Budget Stays at the Jersey Shore
Affordable accommodations under $150/night, free beach towns, and money-saving tips for your shore vacation.
Best Budget Towns
Wildwood
FREE BeachFREE beaches + Doo-Wop motels from $80/night. Best budget destination.
$80-150/night
Wildwood Crest
FREE BeachQuieter free beaches, classic motels, great for families.
$90-160/night
North Wildwood
FREE BeachFree beaches near the lighthouse. Less crowded than Wildwood.
$85-150/night
Atlantic City
FREE BeachCasino hotel deals from $49/night midweek. Free beaches.
$49-200/night
Seaside Heights
Boardwalk motels. Budget-friendly with classic shore vibe.
$90-150/night
Brigantine
Cheapest beach badges ($5/day). Quieter than AC.
$100-180/night
Money-Saving Tips
Stay in Free Beach Towns
Save $8-15/day per person
Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Sandy Hook have free beaches. A family of 4 saves $60+ daily.
Book Midweek
Save 20-30%
Sunday-Thursday rates are significantly lower than weekend rates at most properties.
Visit Shoulder Season
Save 30-50%
June and September have great weather with much lower prices than July-August peak.
Cook Your Own Meals
Save $50+/day
Book a rental or motel with kitchenette. Shore restaurants can be expensive.
Buy Season Beach Badges
Save 50%+ over daily
If visiting multiple times, season badges ($25-50) beat daily rates ($8-15) quickly.
Use Casino Rewards
Free/Discounted Rooms
Sign up for casino player clubs. Even casual gamblers get room discounts.
Featured Budget Properties
Caribbean Motel
Wildwood Crest • Doo-Wop Motel
Historic Doo-Wop on National Register. Pool, beachfront.
Starlux Hotel
Wildwood • Boutique Motel
Neo-Doo-Wop style with pool, neon signs, Airstream trailers.
Lollipop Motel
North Wildwood • Family Motel
Classic 1959 Doo-Wop with iconic neon sign.
Casino Hotel Deals
Atlantic City • Casino Hotels
Midweek casino deals. Sign up for rewards programs.
Free Beach Towns
These towns don't require beach badges, saving a family of four $40-60 per day:
What It Actually Costs
What does a budget Jersey Shore vacation actually cost? Here's a realistic breakdown.
Weekend Getaway (2 nights)
2 adults • Wildwood
$190/person
Family Week (5 nights)
2 adults, 2 kids • Wildwood Crest
$263/person
Solo Budget Trip (3 nights)
1 adult • Atlantic City
$345/person
Budget vs. Premium Comparison
| Category | Budget | Premium | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging/night | $80-120 | $200-350 | $120-230 |
| Beach badges/day | $0 (free towns) | $10-12/person | $40-48/family |
| Dining/day | $30 (cooking) | $100+ (restaurants) | $70/day |
| Parking/day | $0-10 | $20-40 | $10-30 |
When to Book for Best Deals
When you book matters almost as much as where you stay. Here's how to time it.
6+ months ahead
Best for: Peak summer weekends (July 4th, August)
Prices: Standard rates, but you get first pick
Book now for any July/August weekend. Popular spots sell out.
2-3 months ahead
Best for: Shoulder season (June, September)
Prices: Good availability, occasional early-bird deals
Sweet spot for planning. Most options still available.
2-4 weeks ahead
Best for: Midweek stays, off-season visits
Prices: Properties may drop prices to fill rooms
Check for unsold inventory discounts. Motels want full rooms.
Last minute (1-7 days)
Best for: Flexible travelers, solo trips
Prices: Hit or miss—either deals or sellouts
Works for AC casinos and off-peak times. Risky for summer weekends.
Best Days to Book
Hotels often release last-minute deals
Properties price for upcoming week
Avoid—weekend demand spikes prices
Cancellation Policy Tips
- ✓Book refundable rates first, then check for better deals closer to your date
- ✓Many motels have 7-14 day cancellation policies—read the fine print
- ✓AC casino rates often have 24-48 hour cancellation—great flexibility
- ✓Third-party sites (Expedia, etc.) often have stricter policies than booking direct
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Budget accommodations can have surprise fees. Know what to expect.
