The Homebuyer’s & Renter’s Guide to South Jersey Beaches
The Shore has a lot of options. Which one’s right for you?
Beaches are like people.
No two are exactly alike, and what you like about one might be exactly what repels someone else.
When you’re deciding where to live, own, or rent on the South Jersey Shore, it’s critical to ask yourself exactly what kind of beach vibes do it for you. Do your homework now, and you won’t have to wonder if you made the right choice years down the road.
For the most part, the Shore scene is divided by islands, with each island comprising beach towns that can differ drastically, even when they’re walking distance from each other.
Some beaches are quiet and relatively remote, where you can stretch out and easily find “real estate” even in the high season.
Some are where the party’s at, with heavy summer crowds that flock there for a reason (hint: because it’s a blast).
Some are ideal for surfers, some for families, some for those who prefer the sound of the waves to the sound of somebody’s bluetooth speaker.
Here’s your beach breakdown, from North to (all the way) South — study this before you call your realtor, so you can home in on the beaches that fit your vibe.
Brigantine
“Brig” may be the most local beach in all of South Jersey, for better and worse. With only a single bridge on and off the island, their beaches are more spacious and quieter than most, though they’re not entirely free of summer crowds.
What to love: It’s all yours. Brigantine beaches are big, less crowded than most, and rarely overrun by “shoobies.” There’s no boardwalk, but that’s not a bad thing. If you live here, you’re likely to know the people lounging on either side of you, even in the summertime.
What not to love: Greenhead flies. These murderous pests are more common in Brigantine than elsewhere in South Jersey, and their painful bites will have you slapping yourself silly if the wind’s going in the wrong direction.
Atlantic City
Nope, it’s not just casinos. AC has a beach scene, with the added bonus of the island’s liveliest boardwalk being steps away from your blanket.
What to love: The aforementioned boardwalk. You can trot up the sand to beach bars like Bungalow Beach for a to-go bevvy, and enjoy the kind of tragicomic people-watching that only AC can offer.
It’s literally the same sand and ocean as swankier options on the same island, like Margate and Longport, but with a party atmosphere and an unpretentious clientele.
What not to love: It’s AC, man. That means casino tourists galore, and a small but noticeable dose of what some might call a “seedier” element. That’s not to say it isn’t safe; but a moderate amount of street smarts is advisable; i.e., don’t go leaving your valuables unattended.
Ventnor
AC’s quieter, decidedly more local next-door neighbor Ventnor sits in a perfect “Goldilocks Zone” between the hustle-bustle of the city and the trust-fund vibes further downbeach in Margate and Longport.
What to love: You’re just as likely to run into local friends and family on this beach as shoobies. Beaches near the business districts will have more amenities and places that’ll deliver lunch to the sand, but you’re not contending with bar crowds or party animals (Ventnor’s bar/restaurant scene is cute, but modest).
If the kids want a little more stimulation, there’s a playground just on the other side of the boardwalk at a few spots, including by the public library. All in all, you can expect the typical crowds during summer weekends, but it’s generally less packed than more obvious tourist destinations.
What not to love: If you’re here to party, this is not your first choice.
Plus, while there is a boardwalk (part of a continuous run that starts at the North end of Atlantic City), there’s nothing on it but wood, a few benches and pavilions, and foot showers. All the shops, restaurants, and businesses are a few blocks into town.
Margate
Calm, clean, and boardwalk-free, Margate beaches are somehow luxurious and homey at the same time. While Ventura’s Greenhouse beach bar and the “Barbary Coast” draw a certain amount of partygoers, the party element is small, well-contained, and generally well-behaved.
What to love: It’s pristine. Margate is a small, wealthy town that likes to keep things tidy. The overwhelming majority of beachgoers live or own property there (there are no motels or hotels, and rentals tend to be longer-term). The beach patrol is on top of their game, so families can rest easy in terms of safety.
If you’re here to party, hang around Washington Avenue, which is essentially a funnel to and from the bayside collection of bars and restaurants known as the “Barbary Coast,” and near the town’s only beach bar.
What not to love: It gets crowded in the high season, and the beach is relatively narrow. Stay away from Washington Avenue if you’re not into the drinking scene. The Greenhouse is really your only option for food and drink straight off the sand, but local shops deliver to the beach.
Bonus tip: Margate and Ventnor share a single beach badge, so you get 2 beaches for the price of one.
Longport
The polar opposite of AC sits at the southern tip of the same island. Even though it’s only a few miles downbeach, it’s truly a world away.
Longport has few year-round residents, and mostly comprises multi-million dollar beach homes that sit empty for 10 months out of the year. That means relatively quieter beaches, though they’re not immune to the summer crowds. Somehow even more pristine than Margate, Longport is a gem.
What to love: Spotlessly clean beach, with almost nothing by way of bars, restaurants, or businesses around for those who aren’t looking for a party. There’s also a well-maintained lifeguard station with full-service restrooms.
