WILDWOOD, NJ – New Jersey residents are some of the most overtaxed, overcharged and overstressed people in the United States, that’s why when it’s time to head down to the Jersey Shore each summer, many people ask the very popular question, “Are there any free beaches in New Jersey?”

The answer is yes and there are some fantastic ones.

Atlantic City

Are Atlantic City beaches free? You bet they are! See what we did there? One of the benefits of Atlantic City being a casino and resort town has been its free beaches. All beach entry points are free in Atlantic City. Surfing is allowed on Downtown Beach, Crystal Beach, and Delaware Avenue Beach. Kayakers, windsurfers and boogie boarders can use the Jackson Avenue Beach.

Barnegat Beach, Barnegat

In Barnegat Township, there’s a public bay beach located on Bayshore Drive. The unguarded beach has no lifeguards, but it’s a great little beach for the younger families, it’s clean has a small boardwalk and pavilion. If you just want a quiet little getaway beach, this is the beach for you. It’s one of the few free beaches in Ocean County.

Bay Front Beach, Lower Township

In Lower Township, Cape May County, the beachfront in Lower Township is a great place to take in a sunset and best of all, the beach is free. The beach runs along Beach Drive. There are several access points along the way, but a larger parking lot is located at the south end. Animals are allowed on this beach, just not during the summer season.

Beesley’s Point, Marmora

Beesley’s Point is a small beach situated on the Greg Egg Harbor Bay across from Ocean City. The beach doesn’t offer much of anything, not a great view, no amenities, just a beach…and only a beach. Nearby, you can find a great seafood restaurant called Tuckahoe Inn & Tavern. It’s not the best beach on the list, but it’s a beach…and it’s free.

Ideal Beach, Middletown

Overlooking the Raritan Bay, Ideal beach is right around the corner from the Keansburg Amusement Park. It offers a natural bay beach setting in a nice and quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of the Jersey Shore. Ideal beach is a great place to sit on the beach, get a tan and watch the ships and boats pass by. Nearby Leonardo Beach is also free.

Jennifer Lane Beach, Manahawkin

If going to the beach smack in the middle of somebody else’s neighborhood sounds like your plan for the day, then Jennifer Lane Beach is for you. Nestled between bayfront homes Beach Haven West, this small beach offers a nice view of the Manahawkin Bay, the Route 72 Causeway Bay Bridge and Long Beach Island to the east. Nearby you can find Mill Creek Park, a quaint little public municipal park.

Keansburg Beach, Keansburg

Next door to Ideal Beach, you’ll find Keansburg Beach. Keansburg Beach is a little busier than Ideal Beach, but has nearby amenities including the Keansburg Amusement Park, some restaurants and arcades. The beach is on the Raritan Bay.

Strathmere Beach, Upper Township

In Cape May County, Strathmere Beach is a little perfect slice of free beach access along a mile of ocean beach. Parking is free, beach access is free and lifeguards are on duty daily. Strathmere is your prototypical Jersey Shore experience. A small and quiet beach town with some corner eateries, Italian and seafood restaurants and more. One of the unique offerings of Strathmere is a camping resort.

Union Beach, Union

Nestled along the Raritan Bay in the northeast section of Union Township, you can find a nice little beach for rest and relaxation. Down the street there’s a roadside sprinkler park called Fireman’s Park.

The Wildwoods

Continue Reading

New Jersey Wants Elderly Woman to Pay EZ Pass Fine in Car She Doesn’t Own, State She Never Visited

Egg Harbor Township, NJ - An investigation by NBC10 has spotlighted another case of an automated toll enforcement…

High Rip Current Risk Issued for Jersey Shore Beaches Including Seaside Heights

Seaside Heights, NJ - The National Weather Service has issued a High Rip Current Risk for much of…

Many in NJ “Shocked” with Higher Bills After Learning Mikie Sherrill Did Not Freeze Their Electric Rates

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jefferson Van Drew is calling on Atlantic City Electric to explain why customers are receiving…

We saved the best for last. The Wildwoods are the best bet for free beaches in all of New Jersey. Not only are Wildwoods’ free beaches the best free beaches, they beat all other pay beaches in New Jersey year after year in surveys and polls. Wildwood is New Jersey Americana and you can spend an entire summer here and not do everything there is to do. If you have never been to Wildwood, you are really missing out on the classic, old-fashioned Jersey Shore experience. The beaches in Wildwood are free from the north end of North Wildwood to the south end of Wildwood Crest.

There you have it, our list of the best free beaches in New Jersey.

Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash

Phil Stilton Latest posts

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.