Belmar Beach is one of New Jersey's best beaches and most popular summer destinations. It's located in Belmar, NJ, and features 1.5 miles of pristine beachfront. The beach is a borough of Belmar and a vibrant resort that offers a beautiful place for a vacation or a weekend getaway.

Surrounded almost entirely by water, this beach community offers ocean, lake, and river sights. It's a fun place for families, younger crowds, solo beach bums, and older beachgoers. It's a great spot for everyone!

Whether you're looking to enjoy water adventures or relax, there's something for everyone at Belmar.

History

The Belmar area has a rich history dating back to an early Native American tribe, Lenni Lenape. It’s believed that this tribe spent summers here due to the plethora of natural resources. With that said, it’s no surprise that archeologists have recovered many artifacts, including a 12-pound ax head.

In the early 1700s, European settlers started salt plants along the Belmar New Jersey coastline. These were used for food and gunpowder and became essential when the British cut off imports. During the 1800s, farmers began boroughs, and 6 were established by 1851. A group of investors bought the land in the late 1800s and started a beach community complete with oceanfront cottages.

Even today, much of the town’s rich history is still visible. There are numerous well-preserved buildings, and many homes retain the Victorian-style that dominated the 19th century. In fact, a lot of Belmar tourism is the attraction of old Victorian properties nestled along the beach.

You can witness time progression with 1940s bungalows to upscale seashore cottages. Today, Belmar is a popular vacation destination during the summer months. Once the warm weather hits, you’ll find the beach, boardwalk, and local shops are bustling with activity and family fun.

How to Get to Belmar Beach

Belmar Beach is easy to find along Ocean Avenue. Simply take Highway 35 North and take 16th street all the way to the beach.

There's plenty of paid and free parking near the beach. You'll find free parking on side streets and pay-by-app parking spots, too. You can also pay to park at the Belmar Marina. Handicap spots along the boardwalk are free.

To hang out on Belmar Beach, an admission fee is paid via beach tags, which you can find at ticket booths on Ocean Avenue. Learn more about daily and seasonal badges here. There is free beach access for gold star family members, active military members and their families, and disabled veterans.

Where to Stay

With over 20 hotels within a five-mile radius, Belmar Beach offers plenty of accommodations. There's something for all kinds of beach vacationers, from high-end luxury hotels and no-frill chain hotels to cozy bed and breakfasts and stylish vacation rentals.

Here are a few top recommendations for hotels in the area:

• Mayfair Hotel: a casual, relaxed hotel with ocean views and an outdoor pool.
• Inn at the Shore: a charming 19th-century bed & breakfast a few blocks away from the beach.
• Tandem Bike Inn: a quaint bed & breakfast with complimentary bike rentals.

Belmar Beach Attractions

With so many fun ocean and dry land activities, spending a few days or longer in Belmar, NJ is easy.

Water Activities

With seasonal or daily badges, you can enjoy various water activities at Belmar Beach. There are lifeguards on the beach, and many visitors enjoy swimming, surfing, and boogie boarding.

Boogie boards are permitted on 7th, 14th, and 20th avenues. Surfboards are permitted on 17th and 18th avenues. Check out this local surf school if you're interested in surfing lessons or surf camp at Belmar Beach.

Other exciting water adventures at Belmar Beach include fishing boat charters and whale watching tours.

Belmar Boardwalk

Change it up and head to the Belmar boardwalk where you can stroll, appreciate picturesque views, and people-watch. You can find several restaurants and restrooms along the boardwalk, too.

Explore Downtown

Head to Main Street, close to the beach, where you can find the lively Downtown Belmar, NJ. From boutiques to thrift stores and cafes to unique restaurants, it's easy to spend a few hours or more downtown.

We especially recommend checking out Beach Haus Brewery, where you can enjoy local craft beer and delicious food.

Silver Lake

Change up the beach scene and check out this beautiful lake. It's a quick walk from the beach, and it's a great place to go fishing, have a picnic, or go for a walk.

Beach Hop

If you're hanging out in Belmar for at least a few days, you may want to visit other fun beaches nearby. After some time appreciating the fantastic Belmar beachfront, you can head just a couple miles south on Ocean Avenue to Spring Lake Beach or about half an hour to the exciting Jersey Shore.