Beach Badge Prices 2026
Compare beach badge prices at every Jersey Shore town. Click column headers to sort.
🆓Looking for Free Beaches?
Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Sandy Hook offer free beach access. No badge required! View all free beaches →
First-Timer's Guide to Beach Badges
Never dealt with beach badges before? You're not alone. Here's everything you need to know.
Do I really have to pay to go to the beach?
At most Jersey Shore beaches, yes. It's been this way since the 1930s. The fees fund lifeguards, beach cleaning, and sand replenishment. But there ARE free beaches—Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Sandy Hook charge nothing.
What exactly is a beach badge?
A pin or tag you attach to your swimsuit or bag. Badge checkers walk the beach looking for them. No badge = you'll be asked to buy one or leave. They're typically about 1.5 inches across.
Where do I wear it?
Pin it to your swimsuit strap, cover-up, or beach bag. Some people use badge holders that clip to their suit. Just make sure it's visible—you'll be checked multiple times per visit.
What if I forget or lose my badge?
You'll need to buy another one. Daily badges can be purchased on the beach from checkers. Season passes can sometimes be replaced at town hall for a small fee with ID.
Can I share badges with family?
No. Each person needs their own badge. The only exception is children under 12, who are usually free. Teens and adults all need separate badges.
🏖️ Town-by-Town Badge Quirks
Each shore town handles badges differently. Here are the quirks worth knowing.
Ocean City
- • Badges are checked aggressively—don't forget yours
- • Kids 11 and under are free
- • Music Pier area has separate events that require tickets
💡 Buy early-bird season passes in April-May for 30% off.
Spring Lake
- • One of the pricier beaches
- • No commercial activity allowed on beach
- • Very family-oriented, quieter vibe
💡 The promenade is free to walk—great for sunset strolls without a badge.
Belmar
- • Separate badges for each beach entrance
- • Popular with younger crowds
- • Badge checker can be strict
💡 Buy at the beach rather than town hall—same price, no line.
Point Pleasant
- • Badge required for Jenkinson's beach area
- • Boardwalk is free, beach costs
- • Can get crowded on weekends
💡 Arrive before 9 AM to beat badge checkers and parking rush.
Long Beach Island
- • Each of LBI's 6 towns has its own badge
- • Beach Haven is most expensive
- • Harvey Cedars and Surf City are more affordable
💡 If you're town-hopping on LBI, daily badges are smarter than season passes.
Cape May
- • Badges sold at beach or Convention Hall
- • Free beaches at Sunset Beach and the Point
- • Elegant, Victorian atmosphere
💡 Stay at a B&B that includes beach badges—many do.
⚠️What Happens If You Don't Have a Badge?
What actually happens if you don't have a badge? Here's the reality.
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What Happens If You Don't Have a Badge?
What actually happens if you don't have a badge? Here's the reality.
Badge checker approaches you
They'll politely ask to see your badge. If you don't have one, they'll offer to sell you a daily badge on the spot.
💡 Be polite. These are often high school or college kids working summer jobs.
You refuse to buy a badge
You'll be asked to leave the beach. If you refuse, the beach patrol or police may be called. It can result in a trespassing summons.
💡 Don't make a scene. It's not worth the $100+ fine or a beach ban.
You arrive before badge hours
You can set up without a badge. When checkers start (usually 9-10 AM), they'll come around and sell badges to anyone who doesn't have one.
💡 Have cash ready. Many checkers only take cash.
You stay past badge hours
Once checkers leave (usually 5 PM), no one cares if you have a badge or not. Enjoy the sunset for free.
💡 Evening beach time is free at virtually every shore town.
Fine Information
First offense: $50-100 for first offense
Repeat offenders: Up to $500 or beach ban
Fines vary by town. It's always cheaper to just buy the badge.
👨👩👧👦 Family Beach Badge Strategies
Beach badges with a family can add up fast. Here's how to keep costs reasonable.
Know the Free Cutoffs
Most towns: kids 11 and under are free. Some towns: 12 and under. A few: kids under 5 only. Check before you go.
Savings: $8-12 per child per day
Go to Free Beaches
Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Sandy Hook are free for everyone. A family of 5 saves $50+ per day.
Savings: $50+ per day for a family
Buy Family Season Passes
Some towns offer family rates that cover 2 adults + kids. Usually cheaper than 2 individual season passes.
Savings: 15-25% vs individual passes
Use the Twilight Hours
Badge checkers typically leave by 5 PM. Arrive late afternoon, skip the badge, and enjoy sunset.
Savings: 100% (it's free)
Split Your Beach Time
Morning at a badge beach, afternoon at a free beach. Kids get variety, you pay half.
