10 Lovely Beach Towns Along The Jersey Shore To Visit This Summer
With summer officially here in NYC, it’s time to start thinking about how to spend it! That means plenty of beach visits, pool splashes, and…escapes from the city?! Yes, we’re already thinking about where to sneak away to while the weather is warm, and the Jersey Shore is hands down one of our favorites. From action-packed boardwalks to true East Coast beaches, it’s the perfect little getaway to plan this summer. But where to go? Fret no more, we’ve put together a list of our favorite towns down the shore to spend a weekend, grab a beach house, or make a quick day trip of.
These are our favorite beach towns along the Jersey Shore to bookmark for your summer travels:
1. Cape May, New Jersey
Let’s start with Cape May, which is gotten a fantastic wrap for its rich history, Victorian architecture, and charming seaside atmosphere. The town itself is a National Historic Landmark for its heritage alone, where you can spend a full day alone taking in the Victorian homes and buildings like the Emlen Physick Estate (an 18-room Victorian mansion). Not to mention their beaches are super clean and extremely family-friendly, making it a great place to relax and take in the sunshine.
If you spend a weekend here, other incredible things to do include checking out the Cape May Lighthouse, going on a whale or dolphin watching tour, and strolling the Washington Street Mall.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
2. Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park, New Jersey is a music and art lover’s dream, making it the perfect beach town to see a show and keep your toes in the sand. It’s home to one of the most well-known music venues in the country, The Stone Pony, which is largely associated with Bruce Springsteen and many other musicians who started their career in the very dive bar. Be sure to catch a concert here if you make the trip, as well as stopping by the Silverball Retro Arcade on the boardwalk to play some games.
As mentioned, the newly-revitalized Asbury Park Boardwalk could take up hours alone, which is lined with eclectic shops, trendy restaurants, bars, and art galleries that make for a perfect post-beach activity.
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours
3. Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Long Beach Island is more of an 18-mile-long barrier island off the coast of New Jersey, which contains plenty of beach towns…so we wrapped it all up into one! LBI is most known for their clean and wide sandy beaches, making it the perfect spot to sunbathe and swim. As for specific beach towns some notable ones to consider are:
- Beach Haven – Family-friendly beach town with attractions like the Fantasy Island Amusement Park, Thundering Surf Water Park, and the Surflight Theatre.
- Barnegat Light – A quiet and scenic town with peaceful attractions like Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and Viking Village, a historic fishing village with shops and eateries.
- Ship Bottom – A centrally located town with lots of restaurants, including the Ship Bottom Brewery.
Distance from NYC: 2 hours
4. Wildwood, New Jersey
If you’re looking for a great vacation idea with kids, consider Wildwood…who’s got plenty of activities for the little ones including amusement parks, the boardwalk, water sports, and so much more. Block off a day for the free to use public beach, then browse the Boardwalk via the iconic Wildwood Tram Car. To beat the heat, grab day passes to Morey’s Piers, which has three piers filled with rides, roller coasters, and water parks or another option Splash Zone Water Park.
For a little more of a serene and quieter Wildwood experience, head to the outer Wildwood Crest area…which has much more laid back and quieter beaches and is still a quick bike ride away from the more bustling boardwalk area if you want to stop by.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
5. Avalon, New Jersey
Avalon is probably one of the most upscale beach towns you’ll find on this list, and it feels that way when you stroll through the town. Starting with their beaches (which require a tag to visit), they are spotless and make for a great place to go fishing and boating. Its famous tagline “Cooler by a Mile” even rings true, thanks to it extending eastward 1 mile farther into the ocean than its neighboring resorts. It’s a great spot to reserve a beach cottage for a weekend, go boating, and soak up the sun. There’s plenty of lovely upscale restaurants, shops, and hotels too.
Distance from NYC: 3.5 hours
6. Ocean Grove, New Jersey
This seaside town is relatively close to NYC, and the beach town is pretty well known as having one of the largest collections of Victorian architecture in the country. It complements their tranquil beaches quite well, and are perfect for leisurely strolls and strolling the boardwalk. During the summer there’s tons of things to do, including arts and craft shows, local flea markets, guided historical walking tours, performances by famous named artists at the legendary Great Auditorium and much more.
Our secret suggestion to check out is their famous “Tent City” a colony of canvas tents that have been a historical heritage of the Ocean Groove community since 1869 (that people still live in!).
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours
7. Belmar, New Jersey
This charming coastal town is home to plenty of summer activities and attractions, including a roaring mile long boardwalk, breathtaking marina, and lovely beaches. During the summer, they have lots of activities going on including a Friday Night Concert Series at Pyanoe Plaza and Movies on the Beach on Wednesdays at dusk.
Distance from NYC: 2 hours
8. Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey
Just a mere 60 miles from New York City, Avon-by-the-Sea is the perfect stone’s throw away from the city for a breath of fresh air. This town is well-known for their precious Bed & Breakfast Inns (which we highly recommend booking), making for the perfect little vacation. You’ll be able to take in their white sandy beaches as well as plenty of fine restaurants and quaint shops. There’s a reason it’s called the “best kept secret of the Shore.”
Distance from NYC: 2 hours
9. Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
Point Pleasant Beach is a beauty, and a spot you could spend hours walking along Jenkinson’s Boardwalk…riding amusement park rides, playing arcade games, and strolling through a huge aquarium. The beach is equally impressive, offering a decent size area to swim and sunbath…with even designated areas for surfing and fishing. The town is equally lovely too, try grabbing a beer at Last Wave Brewing Company and strolling through the coastal-themed Angry Fish Gallery.
Distance from NYC: 2 hours
10. Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook is so close to NYC you can literally see the skyline from the beach! Nonetheless, it’s still the perfect escape from the city and worth a visit this summer. As we mentioned, the beach is serene, and there are other things to check out too like the historic Fort Hancock, which dates back to the late 19th century and played a significant role in coastal defense as well as The Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. It’s a peaceful retreat in all, and a great spot for nature lovers.
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours (45 min by ferry)
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