginia hotel has a delightful front porch, which will tempt you from the shore, and Angel of the Sea is a Victorian delight complete with afternoon tea.
2. Ocean City Beach
Over eight miles of clean beachfront greets visitors to Ocean City, a family-friendly barrier island boasting sugar-white sand. Technically divided into multiple beaches (similar to Cape May), Ocean City’s beaches include: Waverly Boulevard, Seventh Street, 16th Street, and St. Charles Place, among many others.
The most popular stretch of sparkling beach fronts a dramatic, postcard-perfect boardwalk that carries pedestrians past nearly two and a half miles of spectacular scenery. This is where you’ll find the most action, and it can get quite busy on warm, summer days.
While many of the beaches are guarded from 10am to 5:30pm from Memorial Day through Sunfest Weekend (usually the third weekend after Labor Day), surfing is only permitted at a handful: Waverly Boulevard, Seventh Street, 16th Street, and beaches south of 36th street where “lifeguard stands are three blocks apart.”
When they aren’t frolicking in the waves or burying each other in the sand, kids will love all the fun activities Ocean City has to offer – like water and amusement parks, miniature golf courses, and concerts at the Ocean City Music Pier. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier is a particularly epic crowd-pleaser boasting 25 rides.
Do yourselves a favor and stay at the newly renovated Scarborough Inn. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more inviting environment, friendlier staff, and more delicious breakfast. Plus, the location is a short walk from the beach.
3. Wildwood Beach
Wildwood is the spot to be if you crave more excitement than the Atlantic Ocean provides. Lined with five miles of luscious sand so soft, your toes will sink right in, this family-friendly destination is also home to an epic, 36-block boardwalk featuring amusement rides, games, and souvenir shops. Talk about a quintessential Jersey Shore vacation.
The beach stretches nearly five miles, offering guests plenty of places to park their sun loungers and set up shop for a full day of fun and relaxation on the sand. Lifeguards are on duty from 10am to 5:30pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and you’ll find plenty of places to rent water sports equipment like boogie or surfboards.
Forgot your beach chair? No worries. You can rent one on-site. Don’t want to lug all of your belongings to the sand? Hire a “beach taxi” to cart your stuff.
Morey’s Piers is a must-stop for those who either have children or are kids at heart. It boasts two water parks and a slew of fun land-based rides perfect for kids (and adults) of all ages. The pier is located on the expansive Wildwoods Boardwalk.
When it’s time to cool off, take a dip in the ocean, of course. Then, grab a delicious cold treat (or two) from Kohr’s Brothers Frozen Custard.
For the true Wildwood experience, choose one of the small retro motels like the Quebec Motel By-The-Sea. If you’re looking for a larger property, the Adventurer Oceanfront Inn is on the main strip at the start of the boardwalk.
Official site: https://wildwoodsnj.com
4. Asbury Park Beach
Asbury Park wasn’t always known as one of the best beaches in New Jersey, but things have changed in the last decade or so. Its somewhat recent transformation has included a revamped boardwalk lined with fab restaurants and interesting shops.
Asbury Park Beach features a mile-long stretch of clean, white sand so pristine, you’ll be tempted to build a sandcastle even if you aren’t visiting with kids. Brush yourself off and head in for a swim, jump in a kayak, or try your balance on a stand up paddleboard.
Have a fishing rod? You can fish here, too. And it’s just a 90-minute drive from both New York and Philadelphia. A lover of all things 80s? This is the beach for you. Both Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen graced the local venues and got their start at places like the Stone Pony, where you can still listen to live music.
Pinball aficionados will be taken back to their childhood after one visit to the Silverball Museum Arcade on the boardwalk. The eclectic mix of activities in Asbury Park make this a destination for old and young alike.
Have a four-legged friend? Asbury Park’s 8th Avenue Dog Beach is one of the best dog-friendly beaches in New Jersey.
If you want to stay in the area, The Asbury Hotel gets high marks for its professional and friendly staff, and The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel is a good-value, modern spot with a prime waterfront location.