Island Beach State Park

Island Beach is the largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey, and its guarded ocean swimming area sits mid-park, about 3.5 miles past the entrance. Expect open Atlantic surf backed by dunes rather than boardwalks, with swimming allowed only where lifeguards are posted. Leave the float at home, since tubes and rafts are not permitted.

Directions

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Latest reading · SwimScore 60/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 19°C, wind 56 km/h, waves 1.9 m, UV 1. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: State park at the southern end of Route 35, just south of Seaside Park. Ocean Swimming Areas 1 and 2 are 3.5 and 3.7 miles from the entrance; a Southern Swim Area near parking area 7 is five miles in.
Parking & transport: Parking areas sit next to the swimming beaches.
Lifeguards: About a mile of designated ocean swimming is lifeguarded on weekends from Memorial Day weekend, then daily from mid-June through Labor Day. Swimming is not permitted in non-lifeguarded areas.
Water quality: Ocean County Health Department samples salt-water bathing beaches every Monday from mid-May through Labor Day for enterococcus (standard 104 per 100 mL); a beach that fails a re-sample is closed until results fall back under the standard.
Season: Weekends from Memorial Day weekend; daily mid-June through Labor Day.
Watch for: Open Atlantic surf
Inner tubes, rafts and other flotation devices are prohibited
Emergency swim closures may occur
Facilities: Bathhouse pavilions with showers and changing areas · First aid · Food and beach supply concession · Beach wheelchairs at the swimming area pavilions