Surf City lives up to its name. The waves here are among the most consistent on Long Beach Island, drawing surfers from across the region to designated breaks that produce rideable conditions when other spots go flat. If you're coming to LBI to surf, Surf City is where you stay—the town has oriented itself around the sport, with outdoor showers on vacation rentals, surf shops along the boulevard, and a beach culture that treats board riders as locals rather than tourists.
The beach experience here balances surf culture with family-friendliness. Daily badges run $10 (season $45, seniors $15), and lifeguards patrol designated swimming and surfing areas. The sand is wide, well-maintained, and backed by a mix of vacation rentals and small shops. Beach wheelchairs are available at access points. The central LBI location means you can reach Barnegat Light in 15 minutes north or Beach Haven in 15 minutes south—convenient for exploring the entire island.
The bay side provides the calm-water counterpoint to ocean surfing. Barnegat Bay access points offer excellent kayaking and paddleboarding in protected waters, plus some of LBI's best crabbing. Blue crabs run through summer, and the bayside docks produce steady catches for families with traps or handlines. Sunset views over the bay compete with any ocean beach on the island.
The Surf City Hotel anchors the town's nightlife and dining scene. Dating to the 1870s (and rumored to be haunted), this bar and restaurant brings live music in summer and genuine local-institution atmosphere. Country Kettle Chowda serves award-winning clam chowder in both New England and Manhattan styles. Ron Jon Café provides quick bites while shopping at the iconic surf shop. For more variety, Ship Bottom is 5 minutes north with Daddy O's craft cocktails and CHEG's 24-hour breakfast.
Surf City works best for surfers (obviously), families who want LBI's laid-back atmosphere without Beach Haven's intensity, and anyone seeking a central base for island exploration. Vacation rentals dominate the accommodation scene—many with the outdoor showers and board storage that surfers need. Skip Surf City if you want boutique hotels or upscale dining; that's Ship Bottom (Daddy O) or Beach Haven territory. But for the LBI town that built its identity around waves and delivers them consistently, Surf City earns its name every swell.