Island beach state park charging $3 walk-in fee for boaters arriving from barnegat bay

Island Beach State Park Charging $3 Walk-In Fee for Boaters Arriving From Barnegat Bay

Posted by
1 min read
July 19, 2026
Visitors entering Island Beach State Park by boat from Tices Shoal and Barnegat Bay now must pay a $3 admission fee under a new policy that took effect July 1.

Seaside Park, NJ — Visitors arriving at Island Beach State Park by boat from Tices Shoal and Barnegat Bay are now required to pay a $3 cash-only entrance fee, according to New Jersey State Parks.

The new admission policy took effect Wednesday, July 1, and applies to visitors entering the park from the bay side rather than through the main entrance by vehicle.

Walk-in and senior passes accepted

In addition to the $3 daily fee, visitors may purchase a New Jersey State Park Service Walk-In Pass for $50, which allows admission for up to six visitors.

New Jersey residents 62 and older may also use a free New Jersey State Parks Senior Pass, which likewise admits up to six visitors.

Officials said the new policy applies specifically to visitors entering the park from Tices Shoal and Barnegat Bay.

Lifeguards on duty at A-7

Island Beach State Park also announced that lifeguards began staffing the A-7 swimming area on July 1.

Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer season.

The park, one of New Jersey’s most popular coastal destinations, attracts thousands of boaters each summer who anchor at Tices Shoal before walking into the park’s bay-side recreation areas.

Source: Island Beach State Park.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss