Atlantic City has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Garden State. Perfect to de-stress, beaches are known to soothe nervous thoughts and anxious tendencies — the soft beckoning of each wave, the crinkling comfort of sand under your feet, and the oh-so-warm sunshine hugging your skin.

You want the shiny lights of Sin City with a more personal touch, so you booked one of our Atlantic City Rentals. A quick peruse through Atlantic City’s luxurious casinos , world-class golf courses , and tranquil beaches have you excited for a coastal getaway.

Would you believe it was the beaches that were the real tourist attraction to Atlantic City in the 1800s? City dwellers flocked to the Garden State’s gorgeous beaches for a weekend getaway before Atlantic City became a casino-goers daydream.

We’re here to ensure you have the most relaxing, rewarding trip to Monopoly city. Start with a calm first night at one of our incredible vacation rental homes. Then, we hit the sandy shores!

1. Margate Beach

• Address: Margate Beach, Margate City, NJ
• Beach Tag Requirement: Yes, beach badges are about $12.
• Notable feature: Lucy the Elephant

Just a 20-minute drive south of Atlantic City, Margate Beach is family-friendly and full of charm. Here, you’ll find an infamous historic landmark — Lucy the Elephant , the world’s giant elephant statue built in 1881. She’s a whopping six stories high (sixty-five feet tall)!

Once you finish marveling at Lucy, stop by the Martin Bloom Pavilion for your beach badge. At Margate Beach, you can expect pristine sandy beaches and enough space to really spread out.

There is no overcrowding here, unlike some other beaches — even in the summer months. Margate Beach is also the perfect place to sail and go kayaking. You can even relish more extreme water sports like speed boating and jet skiing. If you’re searching for rentals, check out Ray Scott’s Dock.

2. Atlantic City Beach

• Address: Atlantic City Beach, Atlantic City, NJ
• Beach Tag Requirement: Nope — free admission.
• Notable feature: Short walk away from Steel Pier

Like many of the beaches in AC, Atlantic City Beach goes by two different names. It’s called Atlantic City Beach, but also Caspian Avenue Beach because of the road it’s on.

Atlantic City Beach is on the northeast corner of Atlantic City and is a completely free beach. It’s settled on the enchanting waters of the Absecon Inlet, which separates AC from nearby Brigantine. From here, you can see the Absecon Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey.

Now, you might have heard some rumors about AC Beach being a party destination and less clean than the other beaches. While once upon a time that might have been true, the city has made great strides to maintain AC Beach. These days, the water is see-through clear; the sand dunes are intact; the sand is satisfying to touch; and the sunsets are phenomenal.

Atlantic City Beach is also just a mile from the Atlantic City Aquarium and only a short walk from the famous Steel Pier. After a day on the beach and exploring the nearby aquarium, bring your honey (or the kids) to Steel Pier’s thrilling amusement park. Snuggle in close on the huge Ferris wheel as you overlook the ocean. Release your inner child, round and round, as you ride the carousel.

3. Longport Dog Beach

• Address: Longport Dog Beach, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• Beach Tag Requirement: No parking fees or beach tags are required.
• Notable feature: Off-leash pets allowed

There are a few reasons why our Atlantic City Vacation Rentals are pet-friendly. First, your pets are family. And we see them as guests, too!

Second? Longport Dog Beach was made for family-dog bonding, and it’s only a short drive away. The beach is about a 25-minute drive south of the heart of AC, located in Egg Harbor Township. If your pup is itching to play fetch and happily frolic along the shoreline, Longport Dog Beach is the answer.

But if you’re juggling a puppy and two toddlers? You better have a sharp eye because this beach has no lifeguards. It is however premium real estate for sand castle building. Enjoy a grand day of fetching and sunbathing with your pup and family!

4. Brigantine Beach

• Address: Brigantine Beach, Brigantine, New Jersey
• Beach Tag Requirement: Yes, $15 for the regular season plus an $8 daily parking fee.
• Notable features: Nearby the Absecon Wildlife Area and regular wildlife sightings

Are those sweet, little furry birds goslings? Mama goose isn’t here, though — but a regal, orange-beaked black bird hovers over the babies. Oystercatchers are a popular bird species in Atlantic City, and you’ll see tons of them, along with other birds, at Brigantine Beach.

Bracketed by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Absecon Wildlife Management Area on the other, Brigantine Beach is nature’s gift to those who love nature and peace and quiet.

