New Jersey is home to numerous beach towns along the roughly 130 mile coastline popularly known as the Jersey Shore. As a Monmouth County native myself, I really enjoy living near the beach while also not being too far from the city! While I tend to frequent the northern Jersey Shore beaches such as Belmar, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Seabright etc… I have visited many times the southern beach towns as well. Whether you are a NJ-native or an out-of-stater, here are nine of the best beach towns in New Jersey to visit this summer 2022! Don’t forget to comment below at the end of this article your favorite shore town to visit!
1. Cape May
Cape May is one of New Jersey’s most popular, beautiful, and quaint beach towns. I have been visiting since I was a little kid, and make sure to go a few times a year. When visiting Cape May, it almost feels as if you’ve left New Jersey, and have been transported somewhere else. It’s a great family vacation spot with lots to do such as spending the day at the beach, dining at restaurants, strolling through the Washington Street Mall, visiting the famous Congress Hall, mini golf, and more! You can also drive a few miles up to Wildwood and enjoy the amusements and arcades. Check out my Cape May vlog from summer 2021 where I spent a weekend in Cape May and had the best time!
2. Asbury Park/Ocean Grove
Asbury Park is my favorite beach town to visit year-round, especially as a Monmouth County-native. I absolutely love the restaurant scene here, boardwalk, and surrounding attractions. My parents have many fond memories growing up and going to concerts at The Stone Pony which is still a popular spot. Asbury Park and Ocean Grove are right next to each other, and you can walk a relatively short distance to get from one town to the other. I typically will walk along the boardwalks of both towns and enjoy the views of the beaches. Check out Cookman Ave in Asbury and grab the best Neapolitan pizza at Talula’s, or enjoy the nightlife at Bond Street, Asbury Ale House, Porta and Johnny Mac’s. Porta has delicious Italian-style pizza as well. You can also spend the afternoon strolling/shopping on Main Ave in Ocean Grove.
3. LBI (Long Beach Island)
Long Beach Island (LBI) stretches 18 miles and is home to charming beach houses, ocean and bay attractions, an amusement park, eateries and more! The most popular parts of LBI to visit are on the southern part of the island: Beach Haven, Holgate, Ship Bottom, and Brant Beach. You can enjoy the beach, lots of shopping, nightlife/bars, dining, and the famous Fantasy Island Amusement Park. There is also the Thundering Surf Water Park which is great for some family fun! You can also stay in/visit the more chill, northern parts of LBI such as Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Barnegat Light (home to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park), North Beach and Loveladies.
4. Belmar
Belmar is one of my favorite northern Jersey Shore beaches to spend a casual beach day at in the summer. There are casual food options like Playa Bowls or 10th Ave Burrito to grab a bite at. Belmar definitely attracts a younger crowd (teens, 20’s-somethings, 30’s-somethings) and is known for its nightlife as well. If you want a beach vibe that is more low-key and relaxed, you can check out Spring Lake Beach which neighbors Belmar.
5. Sea Isle City
Sea Isle City is a popular southern Jersey beach town that attracts many Pennsylvanians or western Jersey people. I’ve been to Sea Isle before with friends and found the town to be charming and lively, with nice beaches, homes, and eateries. Sea Isle, like most of the southern beach towns, is only fully open during the summer season (memorial day to labor day).
6. Point Pleasant Beach
Point Pleasant Beach is a childhood favorite of mine. You can enjoy amusements, arcade games and boardwalk food at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk. Point Pleasant Beach is a great town to visit with the kids, but also offers nightlife at Martell’s Tiki Bar for the adults. There is a lot of fun to be made at Point Pleasant’s mile-long boardwalk!
7. Long Branch
Long Branch is a popular Monmouth County beach town known for its beach, shops and restaurants at Pier Village. They’ve really built up Long Branch and Pier Village in the past few years, and it has much more to offer than it previously did. With lots of casual and upscale eatery options, brand new hotels, and the beach, Long Branch is a good shore spot to check out this summer!
8. Ocean City
Ocean City, New Jersey is an isolated, family-friendly beach town in Northern Cape May County. Only about a 20 minute drive from Atlantic City, Ocean City is actually a “dry” town, meaning there is no alcohol sold on the island. Ocean City is definitely a more quaint town to visit, and offers eight miles of beautiful beaches and 2 miles of boardwalk. If you are looking for a relaxing family getaway on the Jersey Shore, then Ocean City is a great option to explore!
9. Lavallette
Lavallette Beach is located within Ocean County and offers a quaint, coastal landscape ideal for families and relaxation. The mile-long, non-commercial boardwalk has nice views of the pristine beach, and is great for those who want to be away from the chaos and crowds of nearby beaches such as Seaside Heights. If you do stay in Lavellette, it is really easy to enjoy the relaxing shores and quieter boardwalk, but you can drive five minutes to Seaside Heights at night or for the day to experience amusements/attractions, more dining options, arcades, mini golf and more fun! You can also drive down to Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park.
