There’s nothing quite as uniquely New Jersey as beach badges. But for people who really hate forking over cash to get on the beach, there are still a few Jersey Shore spots that offer free beach access, though one could start charging soon.
Most of the beaches that are truly free are in the southern half of the state, with five out of the six in Cape May County. The two others are in Ocean and Atlantic counties. Plus there’s two other beaches where you can get a deal.
Beach badges date back to the late 1920s, when Bradley Beach began to charge for access. A number of other towns followed suit, and the idea of charging to use the beach was soon cemented.
Six New Jersey beaches are still free for everyone, seven days a week:
- Atlantic City
- Corson’s Inlet State Park
- North Wildwood
- Strathmere
- Wildwood
- Wildwood Crest
Island Beach State Park in Ocean County is free through June 30 as part of a “tax holiday.” The state park has offered free admission for the past two years, but that’s likely to end when the new fiscal year starts on July 1. The park will then go back to charging per car ($10 on the weekends, $6 on weekdays), or a $2 per-person walk or bike-in fee.
Beach Haven requires badges most of the week, including Saturday and Sunday, but beach goers who can sneak away from work mid-week can avoid paying a fee. The beach is free on Wednesday, a program that has been in place since 2015.
“We want to encourage day-tripper folks that can’t get to Beach Haven on a holiday or weekend and you know, to come on a Wednesday when things are free and just get a day away,“ Sherry Mason, the municipal clerk in Beach Haven, said.
The beach is much less crowded on Wednesday, Mason said, and it’s cheaper to make the beach free and give employees a break.
“It’s worked for us too, because it gives our checkers and our recreation attendants a day off, because otherwise we’re seven days a week operation, so everything pickleball, tennis, everything on Wednesdays is free,” Mason said.
Sandy Hook, the only federally owned beach in the state, is technically free. The beach does not charge an access fee, so anyone who walks or bikes into the park can enjoy the surf free of charge. The park does charge $20 for parking, making it the most a pricey option for a solo beach-goer. But if you pack up the minivan with a bunch of people, that makes the per person cost a steal compared to nearby towns.
More than a dozen towns offer free entry to veterans and active-duty military, and most offer free or discounted rates to seniors or disabled residents.
Stories by Katie Kausch
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.