Two Moro's Travels

Island beach state Park located on New Jersey’s coast is the perfect place to enjoy a day relaxing on the beach.

Driving almost 2 hours to get to Island Beach State is quite a drive, but most definitely, go. Take the time. Drive it. It is totally worth it. It’s nourishment for the soul. This Beach State Park is a long, thin, barrier reef shaped by storms and tidal waves.  There are 10 miles of powdery, white, deep, sand that is continuously replenished by the rolling tides.  Walking in it is a workout, whether it’s from the parking lot or on the beach itself. It is not a hard-packed beach, but the beach itself is worth the walk.  The claim is that it can get crowded on the weekends and summer months; we have not experienced that but we visit between September to May (the reverse of summer seasonal visitors). In the summers, we are off exploring other places.   

Some things to keep in mind:

Cost: 

The cost:  $20.00 per carload on Friday through Sunday. During the week it is only $12.00 If you are 62 or older or permanently disable, you qualify to apply for a NJ state park pass. This summer, 2022, NJ made all state parks and beaches free to enter. The beach opens at 7 AM and closes at 8 PM

Parking / rest rooms:

There are 22 parking areas. The first one (#1) has bathrooms and a couple of places to eat and is ample with lots of parking places. The other parking areas could be as small as spaces for only 8-10 cars. If you arrive between 8-10 AM, you should have no problem finding a spot; at least we always have. Bathroom facilities are located at lots: 1, 6, 13, 19, and 21. The map here and at the end of this blog gives you a better perspective of the area.

Swimming: 

About one mile of beach in the park , near lots #1 and #7 are designated areas for swimming with on -duty lifeguards. They are on duty during the weekends only from Memorial Day to about June. Mid-June to Labor Day weekend they are lifeguards everyday at areas # 1 and #7   

Best time to visit:

After Labor Day is when we usually visit and the crowds have died down We bring a chair and a blanket or two, and take it all in. The worries and stress just don’t seem as important on the beach while sitting there watching the waves come up and recede. Keep in mind, the temperature can be much lower here than inland. One weekend in May, it was 97 degrees 2 hours inland while the temperature on the beach only hit 67 degrees. The winds were blowing 10- 20 miles per hours; even in the sun, it was very cool. But we managed to still get a tan.

Dogs:  

They must be kept on a no longer that 6-foot leash and they are not allowed in the swimming (lifeguard) area. We, at the moment, do not have a dog but are glad that this is a pet-friendly beach.  

Driving on the beach

Driving on the beach; This requires a permit, and you must be surf fishing not joy-riding around on the beach. If I lived closer, I’d be tempted to learn to surf-fish and spend the day on the beach with all the accouterments handy for comfort: a canopy, a table, a grill…. Grill rules: Grills may be used south of the sunbathing area provided that all fires are kept 50 feet east of the dunes.

Things to do:

Swimming, sun-bathing, surf-fishing, dog walking, beach-combing, surfing; just to name a few.

Things to pack: 

Spending 3-4 hours on the beach, here is what we took and it was sufficient: big water jug with ice and some snacks, such as: protein bars, fruits, crackers, or rice cakes. I packed my Contigo coffee mug; my husband takes his with cold brew and ice, and I like my hot coffee. The double pack is the best deal and the one we purchased. . We are not affiliated with Amazon. I make no money from this. This is just a product I have used for many years and highly recommend.

Additional Images of Island Beach State Park in New Jersey

This map shows you different parking areas and the lines give you an idea of how long they are. It also has regular walking trails and water trails for boats. 

Island Beach is located at these coordinates for the GPS crowd: 39°54′18.98″N 74°4′53.15″W 

Quote: anonymous