Long Beach Island, Ocean County, New Jersey, USA
LBI — New Jersey's beloved 18-mile barrier island paradise, where multi-generational families return year after year for quiet beach towns, great surf, bay kayaking, and Barnegat Lighthouse sunsets.
Location
Long Beach Island, Ocean County, NJ
Sand Type
Fine White Atlantic Sand
Water Clarity
Good — Northern Mid-Atlantic
Facilities
Beach Badges Required, Lifeguards
Best Season
June – September
Nearest Airport
Atlantic City Intl (ACY) — 60 km
Long Beach Island — universally called "LBI" by the generations who love it — is one of New Jersey's most cherished barrier islands, stretching 18 miles along the Ocean County coast. Unlike the flashier resort strips at Atlantic City or Wildwood, LBI's identity is resolutely residential and family-oriented: more than 80% of properties are vacation homes passed down or rented within tight circles of loyalists. "Going down the shore" in New Jersey almost invariably means coming to LBI for families in Central and North Jersey.
The island encompasses 18 separate municipalities with distinctly different characters: Ship Bottom (gateway at the bridge and home of most services), Beach Haven (the most commercial south end with bars and restaurants), Surf City (the surfer's hub), Harvey Cedars (quiet and upscale), and a string of quieter residential boroughs in between. The ocean beach runs continuously along the entire eastern edge, with each borough maintaining its own lifeguard stands and beach badge programs. Back bay activities — kayaking in Barnegat Bay, crabbing off docks, sailing — are as central to the LBI experience as ocean swimming.
At the northern tip, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park protects one of New Jersey's most recognizable landmarks — "Old Barney," the 172-foot red-banded lighthouse rising over Barnegat Inlet. The park's jetty provides some of the best surf and snorkeling in the region, with abundant marine life in the inlet current. Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company and other local seafood operations make fresh Ocean County seafood a highlight of any LBI stay.
LBI has good beach accessibility with many municipalities providing beach wheelchairs and accessible beach mats. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park has accessible visitor facilities. The flat terrain of the island is excellent for cyclists and manageable for mobility-impaired visitors. Various beach access points provide paved paths to the sand. The bay side docks and launch areas are generally accessible.
From the GSP take Exit 63 to Route 72 east — the Manahawkin Bridge connects to Ship Bottom on the island. No public transportation serves the island — a car is essential. Parking within the island is limited and fills in peak summer; many visitors park near the bridge and ride bikes over. Bridge traffic on summer Friday evenings can back up significantly — plan to arrive Saturday morning or early Friday to avoid delays.
🏳️ Barnegat Lighthouse
Iconic "Old Barney" — 172-foot lighthouse offering panoramic ocean and bay views
🦀 Bay Village
Beach Haven shopping, dining, and nightlife district on the bay side
🐟 Fantasy Island
Small family amusement park in Beach Haven with a beloved local following
🌊 Barnegat Bay
Critical estuary and shallow-water kayaking/crabbing paradise along the island's western shore