North Wildwood NJ Beach Guide
North Wildwood beaches are free with no beach tags, and the town holds the north end of the Wildwoods boardwalk at 15th Avenue and the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. We love it for families who want a designated surf beach, ADA ramps and comfort stations close to the sand.
Minimal Fly Activity
Based on current conditions, encountering flies at the beach today is low. Keep an eye on the weather for any changes and enjoy the beach!
Current Weather for North Wildwood, NJ
Humidity: 93%
Wind: S at 9 mph
UV Index: 0.0
Sunrise: 6:30 AM
Sunset: 4:54 PM
Ocean Temperature
61.2 °F
Last Tide
Low Tide
11/4/2026, 10:57 PM
Next Tide
High Tide
11/5/2026, 5:16 AM
Forecast updated every 15 minutes. Last update: November 5, 2026, 3:15 am
Is North Wildwood worth visiting?
Yes, if you want an easygoing beach town with a surf beach, free surf chairs and the boardwalk and lighthouse close by. Our Jersey Shore beach tag price guide shows what other towns charge.
- A designated Surf Beach on the Front Beach
- Free Beach Surf Chairs at three spots
- Comfort stations at four locations
- Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, built in 1874 and still an active navigational aid, with gardens open daily dawn to dusk
North Wildwood quick facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Beach fees | None |
| Lifeguard hours | 10 am to 5:30 pm, weather permitting |
| Guarded season | Weekends only from Memorial Day weekend until early June, then 7 days a week |
| Beach Patrol HQ | 609-522-7500 |
| Surf Beach | Front Beach between 3rd and 5th Avenues |
| ADA ramps | 15th and 20th Avenues |
| Beach access hours | Closed 9 pm to 6 am, May through September |
| Beach driving | Permit required, day after Labor Day to Monday before Memorial Day |
| Hereford Inlet Lighthouse | 111 North Central Avenue |
Beach tags
North Wildwood beaches are free to access and do not require beach tags.
Guarded beaches
The North Wildwood Beach Patrol sets the protected beach schedule each summer. For the current schedule, call the Beach Patrol headquarters at 609-522-7500.
- A limited number of streets are guarded starting Memorial Day weekend. Beaches are staffed weekends only until early June, then 7 days a week
- Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am to 5:30 pm, weather permitting
- Lifeguards are on duty at Inlet Beach and at 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th and 25th Avenues, subject to change
Accessibility
ADA compliant ramp access to the beach and boardwalk is at 15th and 20th Avenues.
Handicap surf chairs
Contact the North Wildwood Beach Patrol at 609-522-7500 to check availability, since chairs go first come, first served. There is no charge. Beach Surf Chairs are available on the Inlet Beach at 1st and Surf Avenues and on the Front Beach at 7th and 15th Avenues.
Comfort stations
Comfort stations are at 7th Avenue and Kennedy Drive, Lifeguard Headquarters at 15th Avenue and the beach, 25th Avenue and the Boardwalk, and Olde New Jersey Avenue and the Seawall. Portable bathrooms sit on the beach every 3 to 4 blocks in season.
Beach vehicle permits
North Wildwood requires beach vehicle permits for driving on its beaches. Permits allow off road vehicles in designated areas from the day after Labor Day to the Monday before Memorial Day.
Additional North Wildwood Beach Regulations
Put trash in the bins, swim only in marked areas and follow lifeguard instructions. Fires, alcohol and glass containers are not allowed on the beach. From May through September, dogs are allowed on the ocean beach from the 2nd Avenue jetty to 26th Avenue from 6 am to 9 am and from 5:30 pm to 9 pm, on a leash no longer than 8 feet. Dogs are never allowed on the dunes, and they are not allowed on Hereford Inlet Beach at any time of year. Beach access is closed from 9 pm to 6 am from May through September.
North Wildwood and the Wildwoods
North Wildwood is the northern town on the island the Wildwoods share with Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. The Wildwoods boardwalk runs from Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest and ends at 15th Avenue in North Wildwood. Read our Wildwood beach and boardwalk guide for the boards, piers and tram car.
