Atlantic City NJ Beach Guide

Atlantic City beaches are free with no beach tags, and the Atlantic City Beach Patrol was the first municipally paid professional lifeguard force in the United States. We like it for a free beach day with the boardwalk right behind you, plus ramps, surf chairs and set areas for surfing, kayaking and fishing.

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 Atlantic City, NJ

Weather icon

scattered clouds 62 °F

Humidity

Humidity: 95%

Wind

Wind: SSW at 9 mph

UV Index

UV Index: 0.0

Sunrise Time

Sunrise: 6:30 AM

Sunset Time

Sunset: 4:52 PM

Water Temperature Icon

Ocean Temperature

60.3 °F

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Last Tide

Low Tide

11/4/2026, 9:55 PM

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Next Tide

High Tide

11/5/2026, 4:13 AM

Forecast updated every 15 minutes. Last update: November 5, 2026, 2:15 am

Is Atlantic City beach worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a free beach day with lifeguards, surf chairs and the boardwalk steps away. Our beach tag price guide shows what tagged towns charge.

The Atlantic City boardwalk with beachgoers and casinos
Photo by Bruce Emmerling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Surf chairs through the Beach Patrol
  • Restrooms open year round at three stops
  • Lifeguards from the nation’s first municipally paid professional lifeguard force
  • Guarded beaches from 10 am to 6 pm, Memorial Day through September 30

Atlantic City quick facts

TopicWhat to know
Beach feesNone
Lifeguard hours10 am to 6 pm
Guarded seasonMemorial Day through September 30
Surfing beachesNew Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Raleigh Avenues, at Beach Patrol discretion
Kayaks and windsurfingJackson Avenue beach only
Surf chairsDistrict 7, Mississippi Avenue, 609-347-5307
Outdoor showersSeasonal
DogsNot allowed on the beach, boardwalk or ocean at any time
Facts from the Atlantic City Beach Patrol and the City of Atlantic City website and city code.

Beach tags

Atlantic City’s beaches are free to access and do not need any fee based badge or tag to visit.

Guarded beaches

The Atlantic City Council officially adopted the ordinance to create the agency now referred to nationwide as the “Beach Patrol” or “Constables of the Surf.”

The Atlantic City Beach Patrol covers guarded beaches from 10 am to 6 pm from Memorial Day through September 30. The city posts its opening list of guarded beaches each spring, and more beaches open each weekend as July approaches. The most recent opening list included these streets, with Caspian and Pennsylvania Avenues on weekends only at first.

  • Caspian Avenue
  • New Hampshire Avenue
  • Connecticut Avenue
  • States Avenue
  • Virginia Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
  • North Carolina Avenue
  • South Carolina Avenue
  • Kentucky Avenue
  • MLK Boulevard
  • Ohio Avenue
  • Michigan Avenue
  • Missouri Avenue
  • Mississippi Avenue
  • Texas Avenue
  • Iowa Avenue
  • Brighton Avenue
  • Morris Avenue
  • Albany Avenue
  • Dover Avenue
  • Bartram Avenue
  • Montgomery Avenue

Guarded locations change through the season, so check with the Atlantic City Beach Patrol for the current list.

Surfing is allowed at the sole discretion of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol at New Hampshire Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Delaware Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Raleigh Avenue

Kayakers and windsurfers are permitted at the Jackson Avenue beach only.

Fishermen can cast off from the jetties located on Maine Avenue or the inlet off the boardwalk, or surf fish on the beaches during non bathing hours (outside of 10 am to 6 pm).

Accessibility

Handicap beach access ramps run from the Boardwalk at these streets.

  • Caspian Avenue
  • New Hampshire Avenue
  • New Jersey Avenue
  • Delaware Avenue
  • States Avenue
  • Maryland Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
  • North Carolina Avenue
  • South Carolina Avenue
  • Kentucky Avenue
  • MLK Boulevard
  • Indiana Avenue
  • Ohio Avenue
  • Arkansas Avenue
  • Missouri Avenue
  • Columbia Avenue
  • Mississippi Avenue
  • Florida Avenue
  • Texas Avenue
  • California Avenue
  • Iowa Avenue
  • Chelsea Avenue
  • Montpelier Avenue
  • Boston Avenue
  • Albany Avenue
  • Lincoln Avenue
  • Seedorf Lane
  • Raleigh Avenue
  • Bartram Avenue
  • Tallahassee Avenue
  • Jackson Avenue

Surf chairs

Handicap beach surf chairs are available through the Beach Patrol at District 7, Mississippi Avenue. Chairs are first come, first served. Call 609-347-5307 for availability.

