A large family-oriented beach town known for its dry-town identity, long boardwalk, amusement piers, downtown shopping, and wide beaches.
Cape May County·South Shore·Verified May 15, 2026·Official site ↗
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A large family-oriented beach town known for its dry-town identity, long boardwalk, amusement piers, downtown shopping, and wide beaches. Ocean City is one of the Shore's most established vacation destinations, with strong repeat visitation and a summer rhythm built around beach days, boardwalk nights, and family traditions. Its no-alcohol policy is central to how the town presents itself and how visitors choose it.
Routes 316 and 559 bus; no rail
Very walkable/bikeable once there; getting there by bus is doable but slow
NJ Transit 316 — Ocean City
NJ Transit 559 — Atlantic City to Ocean City
dogs
No dogs May 1–Sep 30. Also banned Mar 15–Sep 30 between OC-Longport Bridge and terminal groin
tents
Tents and canopies under 10×10ft allowed near dunes in soft sand. Enclosed or larger structures banned
fires
All fires banned year-round — barbecues, bonfires, tiki torches, sparklers
surfing
Designated surf beaches at Waverly Blvd, 7th St, 16th St, and south of 36th St. No surfing at guarded beaches 10am–5:30pm
alcohol
Dry town — no alcohol sales or consumption on beach or in public. Strictly enforced
smoking
Smoking banned on all NJ public beaches (state law since 2019). Fines $250–$1,000
glass
Glass containers prohibited on beach
Boardwalk Beaches
Gardens Area
Street meters
Virtual parking meters throughout town
66°
Sunny
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 18 at 2:52AM EDT until May 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
✈Rip current risk HIGH along entire NJ coast
Avoid swimming beyond waist-depth. Swim near lifeguards only.
Today
77°
Mostly Sunny
Tonight
63°
Partly Cloudy
Tuesday
79°
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday Night
65°
Partly Cloudy
Wednesday
82°
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wednesday Night
57°
Showers And Thunderstorms