Long Beach Island

Long Beach Island is 18 miles of barrier island between Barnegat Inlet and Beach Haven Inlet, divided into six municipalities that share one causeway in (Route 72 into Ship Bottom). The vibe shifts as you drive north or south.

Barnegat Light sits at the northern tip — working fishing village, the lighthouse, the sport-fishing fleet. Harvey Cedars is quiet, residential, mostly second homes. Surf City is the dog-friendly walkable middle, low-key. Ship Bottom is where everyone pulls off the bridge — gas, groceries, the first-stop tackle shops. Long Beach Township covers the unincorporated stretches under village names like Brant Beach, Holgate, Loveladies, Spray Beach, and North Beach — geographically discontinuous, plenty of beach. Beach Haven is the southern commercial anchor: Fantasy Island, the dense restaurant blocks, Bay Village, the Schooner's Wharf strip.

Badges, parking, and beach rules are set per municipality, not per island. Pick the town first, then plan. The town pages below have the specific badge prices and parking rules that actually matter once you know where you're staying.