Long Beach Island - "LBI" to everyone who summers there - is an 18-mile-long barrier island off the southern New Jersey coast, rarely more than a few blocks wide, with the Atlantic on one side and Barnegat Bay on the other. The island is a chain of small beach towns rather than one big resort: Barnegat Light and "Old Barney" lighthouse at the north tip; Surf City, Ship Bottom, and Brant Beach in the middle (Ship Bottom is where the Causeway lands you); and Beach Haven at the south end, home to Fantasy Island amusement park and the Surflight Theatre. For reunions, LBI's appeal is wide, clean, lifeguarded beaches; a family culture built around rental houses rather than hotels; and a manageable, low-key vibe - this is the quieter, more residential Jersey Shore, not the Seaside-Heights boardwalk circus. Sunsets over Barnegat Bay, a climb up the 217 steps of Old Barney, mini golf and custard on the bay side, and miles of sand make it a classic multi-generation summer base.
LBI is reached by a single causeway from Manahawkin off the Garden State Parkway (Exit 63), about 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, 2 hours from New York City, and 3 hours from Washington, putting it within an easy no-flight drive of the entire Northeast corridor. The nearest large airports are Philadelphia (PHL, 1.5 hr) and Newark (EWR, 1.75 hr); Atlantic City (ACY) is a small field 45 minutes south. Lodging is overwhelmingly rental houses - 3-7 BR homes fill the island's grid of streets, many a short walk from both the ocean and the bay, with bay-front and ocean-block houses commanding a premium. Motels and a few inns cluster in Beach Haven and Ship Bottom, but most reunions book one or more houses for a Saturday-to-Saturday week. Peak season runs late June through Labor Day, with July and August the most competitive (book by winter); June and September are the value windows - warm water, thinner crowds, and meaningfully lower rates.
Where it is
🚀 With Reunly
Planning a reunion at Long Beach Island, New Jersey?
Reunly turns this page into a real workspace — pick a date, lock in lodging, send invites, take RSVPs, and split the budget across families. Free to start, no card required.
Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Barnegat Lighthouse ("Old Barney")
The 1859 red-and-white lighthouse at the north tip of the island - climb the 217 steps for a 360° view of the island, inlet, and bay. The signature LBI photo and a rite of passage. Small fee to climb; grounds free.
Official source ↗Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
32-acre state park around Old Barney with a maritime forest trail, a fishing jetty, and a quiet bay-side beach at the inlet. The free nature-and-history anchor. Park free; lighthouse climb is a small fee.
Official source ↗The LBI ocean beaches
Wide, clean, lifeguarded Atlantic beaches up and down the 18-mile island. Daily/weekly beach badges required for ages 12+ in season. The everyday reunion anchor - pick a less-crowded street end in Long Beach Township for elbow room.
Official source ↗Fantasy Island Amusement Park (Beach Haven)
A small, family-scale amusement park on the bay in Beach Haven - a Ferris wheel, classic rides, an arcade casino, and games. The kid-energy evening without the big-boardwalk overload. Pay-per-ride or wristband.
Official source ↗Surflight Theatre (Beach Haven)
A beloved professional summer-stock theater in Beach Haven staging Broadway musicals and family shows all season, plus children's theater at the adjacent Show Place ice-cream parlor. The rainy-night or special-evening pick. Ticketed.
Official source ↗Barnegat Bay paddling & sailing
The calm bay side is ideal for kayaking, SUP, sailing, and crabbing - rentals and lessons across the island, plus protected coves for first-timers and kids 8+. The classic golden-hour bay activity. ~$25-50/craft.
Official source ↗Bay-side mini golf & custard
LBI's bay-side strip is dotted with mini golf, batting cages, go-karts, and frozen-custard stands (Skipper Dipper, Surf City 5 & 10) - the after-dinner family ritual. The reliable evening plan that works for every age. Paid per activity.
Official source ↗Old Barney sunset & bay-side sunsets
LBI faces west across Barnegat Bay, so the island is famous for sunsets - the Bay Village area in Beach Haven, the lighthouse jetty, and any bay-side dock are the classic spots. The free nightly tradition. Free.
Official source ↗Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
A vast coastal-marsh refuge on the mainland near the causeway - the Wildlife Drive auto loop is a birder's and photographer's paradise (ospreys, egrets, migrating shorebirds). The quiet nature morning. Small per-vehicle fee.