Less than a 15-minute drive from Downtown Atlantic City over the Absecon Inlet, tourists flock here to enjoy the warm weather and sightings of herons, sandpipers, hawks, and puddle ducks.

While you’ll need your wallet for this trip because of parking fees, you’ll still enjoy a clean, peaceful day trip here and feel at ease with the kids since this beach has lifeguards from mid-June to Labor Day.

5. Chicken Bone Beach

• Address: 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
• Beach tag Requirement: Admission to the boardwalk is free.
• Notable features: Boutiques and restaurants

While the Atlantic City Boardwalk isn’t technically the beach, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it here.

Atlantic City’s Boardwalk is not only the oldest boardwalk in the US, built in 1870, but it is also the longest. At five miles long, the boardwalk sits right above the beach and is full-to-the-brim with arcades, shops, and restaurants galore.

Stop in the local sweet shop for an ice cream cone and pick up some salt water taffy for your friends back home. Boardwalk Hall often holds sporting events and music festivals.

The boardwalk is your free ticket to access shopping, dining, and entertainment, and you could easily spend a whole day here. From the bougie Shops at Caesars to the more family-friendly Rainforest Cafe, the boardwalk can take you just about anywhere you want to go.

7. Crystal Beach

• Address: Crystal Beach, Atlantic City, NJ
• Beach tag Requirement: Nope — free admission.
• Notable feature: Nearby surfing lessons at the Jersey Devil Surf Shop.

Surfing isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Atlantic City. But if you’re an enthusiast looking to catch some waves, Crystal Beach actually has some of the best waves on the Jersey Shore.

People have been coming to Crystal Beach for years with their surfboards. Our advice? Don’t surf alone. There aren’t any lifeguards here, so you might bring a buddy in case things get too wavy.

Crystal Beach is located right off New Hampshire Avenue at the Northern Corner of Atlantic City before Highway 87 crosses the Absecon Inlet. Pack your wetsuit and board — you’ve got some surfing to do!

8. Ventnor City Beach

• Address: Ventnor City Beach, Ventnor City, NJ
• Beach Tag Requirement: Beach tags cost $20.
• Notable feature: Immaculate, uncrowded beaches for a day of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Towards the Southern end of the Atlantic City boardwalk, you’ll find Ventnor Beach. Craving more seclusion than Atlantic City’s downtown? This is a fabulous choice. Sit back in your chair, bask in the sunlight, and reel in dinner — oh yes, the Ventnor Beach Fishing Pier is a great spot to catch bluefish, flounders, skates, and more!

Ventnor City Beach is clean and expansive enough to feel like you have a slice of beach heaven to yourself. The surrounding town has a quaint and charming village feel with a boardwalk and fishing pier to round out your beach-going experience!

Beach Weather in Atlantic City

Atlantic City has some of the best beaches in New Jersey. But you can’t flock down here in January and expect to suntan without shivering as you would to Orlando.

Located in New Jersey, in the Northeastern United States, Atlantic City beaches have the corresponding weather meaning the best time to visit is in the summer months. Still, the fall and winter ambiance offers a peaceful getaway if you don’t mind cooler weather.

Temperatures

From June to August, highs are usually in the low to mid-80s, which is perfect for a dip in the brisk waters of the Atlantic. Lows are a bit cooler in the low to mid-60s and may require a sweatshirt and jeans for more breezy nights.

What to Pack

If you’re coming in the summer, pack bathing suits, towels, and sunscreen — even if your primary reason for coming to AC is for the casinos. At some point during your vacation, the warm beach breeze, refreshing waters, and sea birds will call to you, and you want to be ready to answer that call.

Open Year Round

Even though the beaches draw more crowds in the summer, they’re technically open year-round, regardless of the season. If you’re willing to bundle up, these beachfront areas have beautiful scenery even in the frosty months of winter, where you can look out at the water, and experience true quiet and stillness in a way you might not be able to do during the summer.

Beachfront Retreat in Atlantic City

Atlantic City is an amazing place to visit whether you’re a couple on a romantic getaway, a family on vacation, or a tight-knit group of friends. Atlantic City will steal your heart with its phenomenal food, unique activities from casinos to amusement parks, and breathtaking natural wonders and beaches.

Instead of returning to an impersonal hotel room when you’re all tuckered out from a long, sunny beach day, imagine returning to your own oceanfront rental with a taste of home and privacy!

Book an Atlantic City Vacation Rental for a trip you won’t forget!