Best Beach Towns in New Jersey

Something magical happens as you drive down the coast of New Jersey. The city disappears, mountains fade away, and the road flattens out. You find yourself driving so close to the ocean you can smell the salt in the air. At some points, you look to your left at see the waves of the ocean, then you look to your right and see the marshy bay. You’ll pass through towns with old Victorian houses, towns with huge mansions, and towns with cute old-fashioned beach cottages. New Jersey has some of the most diverse and most beautiful beach towns in the country. So which are the best beach towns in New Jersey? Read on to find out.

Spring Lake

Spring Lake is one of the wealthiest towns in New Jersey, with some of the biggest houses. The median house value in Spring Lake is $1,840,061. Spring Lake has big, beautiful beaches and a non-commercial boardwalk where you can always find fitness enthusiasts jogging, mothers pushing strollers, or couples walking hand in hand. If you’re looking to spend a few days in Spring Lake, check out the Breakers Hotel, a gorgeously renovated beachfront hotel with a wrap-around porch, first opened in the late 1800s. Or, take a train down the coast for a day trip to beautiful and majestic Spring Lake.

Island Beach State Park

Just next to one of the biggest party towns on the coast, Island Beach State Park is just south of Seaside Heights (made famous by the MTV show Jersey Shore). However, Island Beach State Park is a quiet, serene protected barrier island 10-mile stretch of unspoiled beach. If you’re looking for rolling dunes, white sand beaches, bird watching, and a peaceful atmosphere, Island Beach State Park is a great option. Unlike other beaches that charge variable rates per person to use the beach, Island Beach State Park charges a flat fee per car, so pack up that minivan and get there early to find your perfect spot!

Long Beach Island

Known fondly as LBI to locals, Long Beach Island is the first beach town you’ll get to that really has that Jersey shore feel. With 18 miles of silky white sand and great waves to play in, LBI has a great beach scene. And things only get hotter as the sun goes down. LBI is a true beach vacation getaway, whether you’re come from 10 miles away or 100 miles away. Bring the kids and make a family day out of it in Ship Bottom, with a playground and calm bay beach. Or pack the surf board for some of the best breaks along the coast. Or grab your friends to get some sun and work up a thirst right before happy hour. You’ll find some of the best breakfast, brunch, and dinner spots in all of New Jersey on this barrier island!

Atlantic City

Most people think of casinos, nightlife, and partying when it comes to Atlantic City. A lot of times, people forget about the beautiful beaches Atlantic City has to offer. What’s better is that Atlantic City offers some of the only free beaches in the whole state. The beaches are wide with plenty of room to spread out. If you get bored easily, you can always walk up to one of the many popular beach bars or the Steel Pier to ride a roller coaster over the ocean or take a short helicopter ride over the city!

Ocean City

Ocean City is a beach town that has grown in popularity over the years, earning the nickname America’s Greatest Family Resort. There are 8 miles of beach for sunbathing, surfing, boogie boarding, and sand castle building. There is also a very popular wooden boardwalk with 2.5 miles of amusements, games, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Ocean City is a great place to bring the family. In addition to the two amusements parks, water park, multiple miniature golf courses, and world-famous pizza shops, it’s a dry town. The boardwalk scene is always festive and popular with families and teens. Plan for a Thursday night in the summer to enjoy free entertainment, like musicians, magicians, and karaoke!

Wildwood

Wildwood was the center of Doo Wop in the 1950s and 1960s. While that genre has faded out, the neon signs, colorful diners, and bright motels are reminiscent of Wildwood’s heyday. You can still visit bars and clubs in the Doo Wop style, time traveling back to 1960 when Chubby Checker was introducing The Twist to the world. Today, the city is working hard to preserve that architecture and atmosphere.

As far as beaches, Wildwood is another beach town where it is free to visit the beaches. Wildwood’s beaches are some of the biggest in all of New Jersey. And like Atlantic City and Ocean City, you can walk right off the beach onto the boardwalk to enjoy a busy boardwalk scene with 6 roller coasters and 3 water parks. Bring your best bathing suit, most colorful umbrella, and favorite boardwalk outfit and get ready for a fun-filled time in Wildwood!

Cape May

You’ll immediately know you’re in the quaint town of Cape May by huge Victorian houses and colorful bed and breakfasts. Cape May is exit 0 on the famous Garden State Parkway. That makes it the most southern beach town in New Jersey. Because it’s on the southernmost point of New Jersey, you get plenty of sun all day with the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean in the east and setting over the Delaware Bay in the west. Cape May is full of fun and entertaining activities for the whole family, from ghost tours in the old houses, trolley tours, souvenir shopping, whale and dolphin cruises, incredible restaurants, and ending the night watching the sunset at Sunset Beach, where the flag is lowered and Taps is played. Even locals enjoy acting like a tourist in Cape May for a little while!

Have you been to any beach towns in New Jersey? Which one was your favorite? Have you heard of any beach towns in New Jersey that you want to visit? Are you ready to look up some houses for sale in New Jersey?! Talk to me about your favorite New Jersey beach towns in the comments below!

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