New Jersey Beach Towns
Every shore town with a beach, compared: badge prices, vibe, and who each town suits best.
- Beach towns48
- Free beaches12
- Counties4
Monmouth County Beach Towns
The northern shore — closest to NYC, from Sandy Hook to Manasquan.
| Town | Daily badge | Vibe | Family rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allenhurst | $12/day | Historic & Exclusive | 3/5 |
| Asbury Park | $7/day | Arts & Music | 3/5 |
| Atlantic Highlands | FREE | Harbor Town | 4/5 |
| Avon-by-the-Sea | $12/day | Quiet Family Town | 5/5 |
| Belmar | $12/day | Beach Party | 4/5 |
| Bradley Beach | $12/day | Classic Shore Town | 5/5 |
| Deal | $12/day | Ultra-Exclusive | 3/5 |
| Elberon | $12/day | Historic & Exclusive | 4/5 |
| Highlands | FREE | Historic Waterfront | 4/5 |
| Loch Arbour | $8/day | Hidden Gem | 4/5 |
| Long Branch | $6/day | Upscale Revival | 4/5 |
| Manasquan | FREE | Surf Town | 4/5 |
| Monmouth Beach | $10/day | Exclusive & Quiet | 3/5 |
| Ocean Grove | $13/day | Victorian Charm | 4/5 |
| Sandy Hook | FREE | Natural Beauty | 4/5 |
| Sea Bright | $10/day | Beach Club Scene | 3/5 |
| Sea Girt | $12/day | Exclusive & Quiet | 3/5 |
| Spring Lake | $12/day | Elegant & Refined | 3/5 |
Ocean County Beach Towns
Barnegat Peninsula and Long Beach Island — boardwalks to quiet island towns.
| Town | Daily badge | Vibe | Family rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnegat Light | $10/day | Authentic Fishing Village | 4/5 |
| Bay Head | $15/day | Exclusive & Quiet | 5/5 |
| Beach Haven | $10/day | Island Entertainment Hub | 5/5 |
| Brick Township | $8/day | Family Recreation | 5/5 |
| Harvey Cedars | $12/day | Quiet & Upscale | 5/5 |
| Island Beach State Park | FREE | Natural Wilderness | 4/5 |
| Lavallette | $8/day | Quiet Family Town | 5/5 |
| Loveladies | $10/day | Modern Luxury | 3/5 |
| Mantoloking | $15/day | Ultra-Exclusive | 3/5 |
| Ortley Beach | $10/day | Family Beach Town | 5/5 |
| Point Pleasant Beach | $13/day | Family Boardwalk Fun | 5/5 |
| Seaside Heights | $13/day | Boardwalk Party | 3/5 |
| Seaside Park | $10/day | Family Beach Town | 5/5 |
| Ship Bottom | $10/day | Central Hub | 4/5 |
| Surf City | $10/day | Surf Town | 4/5 |
Atlantic County Beach Towns
Atlantic City and its quieter downbeach neighbors — with free beaches.
| Town | Daily badge | Vibe | Family rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | FREE | Entertainment Capital | 3/5 |
| Brigantine | $10/day | Quiet Family Beach | 5/5 |
| Longport | $5/day | Exclusive Value | 4/5 |
| Margate | FREE | Upscale Family Beach | 5/5 |
| Ventnor | FREE | Quiet Boardwalk Extension | 5/5 |
Cape May County Beach Towns
The southern shore — Ocean City, the Wildwoods, and Victorian Cape May.
| Town | Daily badge | Vibe | Family rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon | $8/day | Upscale Family | 5/5 |
| Cape May | $10/day | Victorian Elegance | 4/5 |
| Cape May Point | $6/day | Nature & Wildlife | 4/5 |
| North Wildwood | FREE | Classic Shore Fun | 5/5 |
| Ocean City | $10/day | Family Resort | 5/5 |
| Sea Isle City | $10/day | Balanced Fun | 4/5 |
| Stone Harbor | $8/day | Nature & Family | 5/5 |
| Strathmere | FREE | Hidden Gem | 4/5 |
| Wildwood | FREE | Retro Beach Party | 4/5 |
| Wildwood Crest | FREE | Quiet Family Beach | 5/5 |
Narrow It Down
NJ Beach Town FAQs
How many beach towns are there in New Jersey?
Our guide covers 48 New Jersey Shore towns and destinations with named beaches, across four coastal counties — Monmouth (north, closest to New York City), Ocean (Barnegat Peninsula and Long Beach Island), Atlantic (Atlantic City and downbeach), and Cape May (Ocean City through the Wildwoods to Cape May).
Which NJ beach towns have free beaches?
12 shore destinations charge no daily beach badge: Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, Manasquan, Sandy Hook, Island Beach State Park, Atlantic City, Margate, Ventnor, North Wildwood, Strathmere, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest. Note that some (like Sandy Hook) charge for parking instead.
What is the best beach town in NJ for families?
Top family ratings in our town data go to Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Brick Township — look for lifeguarded beaches, boardwalk amusements, and calmer water. Ocean City and Wildwood pair beaches with full amusement boardwalks; Stone Harbor and Avalon trade rides for quieter sand.
What is the cheapest beach town at the Jersey Shore?
For beach access alone, the free-badge towns (Wildwood, Atlantic City, and others) cost nothing. Among towns that charge, daily badges start at $5 in Longport in 2026. See our beach badge guide for every town's daily, weekly, and season prices.
Which Jersey Shore town should I visit?
It depends what you want: boardwalk energy (Seaside Heights, Wildwood, Point Pleasant Beach), Victorian charm and dining (Cape May), nightlife (Asbury Park, Atlantic City), quiet upscale sand (Spring Lake, Stone Harbor, Avalon), or family-first everything (Ocean City — it's dry, meaning no alcohol sales). Our town picker matches you to a town in a few questions.