I love going to the beach in the summertime, but too often I find myself hunting for the cheapest daily beach badge. I usually just go to Spring Lake, pay the $10 daily badge fee, and suck it up, but I've always wondered if there was a cheaper option.
I was looking online last night to see if someone had made a list of New Jersey beaches and how much it would cost to buy a daily badge and found nothing. Zip, zero, nada. So here I am, putting in the research time so you can decide which beach you'd like to visit. You can thank me later.
A few things to keep in mind: The ones on this list are the major beach towns in my mind, the parking fee may vary depending on the time in the season you go, and they're listed from northern-most beach to southern. This list is also compiled from the most recent information I could find. Let's go!
1. Sandy Hook
Daily Beach Badge Fee: None
Parking Fee: $15/day
Fun Stuff: Sandy Hook houses Fort Hancock, a defunct military base.
More info: https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/fees.htm
2. Long Branch
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $5 Monday-Friday, $7 weekends/holidays
Parking Fee: Depends where you park. It's mostly metered parking
Fun Stuff: Long Branch is home to Seven Presidents Beach, a popular spot during the summer.
More info: Parking: https://www.visitlongbranch.com/parking-meters Badge/Other stuff: https://www.visitlongbranch.com/beach
3. Asbury Park
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $5 Monday-Friday, $7 weekends/holidays
Parking Fee: On-street paid public parking spans the length of the beachfront. There are also lots that charge anywhere from $7-$20 per day
Fun Stuff: Stop by the Stone Pony restaurant to see where tons of famous musicians got their start, including Jersey's Boss, Bruce Springsteen! There are also murals on the exteriors of select buildings around that area.
More info: http://www.cityofasburypark.com/category/subcatego...
4. Belmar
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $8/day
Parking Fee: Paid parking runs the length of the boardwalk, but free parking is available on the west side of Ocean Ave and along the side streets
Fun Stuff: Although Belmar's boardwalk doesn't have anything on it, it boasts a beautiful view of the ocean and clean beaches.
More info: Badges: http://belmar.com/content.php?npid=50&pid=50&menu_... Parking: http://www.belmar.com/content.php?npid=280&pid=280...
5. Spring Lake
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $10/day
Parking Fee: Free parking runs the length of Ocean Ave
Fun Stuff: While Spring Lake is more of an uppity beach town, the downtown is worth a walk-though. Spring Lake also has bathrooms and showers in the North and South Pavilions.
More info: http://springlake.org/springlakebeach
6. Sea Girt
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $10/day
Parking Fee: It's free!
Fun Stuff: Sea Girt has a small lighthouse as well as a pavilion with a snack bar and bathrooms at its northern end.
More info: https://seagirtboro.com/beach/
7. Manasquan
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $9
Parking Fee: There's free street parking if you can find it. Otherwise, there are lots that charge $7 on weekdays, $12 on weekends.
Fun Stuff: While Manasquan itself might not have much to do, it's only a 10 minute drive from Point Pleasant where there's a boardwalk with ample food, mini golf, and ride selection.
More info: http://www.manasquan-nj.gov/beach-department (I had to call these guys)
8. Point Pleasant
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $9 Monday-Friday, $10 weekends/holidays
Parking Fee: Free parking is available if you want to hunt the sidestreets and are willing to walk a block or two. Otherwise, there are lots that charge $4-$12 per day depending on the time of year. There's also metered parking available on the streets closer to the beach.
Fun Stuff: See Manasquan's 'Fun Stuff' description. There's also a small aquarium that you'll love if you love penguins. Point Pleasant is an iconic Jersey beach town, you really can't go wrong here.
More info: https://www.pointpleasantbeachchamber.com/
9. Bay Head
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $8/day
Parking Fee: From what I gather, parking is free with some lots that you might have to pay for.
Fun Stuff: See Manasquan's 'Fun Stuff' description.
More info: https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/events/sum...
