Diamond Beach
Lower Township, NJ
Diamond Beach occupies a small, contested strip at the southern edge of the Wildwoods, technically part of Lower Township even though most visitors assume it's an extension of Wildwood Crest. A new parking ordinance now charges for some streets in season, a change that caught longtime residents off guard when it passed.
A genuinely quieter, smaller scale alternative to the bigger Wildwoods beaches nearby, though the recent parking changes and the town's ongoing disputes over who the beach really belongs to add some friction.
How we score beachesCheck current signage before you park. The paid parking zones are new and don't cover the whole neighborhood, so assuming it's still all free the way it used to be is an easy mistake to make.
Some streets, including parts of East Rochester, Seaview, South Station, and East Raleigh Avenues, plus all of Atlantic Avenue, now require payment through the ParkMobile app from mid May through mid September. Most other streets remain free.
Flat streets lead to the sand at regular access points, with no boardwalk crossing required.
Dogs aren't allowed on the beach between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. A playground and dog park sit together at Diamond Beach Park on Rochester and Seaview Avenues.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, consistent with the rest of the barrier island. The small scale of this stretch means it fills up fast relative to its size on a busy weekend.
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