Get to know the Ocean City Beach in New Jersey

Ocean City, New Jersey dubs itself as America’s greatest family resort. With eight miles of beautiful beaches and bay for sunbathing, boating, fishing, jet skis and kayaking; 2.5 miles of boardwalk complete with two amusement parks, a water park, go-carts, bike rentals and miniature golf and more, it’s easy to see why some families love the Ocean City beach more than others.

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The Ocean City Beach is open this summer

This information is accurate as of August 4, 2023. If you are looking for updates after this date, please check with the beach directly.

The Ocean City boardwalk, beaches and shared-use path on the Route 52 causeway are open for exercise and active recreation – including walking, running, surfing, exercising, swimming, and fishing.

Beach Tags & Admission Fees

Beach badges are being sold. Beach Tags are required for all beachgoers ages 12 and older and will be in effect from Memorial Day Weekend through mid September in 2023.

Purchase beach tags at the following locations:

• City Hall (861 Asbury Ave.)- 9:00 am-6:00 pm daily
• Rt. 52 Welcome Center Mon-Fri 9:00 am-4:30 pm; Sat 9:00 am-4:00 pm; Sun 9:00 am-2:00 pm
• Henry Knight Building (12th Street and Haven Ave.) – Mon-Fri  9:00 am-4:30 pm
• Aquatic & Fitness Center (17th Street and Simpson Ave.) – Mon-Fri 5:00 am-9:00 pm; Sat. & Sun. 7:00 am-5:00 pm
• 34th Street Welcome Center 10:00 am-3:00 pm Monday – Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm Saturday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm Sunday
• 46th Street Welcome Center 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily
• Music Pier Information Center (Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk, weather permitting) – 9:00 am-10:00 pm daily
• Order Ocean City beach tags online at store.ocnj.us.

• Weekly, daily, and military beach tags will be available at a later date. Please check the Ocean City website to see which passes can be purchased at which location.
• Seasonal beach badges WILL be available.
  • Seasonal tags cost $30 if purchased by May 31, 2023. Only seasonal tags are available for purchase if using online or mail-order options.
  • To assure delivery of tags by the start of the season, please place all mail orders and online orders no later than May 17, 2023. While the pre-season cost of $30 will still apply, on-time delivery cannot be guaranteed after that date.

Ocean City Beach Webcams

Check the status and crowds on the following Ocean City Beach webcams.

• Ocean City Beach webcam at 2nd Street
• Ocean City Beach webcam at 7th Street
• Ocean City Beach webcam Boardwalk at 7th Street
• Ocean City Beach webcam Boardwalk at 11th Street

What is allowed on the Ocean City beach this summer?

• Walking, running, exercise and fishing
• Surfing – When Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguards are on duty during the summer, the following beaches are designated for surfing:
  • Waverly Boulevard
  • Seventh Street
  • 16th Street
  • Beaches south of 36th Street where lifeguard stands are three blocks apart.
• Swimming is allowed starting Saturday, Memorial Day Weekend to mid September.

Will lifeguards be on duty?

Lifeguards will be on duty beginning Memorial Day Weekend to mid September. During the season, lifeguards will be on duty from 10 am to 5:30 pm weekends and holidays and from 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays. For a list of guarded beaches, check their website www.ocnj.us/ocbp.

Are there bathrooms open at the Ocean City NJ beach?

Ocean City NJ bathrooms/public restrooms on the boardwalk are open and being cleaned throughout the day. Hand sanitization stations are available at regular intervals along the boardwalk.

Restrooms are located at 1st Street, 6th Street, Music Pier, 11th Street, 12th Street, 34^th Street (use OCBP bathrooms), 58^th Street Beach. All Ocean City NJ bathrooms are handicapped accessible.

Ocean City NJ Boardwalk

The boardwalk is open for walking, running, bicycling and surreys. All businesses are open and operating for the 2023 season.

Where can I park at the Ocean City beach?

Parking meters and fees for surface lots are in effect from early May through early October each year.

Drivers can also pay to park with their smartphones using a new app for iPhone, Android, Windows, Amazon, and Blackberry phones, or by calling the toll-free number on the green meter stickers. Users must first must register either by downloading the mobile app in their phone’s app store (search “ParkMobile”) or online at ParkMobile.io . Once registered, they may use the mobile app, internet, or the toll-free number to pay for parking.

If staying at the Ocean City beach for a few hours it will usually be cheaper to use street parking meters. Ocean City has them available for 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours. The closer you are to the beach the more expensive the rate. For example, 3 hours at a 3-hour meter about 5 blocks from the beach is about $2-$3. A 4-hour meter closer to the boardwalk can run $10-$11 for 4 hours.

Learn more about the Ocean City parking options.

Do the Ocean City NJ Beach have a playground?

Ocean City has multiple playgrounds but none are on the beach. Read about them here.

• Ocean City Recreation Center Playground
• Ocean City 8th Street Playground

Is the Ocean City beach handicap accessible?

Ocean City works constantly to make streets, sidewalks, the beach, bay and boardwalk accessible to those with disabilities or limited mobility. 

• The Ocean City Sports & Civic Center, located on 6th Street at the Boardwalk, runs the city’s Surf Chair Program. Beach-accessible wheelchairs are available at 46th Street Information Center (46th Street and West Avenue) from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Surf Chairs are also available at Lifeguard Headquarters (1st Street, 12th Street, 34th Street, and 58th Street) for temporary use to shuttle individuals onto the beach. The program is for individuals of all ages. Available Memorial Day to Labor Day. Can be rented daily or for a 1-week maximum. Call 609-554-0352 for information or reservations.
• A limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow for free for daily use only on the boardwalk for two hours at a time. You can pick them up at the Music Pier Info Center (on the boardwalk between 8th Street and 9th Street), first-come, first-served.  Call 609-399-6111, ext. 9337 with questions.
• For a listing of Ocean City accessible beaches visit www.ocnj.us/handicapped-accessibility.
• For more information on NJ beaches with handicap-accessible ramps or beach wheelchairs click here.

What are the rules for Ocean City beaches?

• Smoking and vaping is against the law on all beaches and beach entrances.
• Dogs are not permitted on the beach at any time between May 1st and September 30th.
• The beach closes at 8 pm.
• Backpacks are not allowed on the boardwalk after 8 pm.
• Drinking alcohol on the beach or in public is strictly prohibited.
• Do not feed the gulls or any other wildlife.
• Any type of fire or barbecue is prohibited at all times year round.
• Never walk on the dunes.
• Ball playing “that is deemed unsafe to the public” is prohibited.
• To hawk or peddle, sell or offer for sale any article, goods, wares, or merchandise on the public beaches is prohibited.
• It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle (including an automobile, truck, motorcycle, or any other vehicle of any nature driven by motor power) on the beaches of the city (without an off-season permit for fishing).

Where can I learn more about this beach?

For more information about the Ocean City beaches, call (609) 399-6111 or visit the Ocean City website.

Nearby Activities

What is there to do near Ocean City beach?

• The boardwalk at the Ocean City NJ beaches offers arcades, miniature golf courses, escape rooms, and more.

Where can I eat nearby?

• Ocean City restaurants and eateries are located on and off the boardwalk.

Want to find out about other New Jersey beaches?

Visit our New Jersey Beaches and Beach Tag Guide.