USA Today Ranks Wildwood The Best Beach In New Jersey For 2026 But Not Every Local Agrees

Picking the best beach in Jersey is kind of like asking who has the best pizza in Jersey, or the best ice cream, or where you can get the best pork roll, egg, and cheese. It's almost impossible to pick just one.

Like, I love Ocean Gate Beach, but also, Seaside Heights is another hang-out spot I love, and don't even get me started on Sea Isle City; I spent summers there as a kid with my grandparents, and it'll always hold a special place for me.

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Experts Rank The Best Beach In New Jersey For 2026

But when travel experts want to pick the best of something, they figure out a way to do it, and according to USA Today, there's one beach in Jersey that sits above the rest, and I'm sure it's going to ruffle some feathers.

Not that it's a bad beach, but just that for a lot of people, it's not really their first choice for beaches.

Wildwood, NJ, Beaches Ranked Best In The State

According to USA Today, the best beach in New Jersey for 2026 is none other than Wildwood.

Why Wildwood Beaches Ranked The Best In Jersey For 2026

That's because of the beach's size, the fact that it's free, and because the boardwalk that separates the beach from the town of Wildwood is massive and always has something going on.

Other Beach Towns That Could Have Easily Gotten The Crown

And I like Wildwood, don't get me wrong, but I'd much rather spend time at Ortley Beach, or up at Asbury Park Beach, or even at the beach in Cape May; it's quieter, calmer, and it doesn't take half a day to walk down to the water if you want to cool off!