Enjoy Sand, Surf and Much More
at Island Beach State Park!
When you think of the Jersey shore, images of the bright lights and busyness of the boardwalk, seaside amusements and large crowds likely come to mind. But if this isn’t your idea of a day at the beach, there’s still a perfect Jersey shore destination for you. Island Beach State Park is a New Jersey gem and features all the beauty of the Jersey shore without the flashiness of the boardwalk and beachfront motels.
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Island Beach State Park is the perfect NJ beach for people who love an unspoiled, pristine beach. The park features 10 miles of white sandy beaches, as well as freshwater wetlands, a maritime forest and tidal marshes. It’s the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and offers a beautiful setting for biking, hiking, fishing, bird-watching and viewing of other wildlife, kayaking, and – of course – swimming.
Island Beach State Park offers guarded ocean beach swimming areas at Bathing Areas 1 and 2, as well as near Fisherman’s Walkway. Lifeguards are on duty daily during the summer season (and weekends during the “shoulder seasons” in the spring and fall) between 10am and 6pm. The park offers changing areas as well as showers, which are great for cleaning up after a long day at the beach.
Picnicking is permitted on the beach at Island Beach State Park. It is a “carry in – carry out” park, so please leave the beach as clean (or cleaner) than you found it. And – please – don’t feed the seagulls!!! If you’d like to do some grilling or have a campfire on the beach, you may do so south of the bathing areas (fires must be at least 50 feet east of the dunes). Don’t want to pack your food in? No worries – Island Beach State Park also has a snack bar at the Bathing Area pavilion, as well as the Red Fox Beach Bar and Grill for those who’d like more of a sit-down meal or a beer or cocktail.
Island Beach State Park also features a number of trails that travel through the park’s diverse ecosystems including ocean beachfront, dune areas, thickets, freshwater wetlands, a maritime forest, and tidal marshes. The trails are perfect for small children as most of them are less than a half mile in length and offer visitors an opportunity to observe wildlife (such as red fox, osprey, and diamondback terrapins) and plant life (such as beach plum, Atlantic white cedar, highbush blueberry, prickly pear cactus and more).
The Island Beach State Park Nature Center and the Interpretive Center offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the history and unique ecosystems of Island Beach State Park through live animal exhibits and educational, hands-on displays. Don’t miss the chance to view the osprey in its nest through the live Osprey Cam!
Many fun and educational programs and events are offered at Island Beach State Park through the NJ state parks as well as the Friends of Island Beach State Park. Programs include kayak eco-tours, surf fishing clinics for beginners, guided hikes, kids’ surfing lessons, mini camp experiences, and much more.
Many special events take place at Island Beach State Park each year. Some perennial favorites are the Beach Plum Festival, a Surf Contest, Ocean Fun Days, and the May Day Spring Festival and Pet Expo. Speaking of pets, leashed dogs are permitted in the park but must be kept south of the Ocean swimming areas from Memorial Day Weekend through the beginning of October. Furry friends are not permitted on the Spizzle Creek Bird Blind Trail at any time.
One more awesome thing about Island Beach State Park is that admission is a steal! During the peak summer season, NJ residents pay just $6 per car on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays, and just $5 per car in the off-season (out of state residents pay just slightly more). Plan to visit frequently? You can purchase an annual state park pass for just $50. The annual pass is good at all New Jersey state parks!
Looking for more NJ beach bargains?
Be sure to check our Guide to Free Beaches in New Jersey!
Island Beach State Park is located at the south end of Route 35 in Seaside Park NJ. The park is open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
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