Atlantic City Beach
Atlantic City, NJ
Atlantic City is one of the few Jersey Shore towns that charges nothing at all to use its beach, no badge, no tag, nothing to buy at a booth. The boardwalk running behind it is one of the longest on the coast, lined with casinos rather than the mini golf and pizza stands that define smaller shore towns.
A free beach and a genuinely massive boardwalk are real advantages, but the crowds, the casino dominated skyline, and the summer dog ban mean plenty of locals prefer the quieter towns just down the island.
How we score beachesIf you're bringing a dog outside of summer, it's welcome leashed on the beach and boardwalk from mid September through Memorial Day. In season, only service animals and dogs small enough to carry make it onto the boardwalk.
Casino garages, municipal lots, and metered street parking all serve the beach and boardwalk, with rates varying widely depending on which you choose.
The boardwalk is flat, wide, and paved for its entire length, with ramps down to the sand at regular intervals.
Dogs aren't permitted on the beach, boardwalk, or in the ocean from Memorial Day through mid September. Leashed dogs are welcome the rest of the year.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, the same stretch when the casino crowds and boardwalk foot traffic peak. Fall brings a quieter beach and boardwalk with the casinos still fully open.
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