Best Beaches of the Jersey Shore 2025 Edition
By keithMay 16, 2025Best Of
As this Reddit posts goes, ask enough people what the best beach is on the Jersey Shore, and you'll eventually get a list of every one. But as with everything else in this world, some things are definitely better than others, even if different eyes of beholders disagree.
Note - this is not an assessment of the totality of the town or surrounding areas. I think there are few people who would rank, for instance, Seaside Heights as having a fantastic beach, but nonetheless enjoy the town for its nightlife, amusements, and food and beverages.
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Some of the reasons for why some towns have a great beach and others don't just depends on luck and geography. In any event, here's the top ten beach list to put into a folder with the other top ten beach list you may find.
If you're looking for a tie-breaker, check out our Beach Badge pricing list to see which one best marries environment with cost.
Cape May
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Virtually any list you find on the Internet, including this very web page, will put Cape May first. As a result, you should expect to joined by thousands of other people sharing in the splendor with you if you decide to go. Reasons abound for why Cape May tops most lists: you'll read about pristine sand, Victorian architecture, and immediately available food and drink.
LBI
For my money, LBI is a strong contender for number one, just because of the uniqueness of its beaches. Like Sandy Hook, the LBI beaches radiate natural beauty. LBI features unkempt outgrowths of native grasses and wildflowers weaving through the grassy dunes. There are plenty of beaches (and they vary) and nearby recreational activities.
Ocean City Beach
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This comes with a huge caveat - Ocean City is a dry town. So if you envision sipping a cocktail as you stare into the Atlantic Ocean expanse - you will have a bad time. But if you, instead, dream of a family-friendly town with a nice beach, you are in the right place.
Wildwood Beach
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Named the best beach in New Jersey by The USA Today, citing its 38 blocks of boardwalk, featuring restaurants and shops and an amusement park. Bucking the trend of other beaches on this list, all of Wildwood wide, sandy beaches are free, which attracts crowds. So if you want a bustling beach where you can spend your money on a drink or a sandwich instead of a beach badge, this beach is for you.
Sandy Hook
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Directly adjacent to the Atlantic Highlands, Sandy Hook also provides some natural beauty for those who want their beaches a bit different. It's a popular destination for New Yorkers, considering it's only a 50-minute ferry ride away.
Lavallette
Photo by Veronica Carvallo
Your writer's bias here, but the vastly underrated Lavallette beaches. They got docked for not offering anything to eat or drink but an ice cream truck strolling up and down the avenues, but you only have to go one block to find somewhere to eat or drink. But you can enter the beach on virtually any avenue and just walk and walk. And sometimes a boardwalk with no distractions is heaven on earth.
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