Brigantine Beach
Brigantine, NJ
Brigantine Beach sits on its own barrier island just north of Atlantic City, separated from the casino skyline by the Absecon Inlet even though you can see it clearly from the sand. A beach tag is required in season, sold at the Beach Fee Office on 42nd Street, and a separate parking permit covers the municipal lots at 16th Street and Roosevelt Boulevard.
The North End's year round dog access and a real surf scene set it apart from towns that only relax the rules in the off season, though the separate parking permit and tag system take some planning.
How we score beachesDogs are allowed on the North End Beach year round under the same leash rules that apply elsewhere only in the off season. It's the one exception worth knowing if you're traveling with one in summer.
A separate parking permit, about eight dollars a day or twenty five for the season, covers the municipal lots at 16th Street and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Flat streets lead to the sand at regular access points, with no boardwalk to cross.
Leashed dogs, six foot leash maximum, are allowed on the beach from October through late May. The North End Beach allows dogs under the same leash rules year round.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, and the barrier island setting means a steady breeze most afternoons. The surf here draws a regular crew of local surfers even outside of peak summer.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.