Corson’s Inlet State Park occupies 341 acres of undeveloped barrier island between Ocean City and Strathmere in Cape May County, New Jersey. Established in 1963, the park protects one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the Jersey Shore — a stretch of dune systems, tidal marshes, and overwash plains that looks much as it did centuries ago.

The inlet itself is a dynamic tidal channel where the Atlantic meets the back bays, creating a constantly shifting landscape of sandbars and shallow waters. This makes it one of South Jersey’s best spots for shorebird watching, particularly during spring and fall migrations when plovers, sandpipers, and terns gather along the beach. The park’s marine habitat also supports horseshoe crabs, whose spawning draws birders each May.

Visitors come for beach walking, swimming, surf fishing, and birding along trails that wind through the dune fields and coastal scrub. The undeveloped beach offers a quieter alternative to Ocean City’s bustling boardwalk just to the north — no lifeguards, no concessions, just open sand and salt air. Kayakers and canoers paddle the back-bay marshes, where osprey nest overhead and diamondback terrapins surface in the shallows.

The park does not offer camping facilities. For the best experience, visit between late April and October. Late spring brings peak shorebird activity, while summer is ideal for swimming and fishing. Fall offers uncrowded beaches and brilliant marsh colors.

Corson’s Inlet rewards visitors who prefer their coastline wild and unhurried — a rare undeveloped stretch along one of America’s most developed shorelines.

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