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Ranked One of the Best Beaches in New Jersey USA Today ↗ #1 Best Small Town to Retire in New Jersey Stacker ↗ Voted One of the Best Places to Live in Ocean County Niche ↗

Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Perfect Surf City Week: Beaches, Dining, Rentals and More

  • Surf City, NJ Beaches and Beach Badge Info

    Surf City beach days, with help on access, badges, lifeguards, bathrooms, parking, and what to know before you go.

  • Where to Stay on Long Beach Island

    Surf City is more rental-house-and-shore-week than big hotel scene. Find the kind of location that fits your trip.

  • Best Restaurants and Dining in Surf City, NJ

    Restaurants, seafood, coffee, ice cream, and the casual food stops that help shape a Surf City week.

  • Things to Do in Surf City and LBI

    Things to do in and around Surf City, including shopping, water activities, rainy-day ideas, and nearby LBI stops.

  • Local History

    Old maps, local records, and Surf City stories that help you see more than just the beach.

Start Here

Your IndependentSurf City Travel Guide

This is not the borough office, a county tourism board, or an island-wide LBI guide. SurfCityNewJersey.com is an independent guide focused first on Surf City, built around real familiarity with the town, careful research, and the details that make a Surf City week easier to plan and better to remember.

Dune path leading to Surf City NJ beach with lifeguard stand and ocean view

Surf City Beaches & Badge Guide

Surf City is known for wide, clean beaches and a family-first atmosphere. The shoreline offers more space and better accessibility than the island’s denser ends, sitting at one of LBI’s narrowest points where the Atlantic is just a short stroll from the bay. While beach badges are required for ages 12–64 during the summer season, this investment supports the world-class lifeguard stands and pristine sand conditions that have drawn visitors since the railroad era.

Surf City Beach Guide
Fish tacos and seafood dining at a Surf City NJ waterfront restaurant on Long Beach Island

Surf City’s Best Restaurants and Dining

The Boulevard through Surf City serves as the culinary heartbeat of the island, featuring the highest concentration of year-round eateries on LBI. The scene ranges from legendary sit-down seafood landmarks to quick grab-and-go lunch spots perfect for a break from the sand. Whether looking for a post-surf coffee or a multi-course dinner, the town’s dining scene offers a variety and consistency not found elsewhere on the North End.

Restaurant Guide
Coastal art studio in Surf City NJ with paintings and local crafts — things to do on Long Beach Island

Things to Do & Local Arts

Beyond the beach, Surf City anchors a walkable arts district featuring local craftsmanship at MT Burton Gallery and SwellColors. A stop at the Surf City 5&10, a third-generation island staple since 1952, remains a classic tradition. Because of the town’s unique geography, it is never more than a five-minute walk from the Atlantic surf to the tranquil sunsets of the Barnegat Bay.

Explore Things to Do
Bright coastal bedroom with ocean view — where to stay in Surf City NJ on Long Beach Island

Where to Stay on LBI

Choosing Surf City provides a strategic basecamp for exploring all 18 miles of LBI, situated just north of where Route 72 brings visitors onto the island. This central location makes both the Barnegat Light dunes and the Beach Haven energy equally accessible. Options range from historic inns and boutique hotels to classic weekly rentals, all situated within walking distance of the island’s densest concentration of shops and amenities.

Where to Stay on LBI
Ocean County, New Jersey

About Surf City, NJ:The Geographic Anchor of LBI

Surf City is the premier walkable hub of Long Beach Island (LBI). Located at one of the island’s narrowest points, this historic borough offers a unique geography where you can walk from the Atlantic surf to the Barnegat Bay in under five minutes.

Originally incorporated in 1894 as "Long Beach City," Surf City has evolved from a railroad-era settlement into the island’s year-round center for commerce and culture. While the quiet dunes of North Beach sit to our north and the gateway of Ship Bottom lies to the south, the life of the town happens along Long Beach Boulevard—home to LBI’s densest concentration of local shops and restaurants. Whether you are here for the world-class family beaches or the authentic Jersey Shore atmosphere, Surf City remains the island’s central destination for locals and visitors alike.

01
Historic Roots Originally Long Beach City

Incorporated in 1894 before becoming Surf City.

02
Central Location Between North Beach and Ship Bottom

Set between quiet dunes to the north and LBI’s gateway to the south.

