The ultimate Ocean City, NJ guide
The Ultimate Guide to Ocean City, NJ
Everything we tell friends who are thinking about visiting, renting or moving to Ocean City: the history, the beaches, the seasons, the events, where to eat, how to get here and what it's really like to live here.
By Graham & Alicia Ginn, Ocean City Realtors. Graham was born and raised here; we're raising our three kids here. Updated October 2026.
Founded1879
Year-round residentsAbout 11,200
Summer population115,000+
Island lengthAbout 8 miles
BoardwalkAbout 2.5 miles
Alcohol salesNone, ever
History
From Peck's Beach to America's Greatest Family Resort
Long before it was a town, the island was called Peck's Beach, likely after John Peck, a whaler who used it as a base. It was a summer fishing camp and cattle pasture until September 1879, when four Methodist ministers, brothers Ezra, James and S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell, chose it for a Christian seaside retreat. They formed the Ocean City Association, laid out streets and lots, and built the Tabernacle between 5th and 6th Streets.
The first boardwalk went up in 1880 and the first bridge, at 34th Street, in 1883. Ocean City became a borough in 1884 and a city in 1897. The Chamber of Commerce adopted the slogan "America's Greatest Family Resort" in 1920, and the town's founding rules are why it's still a dry town today. After a fire in 1927 destroyed much of the boardwalk, the Music Pier rose in its place and still hosts concerts every summer.
Want more? Our This Day in Ocean City archive tells a true local story for every day of the year, each with its sources, and the free Ocean City Historical Museum at 1735 Simpson Avenue is worth an afternoon.
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Beaches & boardwalk
Eight miles of beach and two and a half miles of boards
Ocean City's beach runs the length of the island, from the Great Egg Harbor Inlet at the north end to Corson's Inlet State Park at the south. The boardwalk runs about 2.5 miles, from the north end of town to 23rd Street, with most of the rides, shops and food between 6th and 14th Streets.
Beach tags
Required June 1 through Labor Day for everyone 12 and older. 2026 prices: $35 for the season ($30 before May 31), $20 for a week, $10 for a day. Buy them at store.ocnj.us, City Hall (861 Asbury Ave.) or the Music Pier.
Lifeguards
The Ocean City Beach Patrol guards beaches from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and to 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day weekend through the end of summer. Swim only in front of a staffed stand.
Dogs
Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach from October 1 through April 30, with some stretches closed from March 15 for nesting birds. No dogs on the beach May through September, and never on the boardwalk.
On the boards, the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace hosts the Ocean City Pops and touring acts, and Playland's Castaway Cove (1020 Boardwalk) is the boardwalk's amusement park. Gillian's Wonderland Pier closed after the 2024 season, and the site's redevelopment is still being decided. Every afternoon in summer, the smell of caramel corn tells you you're getting close.
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Weather & seasons
What every season feels like
Ocean City has a humid subtropical climate: warm, breezy summers, mild falls and cool, damp winters. Average highs peak around 83°F in July, January averages about 34°F, and the island gets about 43 inches of rain and roughly 12 to 18 inches of snow a year.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|
| Summer (June to August) | Peak season. Guarded beaches, beach tags, busy boardwalk nights, Night in Venice and the Baby Parade. Book rentals early. |
| Fall (September to November) | Warm days, quieter beaches and free parking after October 31. The Fall Block Party and the Halloween Parade fill Asbury Avenue. |
| Winter (December to February) | The year-round town comes out: First Night on New Year's Eve, the First Day polar plunge, and dogs back on the beach. |
| Spring (March to May) | The island wakes up. The Doo Dah Parade, Easter events and shops reopening for the season; discounted beach tags until May 31. |
For today's forecast, tides and water temperature, check the Ocean City today panel on our home page.
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Events
The Ocean City calendar
| When | Event |
|---|
| Spring | Doo Dah Parade: a comedy parade with marching bands, floats and a lot of basset hounds. |
| July 4 | Fourth of July on the beach near the Music Pier, ending with fireworks. |
| Late July | Night in Venice: a decorated boat parade on the bay with a new theme every year, followed by fireworks. The 71st was July 25, 2026. |
| August | Baby Parade: one of the oldest traditions at the Jersey Shore, held on the boardwalk since 1901. |
| Fall | Fall Block Party on Asbury Avenue, the Halloween Parade, the Humane Society's Howl-O-Ween dog parade and a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. |
| December 31 | First Night: more than 70 family events across town to ring in the new year, followed by the First Day at the Beach polar plunge. |
See what's happening this week in our community events and city news, and the full calendar from the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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Things to do
Beyond the beach
Corson's Inlet State Park
341 acres of dunes, sandbars and tidal marsh at the south end, preserved since 1969. Fishing, birding, kayaking and back-bay sandbars.
On the water
Boating, paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing on the bay, with marinas and launches on the bay side of the island.
Golf and fitness
The 12-hole Municipal Golf Course at 2600 Bay Avenue, and the Aquatic & Fitness Center at 17th Street and Simpson Avenue.