10. Seaside Heights
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $8/day, although Bay Beach is free everyday
Parking Fee: Metered spaces that range from $1/$2 an hour depending on the season. There are also private lots whose fees depend on the season.
Fun Stuff: The iconic Jersey Shore was filmed in this town! Come and you might spot Snooki or Pauly D...Maybe.
More info: Beach: http://www.exit82.com/beach/ Parking: http://www.exit82.com/parking/
11. Barnegat Light
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $5/day
Parking Fee: It's free, but it's on-street so first come, first served
Fun Stuff: That red and white lighthouse you see on Jersey license plates? Yeah that's the lighthouse here! The ice cream place Poppy's is also amazing.
More info: http://www.barnegatlight.org/departments/beaches-l...
12. Surf City
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $7/day
Parking Fee: It's free, but on-street so get there early
Fun Stuff: If you're looking for some shopping, mini-golf, and amazing pizza at Panzone's, come to Surf City!
More info: http://surfcitynj.org/surf-city-beach-badges/
13. Beach Haven
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $5/day
Parking fee: It's free, but first-come first served
Fun Stuff: Beach Haven has a small amusement park, Fantasy Island, with an indoor arcade! There's also a shopping section around the amusement park. Go to The Chicken or the Egg (AKA 'Chegg') for amazing wings.
More info: http://www.beachhaven-nj.gov/beach-information
14. Atlantic City
Daily Beach Badge Fee: Free
Parking fee: There are some lots, but mostly on-street parking
Fun stuff: I will warn you that Atlantic City is somewhat seedy, but the boardwalk and casinos are something every Jerseyian should visit at least once.
More info: https://www.visitnj.org/nj-all-beaches/atlantic-city
15. Ventnor City
Daily Beach Badge Fee: No daily badges, $10/week, $15/season
Parking Fee: There's some metered parking, otherwise it's free on-street parking that's on a first-come, first-served basis
Fun Stuff: The Ventnor City boardwalk connects to the one in Atlantic City and is wonderful to walk or bike.
More info: http://ventnorcity.org/beach_tags.aspx (I had to call these guys)
16. Margate City
Daily Beach Badge Fee: It seems like there's no daily beach badges here either. All badges are $15.
Parking Fee: On-street parking on first-come, first-served basis, some metered parking
Fun Stuff: Lucy the Elephant lives in Margate City! Another Jersey gem, this six-story elephant-shaped hotel now houses a museum.
More info: http://www.margate-nj.com/beach/pages/beach-badge-...
17. Ocean City
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $5/day
Parking Fee: There's metered parking along the boardwalk, lots that charge, and free parking if you hunt for it.
Fun Stuff: There's a boardwalk here as well!
More info: http://www.margate-nj.com/beach/pages/beach-badge-... (I had to call these guys)
18. Avalon
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $6/day
Parking Fee: Free!
Fun Stuff: Avalon has a boardwalk with an arcade, playground, pizza, and a skate park!
More info: https://avalonboro.net/about-avalon/avalon-beaches/ (I had to call these guys)
19.Wildwood
Daily Beach Badge Fee: Free!
Parking Fee: There's apparently plenty of free parking, but given how popular this beach is, I would get there early for a good spot.
Fun Stuff: Wildwood has an amusement park along the beach and is a popular vacation destination for Jerseyians.
More info: Beach: http://www.njwildwood.com/wildwood-beachbadges.shtml Parking: https://www.wildwoodinsider.com/free-parking-for-w...
20. Cape May
Daily Beach Badge Fee: $6/day
Parking Fee: There's mainly metered parking, but once school is out of session, there is free parking in the school lot with shuttles to the center of town.
Fun Stuff: The iconic Cape May lighthouse and zoo are must-visits including the adorable center of town
More info: Beach: http://www.capemay.com/play/cape-may-beach-information/ Parking: http://www.capemay.com/visitor-faqs
And would you look at that? I found this article along my searches: http://943thepoint.com/jersey-shore-beach-badge-pr...
Huh.
Well, happy tanning!
