The Jersey Shore stretches about 130 miles from Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May in the south, with a town for every taste: national parkland at Sandy Hook, music and nightlife in Asbury Park, Victorian calm in Ocean Grove and Spring Lake, boardwalk fun in Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights, family beaches on Long Beach Island, casinos in Atlantic City, a dry, family-friendly boardwalk in Ocean City, Doo Wop motels in Wildwood and Victorian elegance in Cape May. Most towns require beach badges in summer.

North to south

Town Vibe From Midtown
Sandy Hook Beaches, lighthouse, history About 1 hour
Long Branch & Asbury Park Lively, music, dining 1–1.25 hours
Ocean Grove & Spring Lake Quiet, Victorian About 1.25 hours
Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk, aquarium, fishing About 1.25 hours
Seaside Heights Classic boardwalk About 1.5 hours
Long Beach Island Family beaches, lighthouse About 2 hours
Atlantic City Casinos, boardwalk 2–2.5 hours
Ocean City Family boardwalk, no alcohol sales About 2.5 hours
Wildwood Wide beaches, Doo Wop architecture About 2.75 hours
Cape May Victorian, beaches, birding About 3 hours

Times are approximate and off-peak; summer weekends are much slower.

Beach badges

Most municipal beaches require daily, weekly or seasonal badges from around Memorial Day to Labor Day. State parks like Sandy Hook and Island Beach charge parking fees instead.

Traffic

The Garden State Parkway is the main artery, and summer Friday and Sunday traffic is notorious. Read Friday getaway traffic and the Garden State Parkway history.

Detailed guides

Read Sandy Hook, Asbury Park, Long Beach Island, Atlantic City and Cape May.