The preseason discounts are gone, the lifeguards are up, and the only question left is how much it'll cost to plant your umbrella. Here's the Gazette's quick guide to 2026 beach tags at the South Jersey shore towns our readers visit most — including the ones where the sand is still free.
The free beaches
Two of the shore's biggest draws don't require a tag at all. Atlantic City beaches remain free and open to all. So do the Wildwoods — Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest — which continue their long tradition of free beaches with no badges required. For a family watching its summer budget, those four towns are the easiest call at the shore.
What the tagged towns charge
For the towns that do require badges, here's where 2026 prices landed. Note that most seasonal discounts expired May 31, so the higher "after" prices are what you'll pay now.
| Town | Daily | Weekly | Seasonal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean City | $10 | $20 | $35 (was $30 by May 31) |
| Cape May | $10 | $25 | $40 (was $30 thru Apr 30); 3-day pass $20 |
| Brigantine | $10 | $15 | $25 (was $20 by May 31) |
| Ventnor City | — | — | $20 (was $10 before June 1); ages 65+ preseason $3.50 |
A few things worth knowing before you go:
- Discounts deals for who serves. Ocean City offers free seasonal tags to veterans and active-duty military with proper ID, with benefits extending to spouses and, for active-duty members, children up to age 23. - Seniors save in Ventnor. Residents and visitors 65 and older could grab preseason badges for just $3.50. - Cape May's 3-day option. If you're down for a long weekend rather than the full season, Cape May's $20 three-consecutive-day pass beats buying three dailies.
The bottom line
Prices ticked up again across the region for 2026, so a beach day costs a little more than it did last summer. But the math still favors planning ahead: if you'll hit the same town more than a handful of times, the seasonal badge pays for itself fast — and the free beaches in Atlantic City and the Wildwoods remain an unbeatable deal for families.
Prices are based on the latest figures published by shore towns and local outlets for summer 2026; always confirm with the town's beach-tag office before you go, as rates and rules can change.
Heading down the shore this summer? The Gazette is collecting readers' favorite South Jersey beaches — send us yours.
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