Ship Bottom NJ Beach Guide
Ship Bottom requires a beach badge for everyone 13 and older from Father’s Day weekend to Labor Day, and lifeguards work from 10 am to 6 pm.
Ship Bottom’s ocean beaches run from 3rd Street to 31st Street on Long Beach Island, with a guarded bay beach, free beach wheelchairs and a free beach taxi.
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 Ship Bottom, NJ
Humidity: 93%
Wind: SSW at 7 mph
UV Index: 0.0
Sunrise: 6:29 AM
Sunset: 4:51 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 Ship Bottom worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet Long Beach Island town with a guarded bay beach and strong accessibility services.
- Guarded bay beach with a playground
- Free beach taxi
- Free beach wheelchairs
- Free badges for veterans and active military
Ship Bottom quick facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Season badge | Lower price through May 31 |
| Daily, weekly | Digital badges at ship-bottom.jerseycapetickets.com |
| Badges required | Ages 13 and older, Father’s Day weekend to Labor Day |
| Lifeguards | 10 am to 6 pm |
| Dogs on beach | Not allowed May 1 to October 1 |
| Lifeguard HQ | 609-494-9481 |
Beach badges
Everyone 13 and older needs a badge on the ocean beaches from 3rd Street to 31st Street and on the bay beach, from Father’s Day weekend to Labor Day. Children 12 and under are free. Badges come as daily, weekly and season badges, with a lower season price through May 31 and senior badges for ages 65 and older. Buy daily and weekly badges as digital badges at ship-bottom.jerseycapetickets.com, with a card fee. Buy season badges at the badge office, open 9 am to 1 pm daily, or on the beach. Senior badges are sold in person at Borough Hall, 1621 Long Beach Boulevard, one per senior. Veterans and active military members, plus their spouses and children, get free badges by showing ID to a badge checker. Recreation badges do not cover the beach, and there are no refunds.
Guarded beaches
From Memorial Day weekend to the weekend before Father’s Day, lifeguards patrol by truck and ATV from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends only.
From the Saturday before Father’s Day to Labor Day, lifeguards are on duty from 10 am to 6 pm daily at 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 26th and 30th Streets and the bay beach.
From the day after Labor Day through September 30, lifeguards work 10 am to 6 pm daily at 20th Street only.
Stands can move north or south of the listed street with ocean and beach conditions. Lifeguard headquarters is at 124 East 26th Street, 609-494-9481.
Accessibility
Beach mats
Accessible dune walkovers with blue Mobi mats are at 15th and 20th Streets. Additional ramps are at 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th and 30th Streets. Mobi mats are on every street except 3rd, 5th, 11th, 17th and 31st Streets, which are used for vehicles and the beach taxi.
Beach wheelchairs
Beach wheels are free for anyone staying in Ship Bottom, by advance reservation for up to one week. Call 609-494-9481 in season or 609-494-2171 extension 116 off season, and bring ID at pickup. An attendant must push the chair. The free beach taxi for visitors with physical challenges runs from Father’s Day weekend to Labor Day. Call lifeguard headquarters to schedule a pickup and drop off.
Public restrooms
Public restrooms are at the Municipal Building at 17th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, the bay boat ramp at 10th Street and the bay beach between 13th and 16th Streets.
Additional Ship Bottom Beach Rules
Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, carry your trash off the beach and follow lifeguard instructions.
- Alcohol is not allowed on the beach at any time.
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May 1 to October 1. Off season they must stay on a leash, and owners must clean up after them.
- Stay off the dunes, where the fine is $500, and do not litter, which also carries a $500 fine.
- No sleeping on the beach from sunset to 8 am.
- No bonfires or open air fires on any beach or bay area.
- Do not sit or lie on the vehicle access ramps.
- No vehicles on the beach from the second Saturday in May to the last Saturday in September. Off season, four wheel drive vehicles need a $50 beach buggy permit from Borough Hall or, on weekends, the 11th Street boat ramp. Call 609-494-2171 extension 100.
Best time to visit Ship Bottom
We love September here, when the water is still warm and 20th Street stays guarded through September 30. 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 badge costs in the beach tag price guide
Our Ship Bottom beach tips
- Buy season badges before June 1 for the lower price
- Reserve a beach wheel early
- Swim at 20th Street in September
- Pack bug spray and read our greenhead fly guide
A short history of Ship Bottom
Ship Bottom takes its name from a wreck. The Borough of Ship Bottom history page tells the 1817 shipwreck story, credited to historian John Bailey Lloyd. It says Life Saving Station number 20 opened here in 1872, and that Capt. Wesley Truex built the first house in 1898.
The borough page says the Fortuna ran aground on January 18, 1910, and its anchor now stands in front of Borough Hall. The borough was formed on May 25, 1925 and was known as Ship Bottom-Beach Arlington until it was renamed in 1947.
The National Park Service study Resorts and Recreation says pound fisheries worked these waters, and that the Ship Bottom Pound Fisheries existed by 1936. The island railroad ran until 1935, when an automobile causeway cut its ridership.
Superstorm Sandy hit hard. Borough council minutes describe damage to the water plants, the dunes and homes, and say the municipal and police complex was out of use for more than a year. The borough then worked with the state on replenished beaches and engineered dunes. Today the causeway still makes Ship Bottom the Gateway to Long Beach Island, and we love crossing it into town.
Ship Bottom beach FAQ
Do you need a beach badge in Ship Bottom NJ?
Yes. Everyone 13 and older needs a badge from Father’s Day weekend to Labor Day. Children 12 and under are free.
Where can you buy Ship Bottom beach badges?
Buy daily and weekly digital badges at ship-bottom.jerseycapetickets.com, and season badges at the badge office or on the beach. Senior badges are sold at Borough Hall.
Do military members get free Ship Bottom beach badges?
Yes. Veterans and active military members, plus their spouses and children, get free badges with ID.
When are Ship Bottom beaches guarded?
From 10 am to 6 pm, weekends only from Memorial Day weekend, daily from the Saturday before Father’s Day to Labor Day, and at 20th Street through September 30.
Which Ship Bottom beaches are guarded?
In season, 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 26th and 30th Streets and the bay beach.
Can you borrow a beach wheelchair in Ship Bottom?
Yes. Reserve a free beach wheel by calling 609-494-9481 in season.
Are dogs allowed on Ship Bottom beach?
Not from May 1 to October 1. Off season dogs must be on a leash.
Can you drive on the beach in Ship Bottom?
Only off season with a $50 beach buggy permit, never from the second Saturday in May to the last Saturday in September.
Where are the restrooms in Ship Bottom?
At the Municipal Building at 17th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, the 10th Street bay boat ramp and the bay beach between 13th and 16th Streets.
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