New Jersey Beach Towns
Compare beach destinations, shortlist a town and plan a day trip or stay in any season.
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Start with the town and the time of year, then compare the full cost of a day trip or overnight stay.
Still choosing a town?
Match your interests, travel group and budget, then compare a shortlist.
Find towns that fit →Visiting in fall or winter?
Choose activities for your dates. Check opening hours and keep an indoor option before arranging a stay.
Plan an off-season visit →Ready to plan a stay?
Research hotels and rentals by destination. Compare taxes, parking, fees and cancellation terms for the same dates.
Explore hotels and rentals →Planning ahead? Save a next-summer checklist
Compare beach destinations by county
Badge costs are stored references, not live prices. Family scores are editorial guide assessments out of five. Use the town guide to check access and the stay guide to research an overnight visit. On smaller screens, scroll the table to see every comparison.
Monmouth County Beach Towns
The northern shore — closest to NYC, from Sandy Hook to Manasquan.
| Town | Recorded badge cost | Vibe | Editorial family score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $95/season | 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 | Recorded badge cost | Vibe | Editorial family score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Recorded badge cost | Vibe | Editorial family score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | FREE | Entertainment Capital | 3/5 |
| Brigantine | $10/day | Quiet Family Beach | 5/5 |
| Longport | $5/day | Exclusive Value | 4/5 |
| Margate | $20/season | Upscale Family Beach | 5/5 |
| Ventnor | $20/season | Quiet Boardwalk Extension | 5/5 |
Cape May County Beach Towns
The southern shore — Ocean City, the Wildwoods, and Victorian Cape May.
| Town | Recorded badge cost | Vibe | Editorial family score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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?
9 shore destinations have no badge fee in our records: Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, Sandy Hook, Island Beach State Park, Atlantic City, North Wildwood, Strathmere, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest. Parking and other charges can still apply. Margate, Ventnor and Manasquan have season-pass records with no daily option rather than being free. Confirm the municipal or park rules for your dates.
What is the best beach town in NJ for families?
The highest editorial family scores in our town data go to Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Brick Township. These scores help build a shortlist; they are not visitor reviews or safety ratings. Compare activities for your children's ages, current opening hours, beach access and lifeguard coverage for your dates.
What is the cheapest beach town at the Jersey Shore?
For the badge alone, destinations with no badge fee include Wildwood and Atlantic City. Our stored daily badge prices start at $5 in Longport; verify the year and current municipal price. A low badge cost does not establish the cheapest trip: include parking, transport, meals and the complete hotel or rental quote.
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.