Comfort stations

Outdoor public showers operate seasonally. There are no bathhouses in Atlantic City.

Restrooms are along the Boardwalk at Bartram Avenue, Albany Avenue, Chelsea Avenue, New York Avenue and Kennedy Plaza at Mississippi Avenue. Restrooms at New York Avenue, Mississippi Avenue and Chelsea Avenue are open year round. Restrooms are ADA compliant, and Caspian Avenue has a single use accessible bathroom.

More Atlantic City, NJ Regulations

Swimming is allowed only when lifeguards are on duty. Smoking and vaping, cannabis included, are banned on the beach, the Boardwalk and the ramps at all times of year. Alcohol is banned on the beach at any time unless the City permits it, and on the Boardwalk open drinks are allowed only in the Open Container Zone from Sovereign Avenue to Rhode Island Avenue, in a plastic cup from a licensed seller, for adults 21 and over. Fireworks, bonfires and open flames are forbidden, and visitors must use trash and recycling bins. Walking on dunes is prohibited, and excessive noise is not allowed.

Dogs on Atlantic City beaches

City Code section 121-22, as amended by Ordinance 42 of 2024, bans any animal, dogs included, from the Boardwalk, the beach and the ocean at any time, whether loose, leashed or in a carrier. That means no off season dog walks on the beach either. Assistance animals on a leash and K9 dogs working with law enforcement are exempt.

Best time to visit Atlantic City beaches

Summer brings the full lineup of guarded beaches, while the weeks after Labor Day are quieter. We cover those weeks in our guide to the Jersey Shore after Labor Day.

More beaches to compare

Our Atlantic City beach tips

  • Swim only when lifeguards are on duty
  • Bring surfboards to New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania or Raleigh Avenue
  • Call ahead for a surf chair at District 7
  • Leave dogs at home, since they are banned from the beach year round
  • Pack bug spray and read our greenhead fly guide

A short history of Atlantic City

Atlantic City began on a quiet island. The City of Atlantic City history page says the Lenni Lenape followed the Old Indian Trail to Absecon Island, Thomas Budd was its first recorded owner, and Jeremiah Leeds built the first permanent structure in 1785. By 1850 there were just seven dwellings.

Dr. Jonathan Pitney and engineer Richard Osborne pushed for a railroad, work began in 1852, and the first train arrived on July 5, 1854. Streets were named for the world’s great bodies of water and for the states. A boardwalk followed in 1870 and was replaced in 1880, and by 1900 the city had over 27,000 residents.

The city page says Atlantic City declined after World War II, and voters passed the Casino Gambling Referendum in 1976. The National Park Service study Resorts and Recreation notes that the Marlborough-Blenheim hotel was destroyed in 1979 to make room for casinos.

The city page says the Boardwalk today is 60 feet wide with planks laid in a herringbone pattern. We love starting a beach day with a long walk on those boards.

Atlantic City beach FAQ

Do you need beach tags in Atlantic City?

No. Atlantic City’s beaches are free to access and do not need any fee based badge or tag to visit.

When are Atlantic City beaches guarded?

The Beach Patrol covers guarded beaches from 10 am to 6 pm from Memorial Day through September 30. Not every beach is guarded at the start of the season, and more open as summer goes on.

Where can you surf in Atlantic City?

Surfing is allowed at the sole discretion of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol at New Hampshire Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Delaware Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Raleigh Avenue. Kayakers and windsurfers are permitted at the Jackson Avenue beach only.

Where can you fish in Atlantic City?

Fishermen can cast off from the jetties located on Maine Avenue or the inlet off the boardwalk, or surf fish on the beaches during non bathing hours (outside of 10 am to 6 pm).

Are dogs allowed on Atlantic City beaches?

No. City ordinance bans dogs and other animals from the Boardwalk, the beach and the ocean at any time, whether loose, leashed or in a carrier. Assistance animals on a leash and police K9 dogs are exempt.

Can you get a beach surf chair in Atlantic City?

Yes. Handicap beach surf chairs are available through the Beach Patrol at District 7, Mississippi Avenue. Chairs are first come, first served. Call 609-347-5307 for availability.

Where are the restrooms in Atlantic City?

Restrooms are along the Boardwalk at Bartram Avenue, Albany Avenue, Chelsea Avenue, New York Avenue and Kennedy Plaza at Mississippi Avenue. Restrooms at New York Avenue, Mississippi Avenue and Chelsea Avenue are open year round. There are no bathhouses in Atlantic City.

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