8 Best Beaches in Atlantic City

Brigantine Beach is one of the most beautiful coastal stretches along the Jersey Shore, which flanks the Absecon Wildlife Management Area. It offers a great alternative escape for those wanting a change of scene from the more central beaches of Atlantic City – it’s only a 12-minute drive northeast from the city centre.

You’ll require beach tags to access Brigantine Beach, as well as permits if you have 4x4s and jet skis. There are no boardwalks here, though there are trails for cyclists. That simply says that it’s popular among those looking for a break and an adventurous time on the sand and in the surf.

Atlantic City Beach is the city’s namesake coast that’s interestingly set apart from the main southeast-facing oceanfront. The small and ‘hidden’ beach is also referred to as Caspian Avenue Beach and faces the waters of the Absecon inlet, with the Atlantic City Aquarium close by and views across to the neighbouring city of Brigantine on the near horizon.

Regarded by locals in the know as the first beach in Atlantic City, Atlantic City Beach offers a slight break from the central beachgoing scene, with calming views and calm waves – great for swimming and kayaking. On the northern end are public bathrooms as well as a beach station headquarter with plenty of local history to tell.

Margate Beach on the gorgeous oceanfront of Atlantic City’s southwestern neighbour, Margate City, is one of the most popular stretches of sand on the Jersey shore. It’s also known as Jefferson Avenue Beach, after the road that leads you from Downtown right onto the coast.

Especially during the summer, Margate draws beachgoers to its soft golden sand and great surf with plenty of beach activities to enjoy. Depending on the tide conditions, you can often stroll further out along a sandbar. You’ll easily spot some of the city’s highlight attractions nearby. These include Lucy the Elephant, a 65-ft-tall wooden elephant structure built back in 1881 – one to spice up your Instagram stories.

Longport Dog Beach is a coastal strip on the Jersey shore where folks can take their furry partners to play and roam freely. Even if you don’t own a dog, you can come and make new friends with the poodles, doodles, and their humans. Photographers will find plenty of moments to capture with the 4-legged models splashing about or emerging from the foam.

The dog-friendly beach is free to access, but swimming in the waters is inadvisable due to the lack of lifeguards. Part of the Malibu Beach Wildlife Management Area, the beach has portions that are off-limits as they’re nesting grounds for some species of endangered birds.

Atlantic City's downtown beaches are easily accessible from both the Atlantic City Boardwalk and by simply following the city’s avenues that lead you down to the different sections. Each of these sections offers a sandy shoreline and similarly draws wave riders to their good sets of waves – they’re considered Atlantic City’s beaches designated for surfers.

First, following down Raleigh Avenue leads you down to the main Downtown Beach. You can also reach through to the end of Delaware Avenue to the namesake Delaware Avenue Beach. Finally, New Hampshire Avenue leads you down to Crystal Beach. Non-surfers aren’t left out on the fun, with plenty of fun on the sand for families with kids. Lifeguards keep a keen eye in summer from 10 am to 6 pm.