New Jersey
What Jersey Shore Beaches Are Guarded For Memorial Day Weekend?
JERSEY SHORE — Who’s headed down the shore this weekend? The unofficial kickoff to summer is nearly upon us and thousands will be headed to the beach to celebrate.
From Long Branch to Cape May, certain beaches will be staffed with lifeguards starting Memorial Day Weekend. Officials frequently urge beachgoers to only swim at protected beaches for safety purposes.
Here’s your guide for where to find guarded beaches at the Jersey Shore.
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2024 Jersey Shore Beach Guide: Beach Badges, Town Curfews
GATEWAY RECREATION AREA SANDY HOOK
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Lifeguards are on duty at Sandy Hook from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Sandy Hook’s Lifeguards are on duty at beaches C, D, and G. There are no lifeguards at North Beach or Beach E.
SEA BRIGHT
The Sea Bright Municipal Beach and Anchorage Beach are guarded.
There are seven free public beach access ways on Ocean Avenue identified by signs that provide access to the public-use area in front of the private beach clubs and are considered unsupervised municipal beaches. No lifeguards are present on those beaches and they are governed by the rules in Chapter 66 of the Code of Sea Bright.
MONMOUTH BEACH
Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion opens May 25 through 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with lifeguards on duty.
LONG BRANCH
Municipal beaches are guarded (there are 17 lifeguard stands) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting this weekend.
SEVEN PRESIDENTS OCEANFRONT PARK
The beach opens Memorial Day weekend and lifeguards return then as well.
ALLENHURST
Allenhurst Beach Club will post daily staffing levels on their website.
ASBURY PARK
The beaches open Memorial Day Weekend from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lifeguards are on duty during these hours.
OCEAN GROVE
The beach opens Memorial Day Weekend, with lifeguards on duty from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
DEAL
Deal Casino Beach Club has a waiting list for memberships and does not offer single-day beach access for swimming. For those with access, lifeguards are on duty this weekend from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
LOCH ARBOUR
Beaches are staffed with lifeguards starting this weekend, but operating hours were not available online.
AVON-BY-THE-SEA
Lifeguards are on site this weekend from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The designated beaches are updated here.
BRADLEY BEACH
Beaches are open and will be guarded this weekend 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SPRING LAKE
Main beaches are open starting this weekend 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BELMAR
Lifeguards go on duty this weekend 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SEA GIRT
Lifeguards are on duty this weekend 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MANASQUAN
Lifeguards are on duty at all 17 beaches from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
POINT PLEASANT BEACH
Jenkinson’s beaches are guarded 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Maryland Avenue Beach Club and Bradshaw’s Beach Club are also guarded 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
BAY HEAD
The beaches are operated by the Bay Head Improvement Association and do not open for the season until June 15.
MANTOLOKING
Lifeguards don’t go on duty until June 15.
BRICK TOWNSHIP
Brick Beach 1, 2, and 3 on the ocean, and Windward Beach Park open beginning Memorial Day Weekend. The ocean beaches are guarded 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Swimming is not allowed at Windward Beach.
TOMS RIVER/ORTLEY BEACH
Beaches open starting Memorial Day Weekend 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be guarded.
LAVALLETTE
Beaches officially open June 15.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS
Lifeguard stands are located on the ocean beach at most streets except Sherman Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Porter Avenue. The bay beach lifeguard stand is located bayside approximately 100′ south of the Stewart’s Root Beer concession.
SEASIDE PARK
Details on guarded beaches were not available.
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK
Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BARNEGAT LIGHT
Lifeguards are off duty until mid-June.
LOVELADIES (See Long Beach Township below)
HARVEY CEDARS
80th Street & Middlesex beaches will be guarded this weekend.
SURF CITY
Beaches are not guarded until June 15.
SHIP BOTTOM
Lifeguards are on duty patrolling the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the lifeguard truck or All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP
Lifeguards will be on 68th St beach only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting May 25.
BEACH HAVEN
A skeleton crew will be guarding the beaches this weekend. Specific streets were unavailable.
BRIGANTINE
Guarded beaches begin on the Memorial Day Weekend. These beaches are 15th Street South, 26th Street South and 39th Street South (weekends only).
ATLANTIC CITY
Find details on guarded beaches on the Atlantic City website.
VENTNOR CITY
Lifeguards are on beaches 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting this weekend. The beaches that lifeguards are on duty vary during the beginning and end of the summer. Call the Beach Headquarters at (609) 823-7948 for details.
MARGATE
Some beaches are protected starting this weekend 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2024 beaches were unavailable but in 2023 these beaches were
- Clermont Ave
- Huntington Ave
- Thurlow Ave
- Washington Ave
LONGPORT
Beaches at 16th, 26th, 30th and 33rd avenues will be opened and guarded from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this weekend.
OCEAN CITY
These beaches are guarded 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- St. Charles Place
- Brighton Place
- 8th Street
- 9th Street
- 10th Street
- 11th Street
- 12th Street
- 26th Street
- 34th Street
- 58th Street
STRATHMERE
Strathmere, part of Upper Township, will be guarded starting in June.
SEA ISLE CITY
These beaches are guarded this weekend (view the full season here).
- 40th Street
- 51st Street
- 59th Street
- 64.5th Street
- 75th Street
- 86.5th Street
AVALON
Beaches are guarded 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 9,12,15,18,21,24,26,28, 30 (surfing only at 30th Street),32,35,38,40,43,50,57,61,65,69,73,76,79.
STONE HARBOR
Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 5 p .m. this weekend and protected beaches are: 81st, 83rd, 86th, 87th, 90th, 93rd, 94th, 95th, 96th, 100th, 102nd, 103rd, 105th, 108th, 110th, 112th, 113th, 116th, 117th, 120th & 122nd.
NORTH WILDWOOD, WILDWOOD, WILDWOOD CREST
The beaches are free and guarded daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting this weekend.
CAPE MAY
Lifeguards go on duty July 1.
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PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
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