Long Beach Island

Travel Guide

Jersey Shore showing a beach as well as a large group of people
Atlantic City featuring a sandy beach and tropical scenes
Atlantic City featuring general coastal views and a beach as well as a large group of people
Jersey Shore featuring general coastal views and boating as well as a small group of people
Long Beach Island

Hop between a collection of attractive seaside townships and popular surf spots at the centre of the Jersey Shore coastline. 

Long Beach Island is a utopia for beach lovers, courting couples, families, partygoers and surfers. Discover the individual character of over half a dozen towns that spread along the 18-mile-long (29-kilometer) barrier island of Long Beach Island. Here stylish homes look out over waves crashing on the seashore and boats offer fishing tours from oceanfront marinas. Bars and restaurants line a central boulevard and a nature reserve teems with wildlife.

At the island’s northern tip is Barnegat Light, where vegetation-covered dunes spill down to the pristine white sand of Atlantic Ocean Beachfront. Stroll along a scenic pier at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and climb to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse. Parasailing excursions, party boats and sport fishing tours depart from Lighthouse Marina. Marvel at the luxurious mansions and watch beautiful sunsets in Harvey Cedars.

Surf City and Ship Bottom stand on either side of the causeway connecting to the mainland and are popular with daytrippers. Appropriately, Surf City is a great place to take surf lessons and ride rolling waves. Visit the bars, design stores, galleries, restaurants and surf shops on Long Beach Boulevard. To the south, Brant Beach and Long Beach Township offer similar activities at a slower pace.

Make your way to Beach Haven, the island’s action-packed and youthful entertainment center. Fantasy Island Amusement Park and Thundering Surf Water and Adventure Golf are major attractions. Browse maritime artifacts at the New Jersey Maritime Museum. October’s annual LBI Fly International Kite Festival takes place here and at other beaches.

For something different, visit Holgate Wilderness Area, which forms part of the larger Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Walk the deserted beaches, observe coastal vegetation and spot birdlife such as American oystercatchers and black skimmers.

Long Beach Island is 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Philadelphia. The free LBI Shuttle bus makes getting between the townships easy without a car. Alternatively, travel via rented bike it’ll take about 90 minutes to cross the entire island.

Where to stay in Long Beach Island

Atlantic City featuring general coastal views and a beach as well as a large group of people

Ship Bottom

You'll enjoy the beaches and museums in Ship Bottom. You might want to make time for a stop at Long Beach or Hartland Miniature Golf & Arcade.

Ship Bottom
Default Image

Surf City

Surf City is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Sandbar Golf and Long Beach.

Surf City
Default Image

North Beach Haven

While visiting North Beach Haven, you might make a stop by sights like Haven Beach and Brighton Beach.

North Beach Haven
Default Image

Harvey Cedars

You'll enjoy the beaches and restaurants in Harvey Cedars. You might want to make time for a stop at Long Beach or Harvey Cedars Bay Beach.

Harvey Cedars
Default Image

Brant Beach

If you're spending some time in Brant Beach, Brant Beach and Brighton Beach are top sights worth seeing.

Brant Beach
Default Image

South Beach Haven

While visiting South Beach Haven, you might make a stop by sights like Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and Long Beach.

South Beach Haven
Drifting Sands Oceanfront Hotel

Drifting Sands Oceanfront Hotel

3.5 out of 5
119 E 9th St, Ship Bottom, Beach Haven, NJ
The price is RM996 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
RM996
RM1,249 total
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star beach motel in Beach Haven. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,037 reviews)
"Loved our oceanfront room, balcony & view. Comfy bed! Wawa is right across the street. Worked out great to get some snacks for the beach!"

Reviewed on 28 Jul 2025

Drifting Sands Oceanfront Hotel
Hotel LBI

Hotel LBI

3.5 out of 5
350 W 8th St, Beach Haven, NJ
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Beach Haven. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,017 reviews)
"Lovely hotel with great staff. Pool however is unavailable until after 10 AM. Pricey."

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2025

Hotel LBI
Spray Beach Oceanfront Hotel

Spray Beach Oceanfront Hotel

3 out of 5
2401 Atlantic Ave, Beach Haven, NJ
Stay at this 3-star beach inn in Beach Haven. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (799 reviews)
"5 stars!!! Everything was amazing."

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2025

Spray Beach Oceanfront Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Boardwalk Resorts - Flagship

Boardwalk Resorts - Flagship

3.5 out of 5
60 N Maine Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly condo in Atlantic City. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the ...
7.6/10 Good! (3,834 reviews)
"Had to have room switched due to ac not working during night. Other than that wasn’t a bad stay. Room was clean and front desk helped."

Reviewed on 25 Jul 2025

Boardwalk Resorts - Flagship
Legacy Vacation Resorts Brigantine Beach

Legacy Vacation Resorts Brigantine Beach

3 out of 5
1400 Ocean Avenue, Brigantine, NJ
Stay at this 3-star beach aparthotel in Brigantine. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,684 reviews)
"I like it because it was right on the beach, staff was accommodating and friendly. Parking was difficult only when the restaurant was open and people used valet parking-our car would be blocked in and we had to ask that the car be moved to another space. That was an inconvenience. Other than that, ..."

Reviewed on 24 Jul 2025

Legacy Vacation Resorts Brigantine Beach
The Surf Club

The Surf Club

2 out of 5
811 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, NJ
Stay at this aparthotel in Ocean City. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Ocean City Boardwalk and Shriver's Salt Water ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (64 reviews)
"We liked how close to the boardwalk and restaurants we were. We don’t like how small the rooms were, we felt like the pictures online made it look bigger with more amenities. We also did not like how we had to pay for parking for 3 nights and no beach tags were provided."

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

The Surf Club
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit