I found this ranking NJ.com makes of the 44 beaches of New Jersey.
While Monmouth and Ocean did well, I have a few things to say about the recap.
The authors (and binders) of this piece met their criteria.
We judged oceanfront beaches only (not bay, lake, or riverside) based on beach quality, type and size of crowd, availability of parking, and food, drink and surrounding entertainment. We went to one beach per town.
To be fair, the vendors on this list said:
…being the worst beach in New Jersey is a lot like being the worst pizza in New Jersey – it’s still better than most.
We’ll take a look.
44. Seaside Park. (?!)
by GIPHY
Maybe I’m biased because I spent my summers growing up in Seaside Park. There’s no way he deserves to be the last dead. NJ.com says:
“The beach itself is nothing to write home about – not worth the $10 per person daily badge fee. If you’ve made it all the way to Vanilla Seaside Park, walk a few more miles to the Island Beach State Park and have a REAL beach day.”
43. Monmouth Beach
Ok, parking is difficult. Welcome to the Jersey Shore! Monmouth Beach is too low on the list.
40. Atlantic City
So they are trying to tell us that Atlantic City beaches are better than Seaside Park and Monmouth Beach. Please.
37. Brigantine
36. Mantoloking
Sure, Bay Head’s general beach access isn’t huge, but it’s a great local beach. It should be higher.
34. Loch Arbor
NJ.com says:
Small crowds help keep the beach in pristine condition, though dining and entertainment options are lacking. If you’re looking for a low-key, no-frills beach, Loch Arbor is a solid bet.
Exactly why it’s great!
32. Agreement
by GIPHY
NJ.com’s biggest complaint was that it was difficult to find the beach at Deal. Really?
The deal should be higher.
31. Town of Ventnor
30. Town of Margate
29. Longport
28. Pleasant Point Beach
by GIPHY
Far on this one. Pt. Pleasant Beach is an excellent beach town that deserves more than a #28 ranking. NJ.com’s beef is hard parking (what else is new) and loud people. Gotta do better than that.
It’s a quiet place, certainly, and if you’re looking for minimal disturbance and a bit of personality, this is your spot. But let’s be real: it’s a pain in the ass.
To disagree.
26. Ortley Beach
25. Girdle of the Sea
Sea Girt deserves better.
24. Stone Harbor
23. Bright Sea
If it’s good enough for Tony Soprano, it’s good enough for you, isn’t it?
Stop with The Sopranos. Hopefully that didn’t affect Sea Bright’s ranking, because 23 is too low.
22. Lavallette
16. Spring Lake
A clean, long and well maintained beach. Ample parking. A low-key promenade with a pavilion that sells sandwiches, burgers and ice cream. There’s not much to do at Spring Lake Beach, but it’s perfect for a no-frills, no-frills day at the beach. A solid place to get away from the stereotypical Jersey Shore crowd.
Based on this description, Spring Lake should be in the top 10.
14. Sand Hook
13. Avon by the Sea
Nothing against Avon-by-the-Sea, but I think the other towns on this list deserved to be ranked higher.
12. Asbury Park
by GIPHY
I’ve always thought that the “trendy” title of Asbury Park takes away what an amazing beach town it is. The fact that Asbury got the comeback he got should put him firmly in the top 10. Here’s what NJ.com had to say.
There’s no trendier beach in the Garden State, and for good reason. It’s arguably the best surrounding area of any New Jersey beach, featuring a wide boardwalk with food options ranging from quick bites to fine dining, plus watering holes like the famous Wonder Bar and The Stone Pony. , the latter hosting a series of summer concerts. who regularly draws major acts. The immense popularity exacerbates the beach’s biggest problem: it’s not big enough to support those massive crowds. On top of that, while I wouldn’t call the sand “dirty” per se, but it’s far from the nicest you’ll find on the shore. And parking is a disaster, whether you’re going to the beach or hanging out in town.
11. Avalon
10. Island Beach State Park
Much more laid-back than its southern cousins, Bradley Beach is family-friendly and low-key while still being a great, if a bit thin, beach. The boardwalk is made of stone cobblestones, has several dining options and even a mini-golf course and is separated from the beach by a row of dunes. If that didn’t convince you, the surprisingly large parking lot might lead you there. And just steps from the beach is a row of great restaurants – we can’t recommend breakfast at Buttered Biscuit highly enough.
Well said.
4. Beach Haven
I love LBI, but there is an uneven amount of love for the island.
2. Harvey Cedars
Nice place, but not worthy of #2
1. Cape May
I really can’t argue with this choice for the top. I kind of had a feeling he would land No. 1.
Even inland, Jersey is the best. WATCH: Here are the 25 best places to live in New Jersey
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from
Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors, including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation, and weather. Towns, suburbs and towns have been included. Ads and images are from
real estate agent.com.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings ranging from great schools and nightlife to great walking and public parks. Some areas have seen rapid growth as new businesses moved into the area, while others offer a glimpse into the region’s history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown makes the list.
MORE: Here are the best small towns to live in across America
