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Barnegat Bay

17 towns · Both sides of the bay: the boardwalk peninsula plus Brick and Toms River.

Barnegat Bay covers both sides of the water: the barrier peninsula from Point Pleasant Beach down through Seaside to Island Beach State Park, and the mainland towns like Brick and Toms River that feed it over the bridges. This is the classic boardwalk Shore, with ten miles of undeveloped dunes at the bottom of the strip.

Today · June 10

updated 2:44 pm

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  • Beach advisory at Reese Ave — elevated bacteria levels

    Lavallette

    Enterococcus count exceeded EPA threshold in morning sample. Avoid swimming until cleared.

  • New ferry service connects Manhattan to the Jersey Shore

    Point Pleasant

    A new ferry route is now available, providing a direct transportation option from Manhattan to shore destinations, aiming to reduce traffic congestion for travelers.

  • Seastreak Ferry Service Debated at Point Pleasant Beach Council Meeting

    Point Pleasant Beach

    A special council meeting in Point Pleasant Beach addressed community concerns and discussions surrounding the Seastreak ferry service.

  • Memorial Day Weekend Washed Out

    Toms River

    OCEAN COUNTY – It serves as a summer kick off and often includes barbeques, family gatherings and boardwalk visits but this past weekend’s Memorial Day festivities were a bit of a washout.   The first big event for the summer was to be the first Seaside Heights versus Seasi…

Towns

Barnegat Township

Ocean County

A mainland township along Barnegat Bay known for suburban neighborhoods, marinas, parks, and access to the southern Ocean County shore region.

Bay Head

Ocean County

$15/day

Bay Head is the quiet, old-money end of the northern Shore, a small residential borough where the appeal is what it doesn't have.

Family-FriendlyQuietHistoricNJ Transit

Beachwood

Ocean County

Beachwood is a small residential borough in Ocean County, set along the Toms River where it widens toward Barnegat Bay.

Berkeley Township

Ocean County

A large Ocean County township stretching from inland Pine Barrens areas to barrier-island communities near Seaside Park and South Seaside Park.

Island Beach State Park

Ocean County

$6/day

A protected barrier-island landscape south of Seaside Park, known for undeveloped beaches, dunes, surf fishing, birding, and bay-side access.

State ParkNatureFishingDogs Year-Round+1

Island Heights

Ocean County

Island Heights is a Victorian borough on the north bank of the Toms River, near where it meets Barnegat Bay.

Lacey Township

Ocean County

Lacey Township is a large, mainland township on the western shore of Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, made up mainly of the communities of Forked River and Lanoka Harbor.

Lavallette

Ocean County

$13/day

**Known for** Lavallette is the quiet borough between the Shore's louder towns: a small, walkable beach community on the Barnegat Peninsula, surrounded by Toms River's sections and a short drive north of Seaside Heights.

Family-FriendlyQuietLBI AdjacentCafes+1

Mantoloking

Ocean County

$15/day

Mantoloking is a small, intensely private barrier-island borough on the Barnegat Peninsula, sitting between Bay Head and the Brick Township beaches with the ocean on one side and Barnegat Bay on the other.

ExclusiveQuiet

Ocean Gate

Ocean County

A small borough on the Toms River known for its waterfront boardwalk, beach area, parks, and quiet residential atmosphere.

Ortley Beach

Ocean County

$11/day

Ortley Beach is Toms River's beach: a small, residential, rental-heavy strip of the barrier island between Seaside Heights and Lavallette.

OceanPart of Toms RiverNJ Transit

Pine Beach

Ocean County

A quiet residential borough along the Toms River known for waterfront homes, parks, and tree-lined neighborhoods.

Point Pleasant

Ocean County

A riverfront and bayfront borough neighboring Point Pleasant Beach and Brielle.

Point Pleasant Beach

Ocean County

$18/day

Point Pleasant Beach is the quintessential family-friendly anchor of the northern Jersey Shore, home to Jenkinson's, the family name now synonymous with the town's boardwalk empire.

BoardwalkFamily-FriendlyAmusementsBreweries+2

Seaside Heights

Ocean County

$13/day

Seaside Heights is the Shore's loud, neon boardwalk town, the one most outsiders picture when they think Jersey Shore.

BoardwalkNightlifeAmusementsYoung Crowd+2

Seaside Park

Ocean County

$13/day

If you find yourself in Seaside Heights, you're probably looking to do one of a couple of things, depending on whether you have kids in tow or not.

QuietNear Seaside HeightsNJ Transit

Toms River

Ocean County

Toms River is the seat of Ocean County and one of the largest, most sprawling townships on the Shore, set on the mainland where the river meets Barnegat Bay.

BayShoppingBreweriesNJ Transit