Summer in New York is full of impossible choices: rooftop cocktails or beach days? Staycation or spontaneous road trip? Thankfully, when one of the country’s best beaches is just a few hours away, you don’t have to overthink it.
Just a short trip from NYC, Wildwood has once again been crowned the best beach in New Jersey, making it the perfect excuse to pack up the sunscreen and hit the road. Famous for its sprawling free beaches, iconic boardwalk, retro Doo Wop motels, and classic Jersey Shore charm, it’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning riding roller coasters, the afternoon splashing in the Atlantic, and the evening strolling beneath neon lights with a cone of soft serve in hand.
Why It’s the Best
🌊 Sprawling, Tag-Free Beaches
Unlike many Jersey Shore destinations that require daily beach badges, the Wildwoods offer 5 miles of completely free public beaches. It is also famous for having some of the widest stretches of sand on the East Coast, measuring up to 500 yards wide in certain areas.
Because the trek from the boardwalk to the shoreline is so vast, the town offers a unique beach taxi service to ferry you, your chairs, and your umbrellas straight to the water’s edge. Once you’re settled, the oceanfront becomes your playground for volleyball, surfing, boogie boarding, or just lounging by the surf.
🎢 The Best Boardwalk in America
Voted the No. 1 Best Boardwalk in the nation, this 38-block energy hub truly comes alive when the sun goes down. The atmosphere is a nostalgic, neon-lit sensory overload. It features three massive amusement piers packed with over 100 rides—including world-class roller coasters—and beachfront water parks that let you transition seamlessly from the sand to the slides. And yes, you will absolutely hear the famous phrase, “Watch the tram car, please!” as the iconic yellow Sightseer cars roll by.
Can’t-Miss Spots
- Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks: The heart of the boardwalk’s entertainment. Test your nerves on the Great White wooden coaster or cool off at Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis.
- The Doo Wop Experience Museum & Architecture: Take a step back into the 1950s and 60s. The Wildwoods hold the highest concentration of mid-century “Doo Wop” motel architecture in the country, characterized by bright neon signs, plastic palm trees, and sweeping, futuristic angles.
- PigDog Beach Bar: A perfect spot to grab a cold drink and some barbecue without ever having to take your feet out of the sand.
- MudHen Brewing Co.: Located just off the main drag, it’s a massive, family-friendly craft brewery housed in a former motorcycle dealership—ideal for a post-beach flight and dinner.
How to Get There from NYC
The Wildwoods sit at the southern tip of New Jersey, making it incredibly accessible for a weekend escape or an extended summer road trip.
- By Bus (Approx. 3.5 to 4 hours): If you prefer to skip the drive, NJ Transit operates direct seasonal bus routes (Route 319) from the Port Authority Bus Terminal straight to the Wildwood Bus Terminal, dropping you off just blocks from the beach.
- By Car (Approx. 2.5 to 3 hours): Take the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel out of Manhattan to the New Jersey Turnpike South, then merge onto the Garden State Parkway South. Take the Parkway all the way down to Exit 4B, which leads you right over the bridge and directly onto the island via Route 47 (Rio Grande Avenue).
