Stone Harbor NJ Beach Guide
Stone Harbor requires a beach tag for everyone 12 and older from 10 am to 5 pm, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to the Monday of Labor Day weekend, and tags are good in Avalon too.
Stone Harbor shares Seven Mile Island with Avalon. It has guarded beaches from 81st Street to 122nd Street, the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary of about 21 acres in the middle of town, free surf chairs and the Stone Harbor Point conservation area at the south end.
Flies Are Biting!
Beware! Based on current conditions, don’t forget your bug spray or essential oils to avoid those relentless beach flies. They are out and ready for a feast!
Current Weather for Stone Harbor, NJ
Humidity: 55%
Wind: WSW at 6 mph
UV Index: 2.9
Sunrise: 6:28 AM
Sunset: 4:56 PM
Ocean Temperature
60.4 °F
Last Tide
Low Tide
11/3/2026, 9:13 AM
Next Tide
High Tide
11/3/2026, 3:40 PM
Forecast updated every 15 minutes. Last update: November 3, 2026, 12:30 pm
Is Stone Harbor worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quieter island town with tags that also work in Avalon, free surf chairs and a protected point for birds and walks.
- Tags also valid in Avalon
- Free surf chairs
- Free tags for veterans and active military
- Leashed dogs on the beach in the evening
Stone Harbor quick facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Season tag | $37 through May 31, $42 from June 1 |
| Weekly, daily | $18 (Saturday to Saturday), $10 |
| Tags required | Ages 12 and older, 10 am to 5 pm |
| Lifeguards | 10 am to 5 pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day |
| Surfing | 81st and 110th Streets |
| Beach Tag Office | 609-368-6805 |
Beach tags
Everyone 12 and older must display a tag from 10 am to 5 pm, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to the Monday of Labor Day weekend. Children under 12 are free. Season tags are $37 through May 31 and $42 from June 1, holiday tags are $37 while supplies last, weekly tags (Saturday to Saturday) are $18 and daily tags are $10. Holiday tags work all summer and do not need to be swapped for a season tag. Stone Harbor and Avalon honor each other’s tags. Buy tags at the Beach Tag Office in the Beach Patrol Building at 95th Street and the beach, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Borough Hall, 9508 Second Avenue, from 8:30 am to 4 pm on weekdays in spring, or from tag inspectors on the beach in summer. The office takes cash, check and cards, with a fee for cards. Online, buy at Jersey Cape Tags for home delivery, or order season tags through RecDesk for pickup, with fees on all online orders. Veterans get a free veterans tag in person with a DD 214 or a qualifying veterans card, and active duty military and their families get free tags at the Beach Tag Office after Memorial Day weekend. For hours call 609-368-5102.
Guarded beaches
The Stone Harbor Beach Patrol guards beaches from 10 am to 5 pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swim only at guarded beaches while lifeguards are on duty. The number of guarded beaches can change with staffing.
Guarded beaches are at 81st, 83rd, 86th, 87th, 90th, 93rd, 94th, 95th, 96th, 100th, 102nd, 103rd, 105th, 108th, 110th, 112th, 113th, 116th, 117th, 120th and 122nd Streets. Lifeguards designate raft areas. Check with the Beach Patrol at 609-368-8461.
Surfboards with leashes are allowed only at 81st and 110th Streets. Kayaks are allowed only from 122nd Street to 126th Street, and paddlers must wear life jackets. Seasonal catamaran slips on the ocean beach at Stone Harbor Point, from 123rd Street south to the terminal groin, can be reserved through the Borough Clerk’s Office. Sailcraft must be licensed and beached only in set areas, with permits from the Borough Clerk’s Office. The Beach Patrol is at 609-368-8461.
Accessibility
Beach mats
Ramps run from the street to the beach at 80th, 83rd, 88th, 92nd, 95th, 101st, 103rd, 105th, 111th and 119th Streets. Access from the beach entrance to the water’s edge is at 88th, 95th and 119th Streets, and the pavilions at 88th and 101st Streets connect to the beach. Accessible parking is at 95th Street and the beach, and metered street parking is free with a disability placard or plate. The fishing pier at 83rd Street and the bay is fully accessible.
Beach wheelchairs
Six free surf chairs are kept at the Beach Tag Office at 95th Street and the beach, open 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly suggested at 609-368-6805.
Public restrooms
A comfort station sits on Second Avenue between 95th and 96th Streets, across from Borough Hall. Restrooms with accessible stalls are at 95th Street and the beach, at the 82nd Street Recreation Field and at the 123rd Street parking lot at the beach, which serves Stone Harbor Point. Seasonal restrooms are at the Municipal Marina, and foot and shower rinse stations are at the 95th Street beach access.
