Brigantine NJ Beach Guide
Brigantine requires a beach tag for everyone 12 and older during enforcement hours from late June to early September, and seniors 65 and older get a free tag.
Brigantine is an Atlantic County island town just north of Atlantic City, with about five miles of guarded beach, a bay beach at the City Dock and beach mats at five entrances.
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 Brigantine, NJ
Humidity: 94%
Wind: S at 8 mph
UV Index: 0.0
Sunrise: 6:30 AM
Sunset: 4:52 PM
Ocean Temperature
60.3 °F
Last Tide
Low Tide
11/4/2026, 9:55 PM
Next Tide
High Tide
11/5/2026, 4:13 AM
Forecast updated every 15 minutes. Last update: November 5, 2026, 2:00 am
Is Brigantine worth visiting?
Yes, if you want low cost tags, lots of guarded beaches and quieter sand next to Atlantic City.
- Free tags for seniors 65 and older
- Free tags for veterans and active military families
- Beach mats at five beaches
- Low cost season tags
Brigantine quick facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Season tag | $20 by May 31, $25 after |
| Weekly, daily | $15, $10 |
| Tags required | Ages 12 and older, late June to early September |
| Lifeguards | 10 am to 5:30 pm, mid June to Labor Day |
| Beach Patrol | 609-266-5233 |
| Beach Fee Office | 609-264-7350 |
Beach tags
Everyone 12 and older needs a tag during enforcement hours from late June to early September. Season tags are $20 if bought by May 31 and $25 after. Seniors 60 to 64 pay $10 by May 31, and seniors 65 and older get one free tag with ID. Weekly tags are $15 and daily tags are $10. Active military get up to four free tags per family, and veterans get a free tag for themselves. Buy tags at the Beach Fee Office, 265 42nd Street, open all year, with cash, check or card (cards carry a 3% fee), from inspectors on the beach in season, or as digital tags in the My Beach Mobile app. Call the Beach Fee Office at 609-264-7350 and choose option 6.
Guarded beaches
Swim only from mid June to Labor Day, from 10 am to 5:30 pm, at beaches where lifeguards are on duty. Guarded beaches are at 10th, 5th and 2nd Streets North, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 22nd, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 34th, 38th and 43rd Streets South, Bramble Drive, Surfside Road and Sandy Lane.
A few beaches are guarded on weekends from Memorial Day weekend, and some stay open for two weekends after Labor Day. The bay beach is at the City Dock, 26th Street and Bayshore Avenue.
Surfing is allowed at 12th Street North, 10th Street South, north of the South End Jetty and south of the Sandy Lane bathing area. Beach Patrol Headquarters is at 16th Street and the beach, 609-266-5233.
Accessibility
Beach mats
Accessible beach mats are at 10th Street North, Roosevelt Boulevard, 16th Street South, 26th Street and 34th Street.
Beach wheelchairs
Ask Beach Patrol Headquarters about beach wheelchairs at 609-266-5233 (summer only).
Public restrooms
The city does not publish a list of beach restrooms. Call City Hall at 609-266-7600 to ask.
Additional Brigantine Beach Rules
Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, keep off the dunes and follow lifeguard instructions.
- From May 15 to September 15 dogs are not allowed on public beaches. From September 16 to May 14 they may go on a leash. Dogs are never allowed on the beach by the Promenade from 9th Street North to 15th Street North, and not from Sandy Lane to Bramble Drive from March 15 to September 15.
- Fishing is allowed north of 14th Street North, from 45th to 47th Streets, at 49th Street, south of the Absecon Inlet jetty and at the Brigantine Bridge.
- Kite flying is allowed from 34th Street South to 38th Street South.
- Kayaks may launch next to guarded beaches, at the Absecon Inlet beaches, between Sandy Lane and Seaside Road and at the City Dock. Jet skis and catamarans need a permit.
Best time to visit Brigantine
We love September here, when a few beaches stay guarded on weekends and leashed dogs return to the sand from mid September. For quieter weeks read our guide to the Jersey Shore after Labor Day.
More beaches to compare
- Read the ultimate Jersey Shore beach guide
- Compare breaks in our Jersey Shore surf spot guide
- Check tag costs in the beach tag price guide
Our Brigantine beach tips
- Buy season tags by May 31 to save $5
- Seniors 65 and older are free
- Ask the Beach Patrol about beach wheelchairs
- Pack bug spray and read our greenhead fly guide
A short history of Brigantine
Brigantine was a playground long before it was a resort. Atlantic County’s history of Brigantine says the Lenape called the island Watamoonica, meaning playground, that Henry Hudson’s Half Moon logged this coast, and that an eighteenth century brigantine wrecked on the shoals gave the island its name. John P. Snyder’s The Story of New Jersey’s Civil Boundaries records that Brigantine Beach became a borough on June 14, 1890, and, after a spell as East Atlantic City, became the city of Brigantine in 1924.
The city’s 2016 master plan reexamination explains that automobile access arrived in the 1920s and that Brigantine grew slowly as a bedroom community and resort, especially in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The island had about 400 residents in 1940 and 4,201 in 1960, and it peaked at 12,594 in 2000. The report calls Superstorm Sandy, which struck on October 29, 2012, perhaps the most destructive storm in New Jersey history, and it notes that the city adopted a dune management plan as early as 1981.
Its only road access is Route 87 by way of Atlantic City, the population swells to around 30,000 in summer, and more residents are retirees and second home owners. Today Brigantine still feels like an island apart, and we love that sense of escape.
Brigantine beach FAQ
Do you need beach tags in Brigantine NJ?
Yes. Everyone 12 and older needs a tag during enforcement hours from late June to early September.
How much are Brigantine beach tags?
Season tags are $20 by May 31 and $25 after. Weekly tags are $15 and daily tags are $10. Seniors 65 and older are free.
Where can you buy Brigantine beach tags?
At the Beach Fee Office, 265 42nd Street, from inspectors on the beach or in the My Beach Mobile app.
When are Brigantine beaches guarded?
From 10 am to 5:30 pm, mid June to Labor Day.
Where can you surf in Brigantine?
At 12th Street North, 10th Street South, north of the South End Jetty and south of the Sandy Lane bathing area.
Can you borrow a beach wheelchair in Brigantine?
Ask Beach Patrol Headquarters about beach wheelchairs at 609-266-5233 (summer only).
Are dogs allowed on Brigantine beaches?
Not from May 15 to September 15. From September 16 to May 14 leashed dogs are allowed on public beaches.
Are there flies on Brigantine beaches?
Check our daily fly report before you head to the beach.
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