Yes, Wildwood’s beaches are free. The Wildwoods (North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest) have about five miles of beach, and none of it needs a beach tag, wristband or permit. That’s unlike many Jersey Shore towns, where you buy a daily or seasonal tag to get on the sand. Here’s what “free” covers, when lifeguards are on duty, the rules for dogs, and where to stay a few blocks from the sand.
The short version
| Beach tags | Not required anywhere in the Wildwoods |
|---|---|
| Length | About 5 miles, from North Wildwood to Wildwood Crest |
| Lifeguards | Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily |
| Dogs | Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches: October to May. North Wildwood: 2nd to 26th Avenue whenever lifeguards are off duty |
| Accessible beach access | Through each town’s beach patrol (numbers below) |
Source: the beach information page on wildwoodsnj.com, the Wildwoods’ official tourism site, checked November 2, 2026.
What’s free, and what isn’t
Getting onto the beach costs nothing. What you may pay for are the extras: stands at many beach entrances rent chairs, umbrellas, surfboards and boogie boards, and beach taxis will haul your gear to the sand for a small fee. Parking is separate too, so check the signs and meters where you leave the car.
Lifeguards and swimming
The beaches are guarded from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Outside those hours and dates there are no lifeguards, and swimming isn’t safe without them. For first aid or accessible beach access, contact the beach patrol for the area you’re in:
- North Wildwood: 609-522-7500. Surf chairs at the First Aid Station on 15th Avenue.
- Wildwood: 609-522-8258. Lifeguard headquarters at Lincoln Avenue and the beach.
- Wildwood Crest: 609-522-3825. Lifeguard headquarters at Rambler Road and the beach.
Bringing the dog
Dogs are allowed on the Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from October to May, which makes the off-season a good time to bring them. In North Wildwood, dogs can use the beach from 2nd Avenue to 26th Avenue any time lifeguards aren’t on duty, but never on the Inlet portion. Dogs are not allowed on the Boardwalk at any time. Keep them leashed and pick up after them. There’s also a dog-friendly park and beach at Glenwood Avenue in Wildwood (6 a.m. to dusk), marked by a giant fire hydrant sculpture, and a permit dog park at 24th Avenue in North Wildwood.
Free beach, free Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is free to walk too, and in winter it’s one of the best ways to spend a morning in Wildwood. See our winter things-to-do list, or check how busy the sand is on the live Wildwood webcams. Comparing towns for a summer trip? Read Wildwood beach vs Cape May beach.
Where to stay near the free beaches
Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, is the Coastal Collection hotel open from mid-October through April, a few blocks from the beach and the Boardwalk. Book Coastal Sands
Planning summer 2027? Beachside Resort, Sunset Beach Hotel, Sunrise Inn and Paradise Inn reopen in April. Compare all five on the hotels in Wildwood page.
Quick answers
Is Wildwood beach free?
Yes. The Wildwoods’ roughly five miles of beach are free, with no beach tags, wristbands or permits.
Does Wildwood Crest require beach tags?
No. Wildwood Crest, Wildwood and North Wildwood are all free.
When are there lifeguards in Wildwood?
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Can I bring my dog to the beach in Wildwood?
From October to May on the Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches. In North Wildwood, from 2nd to 26th Avenue whenever lifeguards aren’t on duty. Never on the Boardwalk.
Choosing a spot? Our block-by-block guide to Wildwood’s beaches compares them.
Need a beach wheelchair or mat access? See Wildwood beach wheelchair access.
