General Information

Island Beach State Park is a lovely park with all natural beaches in New Jersey. It is excellent for bathing, swinning, and fishing, especially if you want to escape touristy areas. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, you can enjoy relatively warm water temperatures.
 
When I visited in 2007, there was no camping within the park boundaries, neither was there any other lodging. However, there are many motels in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights right north of the park entrance, and along Route 37 E. The closest campground is probably Cedar Creek Campground. However, an insanely high per-night rate of almost $40 for our small tent let us rather choose a motel in Seaside Park for only 20 bucks more during our visit.