Savings: 50% of daily badge cost
Ask About Rental Perks
Some vacation rentals include beach badges. Ask when booking—it's a hidden perk that can save $200+ per week.
Savings: $200+ per week
The Family Math
Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids over 12)
Daily badges × 7 days
$10 × 4 × 7 = $280
4 season passes (early bird)
$35 × 4 = $140
Free beach (Wildwood)
$0
📅 When Are Badges Required?
When are badges actually required? It varies by month and town.
Before Memorial Day
Usually freeMost beaches don't staff badge checkers until Memorial Day weekend. Some popular beaches start the week before.
Memorial Day - June 15
Weekends only (most towns)Many towns only check badges on weekends in early June. Weekdays are often free. Call ahead to confirm.
June 15 - Labor Day
Daily enforcementPeak season. Badges checked daily from approximately 9 AM to 5 PM. No exceptions.
After Labor Day
Usually freeMost towns stop checking the day after Labor Day. Some continue through mid-September on weekends.
Off-Season (Oct-April)
Always freeNo badges required. Beaches are open but unguarded. Great for walking, not swimming.
The History of Beach Badges in New Jersey
New Jersey is one of the only states in America that charges for beach access, a practice that often surprises first-time visitors. The tradition began in the 1930s and 1940s when shore towns, facing the costs of maintaining their beaches after devastating storms and the need for lifeguard services, began charging admission fees.
The system has persisted because beach maintenance is genuinely expensive. Beach replenishment projects - pumping sand from offshore to rebuild eroded beaches - can cost millions of dollars. The federal government and state typically cover 65-75% of these costs, but municipalities must fund the rest. Add lifeguard salaries (summer lifeguards at busy beaches can cost a town $500,000+ per season), restroom maintenance, beach cleaning equipment, and badge checker wages, and the economics become clear.
Interestingly, the New Jersey Constitution guarantees public access to tidal waters and the wet sand area below the high tide line. The state Supreme Court has consistently upheld this right while also allowing municipalities to charge “reasonable fees” for beach maintenance and safety services. The key legal test is that fees must actually be used for beach-related expenses, not general municipal budgets.
Some towns have experimented with free beaches. Wildwood made its beaches free in 2003 and has kept them free ever since, attracting visitors who might otherwise go elsewhere. Atlantic City's beaches have been free for decades, funded by casino revenue. Sandy Hook, as a national park, has no beach fees (though there's a parking fee in summer).
Beach Badge Buying Strategies
Break-Even Analysis
Season passes typically cost the same as 4-5 daily badges. If you're visiting that many times, the math is simple. Here's the typical break-even:
- • Daily badge: $8-12 → best for 1-3 visits
- • Weekly badge: $20-35 → best for 4-7 visits
- • Season pass: $35-90 → best for 8+ visits
Early Bird Discounts
Many towns offer 20-30% discounts on season passes purchased before Memorial Day. Some towns extend early-bird pricing through May, others end in April.
- • Ocean City: $25 before June 1 (vs $35 after)
- • Spring Lake: Check early spring for discounts
- • Most towns: 15-30% savings for early purchase
Timing Your Beach Visits
Badges are only required during specific hours, typically when lifeguards are on duty. Strategic timing can save money:
- • Before 9-10am: Usually free (before checkers start)
- • After 5pm: Usually free (after checkers leave)
- • Twilight rates: Some towns offer half-price after 4pm
- • September: Many towns stop checking after Labor Day
Multi-Town Strategies
If you're exploring multiple towns, consider mixing free beaches with badge beaches:
- • Start trip in Wildwood (free) or Atlantic City (free)
- • Use daily badges for single visits to other towns
- • Buy a season pass only for your “home base” town
- • Check for reciprocal agreements between towns
Where Does Badge Money Go?
Beach badge revenue is designated for beach-related expenses. Here's how a typical shore town spends badge revenue:
Beach Badge Tips
💰 Save with Season Passes
If you're visiting more than 4-5 times, a season pass usually pays for itself. Many towns offer early-bird discounts in spring.
👴 Senior & Child Discounts
Most towns offer free admission for children under 12 and discounted rates for seniors 65+. Always ask about military discounts too.
🕐 When Are Badges Required?
Beach badges are typically required from Memorial Day through Labor Day, between 9 AM and 5 PM. Some towns enforce badges on weekends only in early June.
🎫 Where to Buy Badges
Badges are sold at beach entrances, town halls, and sometimes local businesses. Bring cash—many beach badge sellers don't accept cards.
Beach Badge FAQs
Prices are updated annually and may change. Contact individual towns to confirm current rates.