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse at 111 North Central Avenue was completed in 1874 and first lit that May. It sits in the historic Anglesea section of North Wildwood, is listed on the State and National Historic Registers and still serves as an active navigational aid. The lighthouse’s own site says it is operated and maintained by The Friends of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. A 1982 lease with the state Department of Environmental Protection turned stewardship over to the city. See it with other beacons in our Jersey Shore lighthouse guide.
Where to eat and drink in North Wildwood
Our local guides already cover North Wildwood. Start with our 10 best pizza spots in the Wildwoods.
- No. 1 Tavern is an iconic Shore dive known for its Super Tully Nut
- Dolce Italia is a local favorite for authentic Italian food and pizza
- Beach Brew USA sells cold brew and iced coffee right on the sand
Find the full list in our guide to the best dive bars at the Jersey Shore.
Surfing in North Wildwood
- The designated Surf Beach is on the Front Beach
- It runs between 3rd and 5th Avenues
- Dean Randazzo Surf School teaches all levels in North Wildwood
- Compare camps in our Jersey Shore surf camp guide
Best time to visit North Wildwood
Summer is peak beach season. After Labor Day the crowds thin and beach driving opens to permit holders. We explain why locals love that stretch in our guide to the Jersey Shore after Labor Day, and fall visitors can browse Jersey Shore fall events by town.
Our North Wildwood tips
- Call the Beach Patrol early for a surf chair, since they go first come, first served
- Head to 15th or 20th Avenue for ADA ramp access
- Pack bug spray for the bay side and read our greenhead fly guide
A short history of North Wildwood
North Wildwood started out as Anglesea. A National Register study of the Wildwoods motels says the land was sold to the Five Mile Beach Improvement Company in 1879, that Swope formed the Anglesea Land Company in 1882, and that the Borough of Anglesea was incorporated in 1885 before becoming North Wildwood in 1906. The same study says the Lau Ray Motel was built here in 1948.
The light at the north end came early. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse history says a life saving station was built here in 1849, Congress acted on a lighthouse on June 10, 1872, and the light first shone on May 11, 1874. It was designed by Paul J. Pelz, and keeper Freeling Hewitt served for 45 years. A 1913 storm forced the lighthouse to be moved 150 feet.
The lighthouse history says the light was automated in 1964 and the building was then boarded up for 18 years. A 1982 lease passed its care to the city, part of the building opened to the public on July 1, 1983, and the light returned to the lantern room as a working aid in 1986. Restoration funded by the New Jersey Historic Trust and NJDOT began in 1998.
Today the lighthouse history says Hereford is still a working navigational aid, operated and maintained by The Friends of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse with money from tours, the gift shop and fund raising. We love walking from the old motels up to the lighthouse.
North Wildwood FAQ
Do you need beach tags in North Wildwood?
No. North Wildwood beaches are free to access and do not require beach tags.
When are North Wildwood beaches guarded?
A limited number of streets are guarded starting Memorial Day weekend. Beaches are staffed weekends only until early June, then 7 days a week. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am to 5:30 pm, weather permitting.
Which North Wildwood beaches have lifeguards?
Lifeguards are on duty at the Inlet Beach and at 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th and 25th Avenues, subject to change. Call the Beach Patrol headquarters at 609-522-7500 for more information.
Where is the surf beach in North Wildwood?
The designated Surf Beach is on the Front Beach between 3rd and 5th Avenues.
Is North Wildwood beach wheelchair accessible?
ADA compliant ramp access to the beach and boardwalk is at 15th and 20th Avenues. Beach Surf Chairs are free on a first come, first served basis on the Inlet Beach at 1st and Surf Avenues and on the Front Beach at 7th and 15th Avenues. Call the North Wildwood Beach Patrol at 609-522-7500 to check availability.
Where are the restrooms on North Wildwood beaches?
Comfort stations are at 7th Avenue and Kennedy Drive, Lifeguard Headquarters at 15th Avenue and the beach, 25th Avenue and the Boardwalk, and Olde New Jersey Avenue and the Seawall. Portable bathrooms are on the beach every 3 to 4 blocks in season.
Can you drive on the beach in North Wildwood?
Yes, with a permit. North Wildwood requires beach vehicle permits for driving on its beaches, and access is available from the day after Labor Day to the Monday before Memorial Day.
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