03
Boulevard Life Life Runs Along the Boulevard

Restaurants, shops, galleries, and local services cluster along Long Beach Boulevard.

The History That Shaped Surf City

Before it was the beach town people know today, Surf City was Long Beach City, Old Mansion, a railroad stop, a bay-to-ocean community, and a tiny borough still becoming itself.

The 1854 Powhattan shipwreck off Surf City, NJ: the packet ship breaking apart offshore during a snowstorm as onlookers stand helplessly on the beach.

The Darkest Night in Surf City History

How a spring snowstorm, a shipload of German immigrants, and one man’s betrayal changed this stretch of New Jersey coastline forever.

Read the Story

Surf City, Between Eras

What a 1940 pictorial map of Long Beach Island reveals about the railroad town, the resort town, and the older place still hiding underneath modern Surf City.

Read the Story
“It’s been called Surf City since 1899. This local guide has been here a lot less time. But we’re catching up.”
Since 1899

Surf City, NJ In Depth:Guides, Tips and Local Picks

Dig deeper with practical guides, insider tips, local picks, and planning notes for Surf City beaches, restaurants, rentals, history, and everyday LBI decisions.

Dune path leading to the beach and Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island.

The LBI Beach Guide

Everything you need before you hit the sand — badge requirements, best beach entrances by block, and which spots have the best break for your crew.

Coming Soon
Fish tacos and fries on an outdoor restaurant table at the New Jersey Shore.

Best Restaurants in Surf City

From beachside quick bites to sit-down spots worth a reservation. Our resident picks for where to eat on LBI — and what's opened or closed this season.

Coming Soon

At a Glance

SURF CITY, NJ QUICK FACTS

Everything you need to know about our slice of Long Beach Island.

01Geography

Surf City NJ Geography: Ocean to Barnegat Bay

Surf City sits at one of the narrowest points on Long Beach Island, where you can walk from the Atlantic surf to Barnegat Bay sunsets in under five minutes.

02Shopping & Dining

Long Beach Boulevard Shopping District

Our section of Long Beach Boulevard is the island's most walkable district, lined with restaurants, local shops, galleries, and year-round favorites.

03Access

Getting to Surf City NJ from the Mainland

Located just over the Route 72 Causeway, Surf City is one of the first towns visitors reach and one of the easiest places to access from the mainland.

Quick answers for visitors

Surf City, NJ FAQs

Planning a Surf City beach day or Long Beach Island trip? These quick answers cover the questions visitors usually have before they arrive.

How much are beach badges in Surf City, NJ?

Surf City beach badges are $11 for a daily badge and $25 for a weekly badge. Seasonal badges are $45 if purchased during the preseason sale through May 31 at 4:30 PM, and $55 after that deadline. Daily and weekly badges cannot be purchased in advance.

What ages require a beach badge in Surf City?

Surf City beach badges are required for ages 12 through 64 whenever lifeguards and badge checkers are on duty. Children under 12 do not need a badge, and people 65 and older are exempt.

When do discounted Surf City beach badges go on sale?

Discounted preseason Surf City beach badges go on sale May 1 and are available through the close of business on May 31. The preseason price is $45. After the May 31 deadline, seasonal badges cost $55.

Are dogs allowed on Surf City beaches?

Dogs are allowed on Surf City ocean beaches only during the off-season, from October 1 through April 30, and they must be leashed. Dogs are not permitted on the ocean beaches during the main beach season.

Can you surf in Surf City, NJ?

Yes, surfing is allowed in Surf City, but only in designated surfing areas and subject to daily water and weather conditions. During guarded beach hours, surfers should check in with a lifeguard and badge checker before entering the water, must wear a leash, and need a valid Surf City beach badge if they are between ages 12 and 64.

How do I get to Surf City, NJ from Philadelphia or New York?

From the Philadelphia area, many drivers take Route 70 east to Route 72 east, then cross the bridge onto Long Beach Island and head north on Long Beach Boulevard into Surf City. From New York or North Jersey, the most common route is the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 63, then Route 72 east over the bridge to Long Beach Island. See our full directions guide for more detail.

Is there parking in Surf City, NJ?

Yes, but Surf City parking is mostly street-based, not a large boardwalk-style parking lot setup. In summer, plan to arrive early, read posted signs carefully, avoid blocking driveways or curb cuts, and expect the easiest parking to be a few blocks from the beach on busy days.