Resort/Amenity Fees
$10-30/night
Where: Atlantic City casinos, some larger hotels
Avoid: Ask upfront. Some booking sites show "total price" including fees.
Parking
$10-30/day
Where: Atlantic City, larger shore hotels
Avoid: Many motels in Wildwood and Seaside include free parking. Check before booking.
Extra Person Charges
$10-25/person/night
Where: Many motels charge for 3+ guests
Avoid: Confirm max occupancy and fees when booking. Kids often free.
Cleaning Fees
$50-150
Where: Vacation rentals, some extended-stay motels
Avoid: Common on rentals. Factor into total cost, not just nightly rate.
Beach Badge Deposits
$5-10 deposit
Where: Towns with borrowable badges
Avoid: Return badges to get deposit back. Or stay in free beach towns.
Minimum Night Stays
2-3 night minimum
Where: Peak season at most properties
Avoid: Affects total cost. One-night stays available off-peak or last-minute.
Calculate the True Total
Formula:
- 1. Nightly rate × nights
- 2. + Resort/amenity fees
- 3. + Parking fees
- 4. + Taxes (typically 13-15% in NJ)
- 5. + Cleaning fee (rentals)
- 6. + Beach badges × days × people
- 7. = ACTUAL total cost
Advertised: $99/night × 2 nights = $198
Actual: $99 × 2 + $25 resort fee × 2 + $20 parking × 2 + 14% tax = $327
+$129 (65% more!)
Budget Trip Planner
Plan your budget trip based on what kind of vacation you want.
Beach Bum Getaway
2-3 days • Wildwood
$200-400 total
Stay at a Doo-Wop motel with pool. Free beach all day. Cook breakfast, grab pizza for dinner. Walk the boardwalk for free entertainment.
Must-do: Sunset on the beach, Boardwalk rides one evening
Family Beach Week
5-7 days • Wildwood Crest
$1,000-1,500 total
Book motel with kitchenette early. Grocery shop first day. Free beach daily. One splurge dinner. Morey's Piers one day with combo pass.
Must-do: Morey's Piers day, Mini-golf night, Beach bonfire
Couples Casino Escape
2 nights • Atlantic City
$250-400 total
Book casino hotel midweek. Sign up for rewards for comps. Free beach during day. Happy hour dining. Set gambling budget and stick to it.
Must-do: Sunset boardwalk walk, One nice dinner, Live show or concert
Solo Adventure
3-4 days • Asbury Park or AC
$300-500 total
Mix hostel/cheap motel/casino comps. Bike rentals for transport. Free beach and boardwalk. Cheap eats at local spots. Evening bar scene.
Must-do: Live music venue, Sunrise beach walk, Local coffee shop
Budget Trip Packing List
Food Savings
- • Cooler + ice
- • Reusable water bottles
- • Snacks from home
- • Coffee maker/supplies
Beach Gear
- • Own chairs (don't rent)
- • Own umbrella
- • Towels from home
- • Boogie board (buy cheap)
Entertainment
- • Cards/games
- • Frisbee/football
- • Books
- • Bluetooth speaker
Budget Town Comparison
Choosing the right town makes the biggest difference in your budget.
| Town | Beach Badge | Motel Rate | Parking | Best For | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildwood | FREE | $80-120 | Usually free at motels | Families, boardwalk lovers, best overall budget pick | Can be crowded, party scene at night |
| Wildwood Crest | FREE | $90-130 | Usually free | Quieter families, beautiful beaches | Less nightlife, farther from boardwalk |
| Atlantic City | FREE | $49-150 | $20-30/day at casinos | Couples, solo travelers, casino deals | Parking costs, urban environment |
| Seaside Heights | $10/day | $90-140 | $15-25/day | Classic shore experience, younger crowds | Beach badges add up, can be rowdy |
| Ocean City | $7/day | $120-180 | Mostly free | Family-friendly, dry town | Pricier motels, no nightlife |
Our Verdict
Best Overall: Wildwood—free beach + cheap motels + free parking = unbeatable value
Best for Couples: Atlantic City midweek—$49 casino rooms + free beach
Best for Families: Wildwood Crest—quieter than Wildwood, same free beaches
Best for Solo: Atlantic City—cheap rooms, things to do, easy to meet people