Island Beach State Park

Stretching across a narrow barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, Island Beach State Park is one of New Jersey’s last significant remnants of undeveloped barrier beach. Established in 1953, this 3,003-acre park in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, preserves a landscape that once defined the entire Jersey Shore — rolling dunes, maritime forests, tidal marshes, and nearly 10 miles of coastline largely untouched by boardwalks or condos.

The park divides naturally into three zones. The northern section offers the most accessible swimming beaches with lifeguard-staffed areas in summer. The central maritime forest shelters osprey nests, red foxes, and one of the northernmost stands of holly on the East Coast. The southern natural area draws surf anglers chasing striped bass and bluefish during legendary fall runs that pull fishermen from across the Mid-Atlantic.

Beyond fishing and swimming, Island Beach delivers excellent kayaking and paddleboarding on the calm bayside, birding along the Barnegat Bay shoreline, and nature trails winding through freshwater wetlands. Scuba diving is permitted in designated areas, and the park hosts guided dune walks and wildlife programs throughout the season.

Summer weekends fill the parking lots early — the park closes to new vehicles once capacity is reached, so arrive before 9 AM on July and August weekends. Spring and fall offer fewer crowds, mild weather, and prime fishing. Winter brings solitude and dramatic coastal scenery.

Island Beach proves that the wildest stretch of the Jersey Shore is also its most beautiful.

Explore Nearby

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