Erin Lanahan Warm weather has arrived in many parts of New Jersey, which has us daydreaming about sitting on the sandy beaches of the Shore with a Wawa sub in one hand and a crisp, cold drink in the other. As of April 1st, 2026, several Jersey Shore town announced their beach badge prices for the 2026 season. It’s the time of year when many people question why Jersey towns continue to charge people to set foot on the beach time and time again. Read on for a guide to beach badge prices for the 2026 summer season for New Jersey shore towns.
Why Do We Need Beach Badges Again?
Most municipalities along the New Jersey coastline require beach tags. The fee helps offset the costs of maintaining beaches, providing lifeguards, and other services like trash removal, police patrols, beach cleaning, and buying new equipment for the beach.
Read More: Why Living at the Jersey Shore Is Good for Your Health
Beaches require visitors to show their beach tag or buy a daily pass between Memorial Day and Labor Day, usually for ages 12 and older. Those tags must be displayed while you’re on the beach, because there’s usually a retiree or Jersey teen combing the beach throughout the day to make sure everyone paid to be there. Most towns require the beach tag between 9AM and 5PM.
Any Free Beaches?
There are a handful of beaches along the Jersey Shore that don’t require you to spend your rainy day fund to step on the beach. The following beaches are free for all Jersey residents and visitors:
- The Wildwoods (Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood)
- Atlantic City Beaches
- Keansburg Beach | Main Street and Beachway Avenue, Keansburg
- Ideal Beach | Bayside Parkway, Middletown
- Leonardo Beach | Beach Avenue, Middletown
- Union Beach | Front Street, Union Beach
- William Morrow Beach | Bay Avenue, Somers Point
- Higbee Beach | 1 Higbees Beach Road, Cape May
- Bay Front Park | 1514 Beach Boulevard, Forked River
See More: A Guide to Golf Courses + Simulators in Northern New Jersey
Beach Badge Prices For Summer 2026
Most Jersey Shore towns announced their prices for 2026, with a few to be announced later in April 2026. We compiled a list of all of the prices for seasonal beach badges and daily passes for each shore town. Some quick observations: the highest seasonal beach badge is $130 for Jenkinson’s at Point Pleasant Beach. Avalon raised its seasonal tag from $40 to $42 for the season.
- Asbury Park
- Adult Season Badge: $70.00
- Senior Season Badge (62+): $20.00
- Teen Season Badge: $20.00
- Daily (Weekday): $7.00
- Daily (Weekend + Holiday): $10.00
- Avalon
- (Before May 31) Season Tag: $37
- (After May 31) Season Tag: $42
- Weekly: $18
- Daily: $10
- Avon-by-the-Sea: To be announced.
- Bay Head: To be announced.
- Bradley Beach
- Junior Season Badge (13, 14, & 15): $35
- Adult Season Badge (16-64): $90
- Senior Season Badge (65+): $35
- Brigantine
- Seasonal (Before May 31): $20
- Seasonal (After May 31): $25
- Seniors (60-64) (Before May 31): $10
- Daily: $10
- Weekly: $15
- Senior over 65: Free tag with ID
- Brick Township
- Season Badge (Before May 15): $30
- Season Badge (After May 15): $45
- Daily Wristband: $10
- Belmar
- Adult Season Badge: $80
- Seniors/Disabled: $32
- Daily: $12
- Beach Haven
- Adult Season Badge (Before May 31): $40
- (After June 1) Season Badge: $50
- Weekly: $20
- Daily: $10
- Cape May
- Seasonal Tags (Before April 30): $30
- Lavallette
- (Before May 1) Season Badge: $60
- Season Badge: $65
- Senior: $25
- Weekly: $40
- Daily: $13
- Long Branch
- Season Badge: $70
- Junior Season Badge (14-17): $30
- Long Beach Township
- Pre-season badge (Before June 15): $40
- Regular seasonal badges (After June 15): $50
- Weekly: $20
- Daily: $10
- Manasquan
- Adult Badge (ages 17-64): $90.00
- Senior Badge (ages 65 or older): $35.00
- Junior Badges (ages 12-16): $45.00
- Ocean City
- (Before May 31) Season Tag: $30
- Season Tag: $35–$40
- Weekly: $20
- Daily: $10
- Ocean Grove
- Early Bird Season Badge (Before April 30): $100.00
- Regular Season Badge (After May 1): $105.00
- Youth/Senior Season Badge (12–17 years old / 65+): $54.00
- Daily Wristband (Starting May 23): $13.00
- Point Pleasant (Jenkinson’s)
- Adults Full Season (12+): $130
- Seniors Full Season(65+): $95
- Half Season Pass (Memorial Day to July 18 | July 19 to Labor Day): $95
- Sea Bright
- Season Beach Badge: $100.00
- Season Senior 65+ Badge: $35.00
- Season Disabled Badge: $35.00
- Daily Beach Badge (From May 23, 2026 – September 7, 2026): $10.00
- Sea Isle City
- (Before May 15) Season Tag: $25
- (After May 16) Season Tag: $30
- Weekly: $15
- Daily: $10
- Seaside Heights
- Season Badge: $75
- Senior Citizen Season Badge: $15
- Weekly: $50
- Daily: $13
- Sea Girt
- Season Badge: $115
- Senior: $70
- Daily: $11.98
- Seaside Park
- (Before June 15) Season Badge: $65
- (After June 15) Season Badge: $70
- Senior: $20
- Stone Harbor
- Season Badge (Before May 31): $37
- Season Badge (After May 31): $42
- Weekly: $18
- Daily $8
- Spring Lake
- Seasonal Beach Badge: $110
- Senior Beach Badge: $80
- Toms River (Ortley Beach)
- (Before June 14) Season Badge: $50
- (After June 14) Season Badge: $65
- Senior: $15
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