Additional Stone Harbor Beach Rules
Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, stay on beach paths and off the dunes, and follow lifeguard instructions. Roped off bird nesting areas at Stone Harbor Point may be closed in spring and summer.
- Picnics, alcohol, fires and glass bottles are banned on the beach, and New Jersey law bans smoking on public beaches.
- No sleeping on the beach from sunset to sunrise.
- Dogs must be leashed. From the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, dogs may walk the beach from 80th Street to 122nd Street from 7 pm to sunset. From the day after Labor Day through the Thursday before Memorial Day, leashed dogs may walk there at any time. Dogs are never allowed south of 127th Street at Stone Harbor Point.
- Fill in any holes you dig before you leave.
- Boats may not land on the beach.
- Vehicles need a permit and may drive on the beach for fishing only. Apply to the Borough Clerk from September 1 to 30. Permits run October 1 to March 15 north of 122nd Street, and from the day after Labor Day to March 15 south of 122nd Street, with the start date subject to change. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour, and no driving is allowed from 111th Street to 114th Street. Call the Borough Clerk at 609-368-6800.
Best time to visit Stone Harbor
We love September here, when the water is still warm and leashed dogs can enjoy the beach any time of day. 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 Stone Harbor beach tips
- Buy season tags by May 31 to save $5
- Reserve a surf chair before you go
- Use your tag in Avalon too
- Pack bug spray and read our greenhead fly guide
A short history of Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor drew its first crowds in the late 19th century, when a wealthy Philadelphia investor bought the land and turned it into an upscale getaway for vacationers from Philadelphia and New York. The town grew out of the Seven Mile Beach development companies that also built neighboring Avalon, according to the Borough of Avalon master plan.
The Borough of Stone Harbor notes that the town was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1914, and a local referendum followed on April 28. The first Borough Council met on May 18, 1914, and approved a borough seal reading “The Wonder City.”
The sea tested that wonder in the decades that followed. The Stone Harbor Museum recalls the Great Storm of March 6 to 8, 1962. It destroyed part of the bulkhead between 83rd and 85th Streets, swept away the dunes between 80th and 83rd Streets, and wrecked 16 homes and 12 other buildings.
Long before that storm, the town had chosen to protect its wild places. In 1947 the council set aside land for the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, kept at about 21 acres since 1961, and in 1965 the National Park Service named it a National Natural Landmark. The borough later adopted a conservation plan for Stone Harbor Point. Today it is a resort town of homes and shops with pristine beaches and marshes, and that first “Wonder City” seal is still in use.
Stone Harbor beach FAQ
Do you need beach tags in Stone Harbor NJ?
Yes. Everyone 12 and older needs a tag from 10 am to 5 pm, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
How much are Stone Harbor beach tags?
Season tags are $37 through May 31 and $42 from June 1. Weekly tags are $18 and daily tags are $10.
Is a Stone Harbor beach tag valid in Avalon?
Yes. Stone Harbor and Avalon honor each other’s beach tags.
Where can you buy Stone Harbor beach tags?
At the Beach Tag Office at 95th Street and the beach, at Borough Hall on weekdays in spring, from tag inspectors on the beach, or online at jerseycapetags.com.
When are Stone Harbor beaches guarded?
From 10 am to 5 pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Where can you surf in Stone Harbor?
Only at 81st and 110th Streets, with a leash on your board.
Can you borrow a beach wheelchair in Stone Harbor?
Yes. Six free surf chairs are at the Beach Tag Office. Reserve one at 609-368-6805.
Are dogs allowed on Stone Harbor beach?
Yes, on a leash from 80th Street to 122nd Street, from 7 pm to sunset in summer and any time off season. Dogs are never allowed at Stone Harbor Point.
Where are the restrooms in Stone Harbor?
At the comfort station on Second Avenue between 95th and 96th Streets, at 95th Street and the beach, at the 82nd Street Recreation Field and at the 123rd Street parking lot near Stone Harbor Point.
Are Stone Harbor beaches free?
No. Everyone 12 and older needs a tag in season. Children under 12 are free.
Does Stone Harbor have accessible beaches?
Yes. Ramps run from the street to the beach at 80th, 83rd, 88th, 92nd, 95th, 101st, 103rd, 105th, 111th and 119th Streets, with access to the water’s edge at 88th, 95th and 119th Streets.
Can you drink alcohol on Stone Harbor beaches?
No. Alcohol, glass bottles and fires are banned on the beach.
Can you drive on Stone Harbor beaches?
Only with a fishing permit, from October 1 to March 15 north of 122nd Street and from the day after Labor Day south of 122nd Street. Call the Borough Clerk at 609-368-6800.
Is smoking allowed on Stone Harbor beaches?
No. New Jersey law bans smoking on public beaches.
Are there flies on Stone Harbor beaches?
Check our daily fly report before you head to the beach.
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