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Long Beach Island is in Ocean County ( http://www.ocean.nj.us). The island known for it’s 18 miles of sandy beaches, great boating, good dining and a family atmosphere.
Long Beach Boulevard is the main thoroughfare. The island is only about 4 blocks wide at it’s widest point. About the only way to get to the island is by private auto.
Most of the beaches south of the causeway are publicly accessible. As you go north through Loveladies and North Beach, you will find that the beaches are private and access is restricted. The beaches are relatively narrow. The surf can be rough at times due to the relatively steep drop-offs. Beach tags are required during the summer months. Each municipality has it’s own tags and there is no reciprocity.
Over the last couple of years many of the usual seashore institutions such as golf courses, arcades, stores and many restaurants have been razed to make way for houses. Recently two landmarks in North Beach Haven, the Beacon Golf Course and Shermat’s amusements, have been leveled and houses have gone up. There are some on the island who wonder if this will not be detrimental in the long run since there will be a maximum of homes and a minimum of entertainment.
The island provides excellent waters for all types of boating with one of the widest and deepest bays in the area. The Little Egg Inlet is a relatively docile inlet most of the time. The Barnegat Inlet can be a little more challenging due to the large number of commercial fishing boats and large private boats transiting at relatively high speed.
It is often said that the island is 18 miles long and six miles at sea. Actually both of these designations are slightly off but they are close. There is only one way on or off by automobile and that is the causeway from Manhawkin to Ship Bottom. The causeway was rebuilt some time in the early 1960s and therefore is not burdened with drawbridges. If you look just north of the causeway you can see the remains old causeway road. A very close examination will reveal the remains of the railroad that was north of the old bridge.
The causeway is currently being improved. There has also been talk of a second causeway at the north or south end of the island but environmental issues has stalled progress. This is in spite of the difficulties in evacuation during the summer months over the only existing bridge. The current project will add a second main span. HOWEVER, the plans as of August 2013 show that the resulting bridge will still only be 2 lanes each way. They wil however, add a bike lane.. So, motorists who have been sitting in the jammed traffic from as far as Southern Ocean County Hospital for an hour or two will be able to enjoy the sight of an occasional bike rider happily pedalling in their own private lane.
Municipalities
Long Beach Island is comprised of a number of communities. Long Beach Township is split into several sections including Holgate, North Beach Haven, Haven Beach, Spray Beach and more. In addition, you have the major towns of Ship Bottom, Surf City, and Beach Haven. The competition of the early real estate boom let to many of the towns having similar names. Also, the street renumbering starts in various municipalities so there are a few 3rd streets on the island. Long Beach Boulevard runs the length of the island from Barnegat Light down to Holgate. However it does have various names as it goes through the different municipalities. In some places you are on Long Beach Boulevard and then you are on Bay Avenue.
Sunset on Little Egg Harbor
Municipalities on Long Beach Island
Towns in Long Beach Township:
The towns below are not governed separately. Instead they are all part of Long Beach Township.
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Getting there
Long Beach Island is on the Jersey Shore just north of Atlantic city. You can get there via the Garden State Parkway Take the exit for Route 72 eastbound.
Almost all of the visitors to LBI arrive by automobile. The Route 72 exit off the Garden State Parkway will lead you to the island. From Philadelphia and Trenton, most people use Route 72. Traffic entering and leaving the island can be a nightmare during the Saturday tenant changeover. You may also experience delays on Sunday nights during the peak season. Events such as the Chowderfest and the 18 Mile Run also bring a lot of traffic. During heavy rains or flood tides, parts of the main road, especially in Ship Bottom, will flood out.
If you come by boat be aware that there aren’t many transient facilities. Some marinas offer limited transient docking and some island Yacht Clubs will offer transient dockage to members of other Yacht Clubs. There aren’t any private airports within a reasonable distance.