What not to love: If you are looking for a bite or a beverage, you’ll have to bring your own. Longport is the epitome of a “sleepy” town, with one or two restaurants, a lot of bazillion-dollar homes, and not much else.
Ocean City
Ocean City has a well-deserved reputation as the family beach town.
Its boardwalk is legendary, with food, shops, games, and arcades for miles. Its beaches are safe, clean, and well-guarded, with room for sunbathers, surfers, and everyone else. The town is dry, so there are literally zero shenanigans anywhere on the single-city island.
What to love: Endless boardwalk options, well-maintained full-service public restrooms, busy but well-managed beaches, and enough space to handle the summer crowds. There are almost 60 blocks worth of ocean-side beach, plus bonus bayside beaches (generally, the higher-number street you’re on, the less crowded the beach will be, with the island ending at Corson’s Inlet State Park).
What not to love: If you’re not here for family fun, you might enjoy somewhere with a little more rizz, like AC, Sea Isle, or even Margate. Ocean City is committed to its position as the Hallmark Channel of beaches, so the adults come second.
Strathmere
Strathmere is a purist’s beach, where you go to get away. There is almost literally nothing here except the sea and sand, with a single iconic restaurant in the Deauville and its adjacent bayside bar.
What to love: The seclusion. There are lifeguards, but that’s about it. Bring whatever you need, because there’s nowhere to get it — and that’s exactly what makes it some people’s favorite beach, especially in the busiest parts of the summer.
What not to love: See above. Strathmere isn’t trying to get you to stay to dine, drink, and shop. It’s a town. With a beach. Period.
Sea Isle
Sea Isle’s where the party is. It’s about dive bars, crowded beaches, young people being young people, and making mistakes and memories all at once.
What to love: It’s fun. The beach, like the town itself, gets very crowded in the summer, largely with young people on a mission to maximize enjoyment of the precious, fleeting years before college ends and reality begins. That’s not to say you can’t bring the family; it’s just not Ocean City, knowhatImean?
What not to love: It’s messy. It has a reputation as the frat party of the Shore, and while that’s not all it is, that’s not exactly inaccurate.
Stone Harbor/Avalon
Swankier, more aesthetic, and downright romantic, Stone Harbor and Avalon have the kinds of beaches people paint pictures of. They’re spacious, framed by abundant greenery, soft of sand, and generally calm.
Like Strathmere and Sea Isle, Stone Harbor and Avalon share an island. Unlike Strathmere and Sea Isle, they’re so comparable that people tend to think of them as a single entity.
What to love: The calm, quiet, classic vibe and aesthetic. These beaches look like the covers of novels set on the beach, and the people who frequent them are generally after a quietly elegant, relaxing time. There’s an air of privilege, but not in a bad way, like if a Nicole Kidman character were a beach.
What not to love: Honestly? It’s hard to complain. It’s not purpose-built for families like Ocean City, or a party zone like Sea Isle, or frill-free like Strathmere. It’s just clean, spacious beaches in a place that likes to keep things elegant.
The Wildwoods
With three distinct sub-cultures, the Wildwoods are a triple threat. Like Absecon Island (home to AC, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport), there’s a noticeably different “vibe” depending on which section of the island you’re in — North Wildwood, regular ol’ Wildwood, or Wildwood Crest.
What to love: There’s a vibe for everyone. North Wildwood and Wildwood are unpretentious, funky, and committed to an everyday idea of summer fun and enjoyment best embodied by its Doo-Wop aesthetic and classic Irish pubs. But if you’re feeling swanky, head to the Crest, where Diamond Beach offers the elegant Icona beach bar and a general air of elegance.
What not to love: It can get messy. Depending on where you throw your towel down, you might face overly thick crowds, a seedier brand of tourists, and some decidedly unfriendly locals. The iconic boardwalk has fallen on semi-hard times, with upticks in bad behavior that besmirch an otherwise beautiful place to catch some sun.
Cape May
Consistently ranked as one of the best beach towns — heck, best small towns generally — in America, Cape May is a place where residents feel lucky to live. Its obsession with its Victorian aesthetic isn’t just cute; it’s a statement of purpose in a place that also keeps its beaches pitch-perfect in all seasons.
What to love: The beach itself is clean, white-sanded, and picturesque, with “comfort stations” at close enough intervals for families to rest easy re: bathroom needs. The “boardwalk,” actually a stone promenade, has just enough going on, but not too much action to spoil the calm. A short walk from the sand and you’re among the iconic 19th-century homes and quaint business district. Breathe it in.
What not to love: It’s popular for a reason…sometimes too popular. Like most South Jersey beaches, it can get slammed with tourists in the high season, a condition amplified by Cape May’s status as a classic all-American resort town.
So which of these beach scenes speaks to you? If you’re thinking about buying or renting, you can’t go wrong. Just do the research, ideally in person, and don’t commit until you know what kind of beach speaks most clearly to your soul.