Music Pier
Summer concerts by the Ocean City Pops, touring acts and community theater, right on the boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace.
History
The Ocean City Historical Museum, free and inside the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, and the Tabernacle where it all started.
Downtown
Asbury Avenue's boutiques, cafes and year-round shops, with City Hall at 9th Street.
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Food & drink
Eating like a local in a dry town
There are no bars and no liquor stores in Ocean City, so nights here look different: pizza on the boards, ice cream after dinner and plenty of breakfast spots. Locals who want a drink head across the bridges to Somers Point, Strathmere or Sea Isle City.
Shriver's
Salt water taffy and fudge since 1898, the oldest business on the boardwalk.
Johnson's Popcorn
Caramel corn made in copper kettles since 1940, with several boardwalk locations.
Manco & Manco Pizza
Thin, sweet-sauce boardwalk pizza; the original year-round location opened in 1956.
Kohr Bros.
Frozen custard that started at Coney Island in 1919, with stands up and down the boardwalk.
Brown's
A family-run boardwalk breakfast spot since 1976, famous for its doughnuts.
Asbury Avenue
Downtown's cafes and restaurants for brunch, coffee and dinner, open well past summer.
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Getting here & around
Bridges, exits and parking
By car
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 30 (Somers Point) for the 9th Street bridge and the north end, or Exit 25 (Marmora) for the 34th Street bridge and the south end. From Philadelphia, the Atlantic City Expressway connects to the Parkway.
Four ways on and off
The 9th Street bridge (Route 52) from Somers Point, the 34th Street bridge (Roosevelt Boulevard) from Marmora, the Ocean City-Longport bridge at the north end, and the Corson's Inlet bridge to Strathmere at the south end.
Parking
City lots and streets are free from October 31 to May 1. In season, meters run from 50 cents an hour downtown to $2 an hour near the beach, city lots never charge more than $25 a day, and you can pay with ParkMobile.
Bus and air
NJ Transit buses 507 and 509 connect to Atlantic City. The small Ocean City Airport serves private planes; Atlantic City International and Philadelphia International handle airline flights.
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Living here
What it's like year-round
About 11,200 people call Ocean City home all year. Summers are busy and fun; the rest of the year it's a small town where you see the same faces at the post office, the library and the high school football game. Here's what newcomers ask us most.
Schools
The Ocean City School District has the Primary School (pre-K to 3, 550 West Ave.), the Intermediate School (4 to 8, 1901 Bay Ave.) and Ocean City High School (9 to 12, 501 Atlantic Ave.), which also serves several neighboring towns.
Healthcare
The nearest hospital is Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, just over the 9th Street bridge, which has affiliations with Penn Medicine.
Property taxes
Ocean City's 2025 effective tax rate was 0.640: about $640 a year for every $100,000 of market value, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
Flood insurance
As a barrier island, much of Ocean City sits in FEMA flood zones. Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones, and a home's elevation certificate drives the cost.
Rentals
Many owners rent by the week in summer. The city has rental licensing rules, and our own company, Shore Homes Management, can run a rental for you.
Community
The Community Center and Free Public Library at 1735 Simpson Avenue, the Aquatic & Fitness Center, churches, youth sports and the Tabernacle keep the off-season busy.
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FAQ
Ocean City, NJ: common questions
Is Ocean City, NJ a dry town?
Yes. Alcohol has never been sold in Ocean City, a rule that dates to its founding as a Methodist retreat in 1879. Drinking in public, including on the beach and boardwalk, is not allowed. In 2012, voters also rejected a proposal to let restaurants allow BYOB.
Do I need a beach tag in Ocean City?
Yes, from June 1 through Labor Day for everyone 12 and older. In 2026, seasonal tags were $30 before May 31 and $35 after, weekly tags $20 and daily tags $10. You can buy them online at store.ocnj.us or at City Hall and other city sites.
Can I bring my dog to the beach?
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach from October 1 through April 30 (with a few spots closed from mid-March to protect nesting birds), but not from May through September, and never on the boardwalk.
How long is the Ocean City boardwalk?
About 2.5 miles, from the north end of town to 23rd Street. Most of the shops, rides and food are between 6th and 14th Streets.
How many people live in Ocean City?
About 11,200 people live in Ocean City year-round (2020 census), and the summer population is estimated at 115,000 to 130,000.
What are property taxes like in Ocean City?
Ocean City's 2025 effective property tax rate was 0.640, or about $640 for every $100,000 of market value, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Your actual bill depends on your assessment.
Where do Ocean City kids go to school?
The Ocean City School District runs the Primary School (pre-K to 3), the Intermediate School (grades 4 to 8) and Ocean City High School (9 to 12). The high school also serves students from Longport, Sea Isle City, Upper Township and Corbin City.
What is the best way to get to Ocean City?
Most people take the Garden State Parkway: Exit 30 for the north end and the 9th Street bridge, or Exit 25 for the south end and the 34th Street bridge. From Philadelphia, the Atlantic City Expressway connects to the Parkway.
Your local guides
Questions this guide didn't answer?
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