Ocean County Beaches
Discover the Best 2022 New Jersey Ocean County Beaches:
Includes Beach Badges, Restrooms, Boardwalks
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 2022.
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 Light609-494-9196
Guarded Bay Beach at 25th St. & Bayview.
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2022 Beach access fees
Season Badge – $40, Senior– $12 (65 years or over with proof of age), Weekly -$22 (Saturday through Friday), Daily– $5
Beach Badges are required on all Barnegat Light beaches for all beach patrons 12 years-old and over. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10:00am until 5:00pm.
Get your Barnegat Light Beach Badges on you mobile device! Click Here!
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.
Brick Township
732-262-1044
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2022 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 Township’s 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 – Labor Day and are staffed 7 days a week from mid-June through Labor Day. Beach hours of operation are 8:45am – 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.
For picnics, you will need to reserve a table in Windward Beach Park, Brick Twp. To reserve a table, call 732-262-1073.
They also allow BBQing but is only permitted by reserving a table. The BBQ must be a charcoal grill.
Individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to reserve a specially designed wheelchair that will provide easy access to Brick Beach I, Brick Beach III and Windward Beach. Call 732-262-1184 for information or to reserve a chair on a first come first serve basis.
Island Beach State Park
(732) 793-0506
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2022 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.
Cycling is permitted in the bike lanes running parallel to the road. New Jersey state law requires that all children under 14 wear helmets. There are no bike trails at Island Beach State Park.
Although tables and grills are not available in the park, visitors may enjoy picnicking on the ocean beach. Grills may be used on the beach south of the designated bathing area. Fires must be at least 50 feet east of the dunes, and picnickers are required to extinguish their fires before leaving the area. Island Beach State Park requires visitors to "Carry In/Carry Out" their garbage. Picnicking is allowed on the ocean beach in the Recreation and Southern Natural Areas. Open fires are permitted 50 feet east of the dune line from parking area 3 south to the inlet. No fires or cooking devices of any kind are permitted on the beach in the lifeguard areas during the summer season. Island Beach is a Carry In- Carry Out park.
Alcohol is not Permitted.
Pets are allowed in the park on leashes only and are not permitted on lifeguard patrolled beaches during the summer.
Lavallette
732-793-7477
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2022 Beach access fees:
Season Badge $60.00, Weekly Badge $35.00, A "week" is defined as the period from Saturday through the following Saturday. Daily Badge $12.00Senior 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 $10.00. 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 Little League concession building at the corner of Jersey City Ave and Baltimore Ave (behind the Upper Shores County Library)
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 upon said places of resort, other than non-alcoholic beverages in cans or plastic containers.
Long Beach Township
609-361-6675
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2022 Beach access fees:
Seasonal Beach Badge $45, 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
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2022 Beach access fees:
Daily - $10 weekdays, Daily $11 weekends and holidays, Weekly- $35, Half Season- $25, & Full Season - $60
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.
Beach Badges are sold at the Toms River Recreation Office & Toms River Senior Cente at 652 Garfield Avenue , and at the Toms River Recreational Bldg at 1810 Warren Point Road.
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)
732-892-0600
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To buy beach basges visit any beach entrance or ticket office on the Boardwalk
2022 Beach access fees: (Jenkinson Beach)
Daily-Weekdays- $4 (children 5-11), $12 (children 12-adult), children under 5 are free.
Weekends- $5 (children 5-11), $13.00 (children 12-adult), children under 5 are free.
Full seasonal pass, - $120,(ages 12-adult). Half seasonal pass (ages 12-adult) $90, (children 5-11) $55.
You can purchase your season badges at the following locations and times: Pavilion Office: Monday through Friday 9am-5pm South Arcade: Monday through Friday 11am-8pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-9:30pm Aquarium Gift Shop: Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm
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 at 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.
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
732-793-9100
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Beach control operations are located on the Boardwalk at Kearney Avenue. The staff includes dozens of beach attendants and cashiers.
2022 Beach access fees
Daily fee - $10 ocean beches, Weekly badge - $35 (Sunday through Saturday), Season badge - $45 if purchased on or before May 15th Season badge - $60 if purchased after May 15th
Senior Citizen season badge - $15 for persons 65 years of age and older, 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
(732) 793-3700
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2021 Beach access fees:
Seasonal Beach tags are $60. Senior Seasonal Beach Badges are $20
Children 11 & Under are Free. Active & retired military are free with proper ID
***Daily badges (not sold until beach badges are required)
Beach badges can be purchased in person at the Bathhouse on boardwalk between N and O Streets Hours of Operation – 10am to 4pm Monday through Sunday, and on-line at Badges purchased on-line
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
732-800-1771
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2022 Beach access fees:
Beach Badges are required at both bay and ocean beaches from mid June through Labor Day.
$35 - Pre-Season until May 31st, $45 - Seasonal beginning June 1st.
Weekly $25 - Daily $10. Seniors 65+ $10. Free for children 12 and younger. Senior Badge (65+)– $10.00 Must be present to purchase with ID.
Veterans do not need a beach badge. Bring your Veteran ID with you to the beach and show it to the badge checker
Badges can be purchaed at Borough Hall at 1621 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom or on-line frpm your mobile device At VIPLY
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
(609)361-7655.
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Surf City Beach Badges are ONLY VALID IN SURF CITY, not all of Long Beach Island.
2022 Beach access fees:
Daily $10, Weekly $20, required for ages 12 and up.
Seasonal $45
Parking 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.