Official source ↗Museum of NJ Maritime History (Beach Haven)
A free local museum packed with shipwreck artifacts, diving history, and Barnegat Bay lore - a quick, air-conditioned history stop for the rainy afternoon. Donations welcome; free admission.
Official source ↗Surf fishing & party-boat charters
LBI is a serious fishing island - surf-cast from the beach (badge rules vary off-season), or book a party boat or charter out of Barnegat Light or Beach Haven for fluke, sea bass, and bluefish. The dawn-patrol outing for the anglers.
Official source ↗Biking the island
LBI is flat and bike-friendly - a continuous riding culture runs the length of the island, with bike rentals in every town and quieter early-morning streets. The easy multi-gen activity; helmets and morning hours recommended. Rentals ~$20-40/day.
Official source ↗Ship Bottom & the Causeway shops
Ship Bottom - where the Causeway lands - has the island's biggest cluster of surf shops, beach gear, and the Things A Ton souvenir scene, plus the supermarket. The supply-run and rainy-day shopping town. Free to browse.
Official source ↗LBI dining - Beach Haven to Barnegat Light
The island food scene spans Beach Haven's restaurant row to the north-end seafood houses: the Chicken or the Egg (the legendary 24-hour wing joint), Mustache Bills Diner (Barnegat Light institution), and bay-front seafood up and down. The walkable group-dinner backbone. Paid.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Long Beach Island, New Jersey reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park - Day-Use Grounds
🏞 State ParkA 32-acre state park around Old Barney with a maritime forest trail, fishing jetty, and bay-side beach - open grounds for a reunion gathering and the island's signature lighthouse climb. Day-use through NJ State Parks.
Reserve / info ↗The Engleside Inn - Beach Haven
🏛 Event CenterOceanfront inn in Beach Haven with banquet and event space, on-site restaurant (the Leeward Room), and a block of rooms - a convenient lodge-plus-gathering option for a mid-size reunion. Inquire about group events.
Reserve / info ↗Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club - Beach Haven
🏨 Resort / LodgeBeachfront resort and beach club in Beach Haven with event space, a pool, and an oceanfront deck - a venue option for a reunion party or catered group dinner steps from the sand. Inquire about private events.
Reserve / info ↗Black Whale Bar & Fish House - Beach Haven
🏛 Event CenterA lively Beach Haven bar and seafood restaurant with group dining and a deck - a relaxed casual-dinner venue for the whole reunion. Reserve the group space ahead in summer.
Reserve / info ↗Surflight Theatre - Group Shows
🏛 Event CenterThe Surflight Theatre stages Broadway musicals and family shows all summer and books group ticket blocks - a built-in dressed-up evening for a multi-generation reunion. Reserve group seats ahead.
Reserve / info ↗Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive
🏔 National ParkA federal coastal-marsh refuge with an 8-mile Wildlife Drive auto loop and trails - a free-ranging nature outing for the birders and photographers in the group. Small per-vehicle fee; self-guided.
Reserve / info ↗👥 With Reunly
Save Long Beach Island, New Jersey to a real reunion plan
Reunly turns this destination into a workspace — venue picks, guest list, RSVPs, budget split, and a day-of schedule everyone can see. Free to start.
Good for
- House-rental reunions (rentals dominate; few hotels)
- Quieter, residential Jersey Shore (not boardwalk-circus)
- Ocean-and-bay-in-one-block flexibility
- Drive-from-Philadelphia / NYC long weekends
- Multi-generational beach weeks with built-in kid fun
- Sunset-over-the-bay and lighthouse-climb traditions
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- Philadelphia (PHL) 1.5 hr west - the practical fly-in. Newark (EWR) 1.75 hr north. Atlantic City (ACY) 45 min south (small, regional). Trenton-Mercer (TTN) ~1.5 hr. JFK/LaGuardia ~2.5 hr.
- Drive Times
- Manahawkin (mainland) 15 min · Atlantic City 50 min · Philadelphia 1.5 hr · Newark 1.75 hr · New York City 2 hr · Trenton 1.5 hr · Washington DC 3 hr · Baltimore 2.75 hr.
- Group Lodging
- Rental houses dominate - 3-7 BR homes across the island, many within a short walk of both the ocean and the bay; bay-front and ocean-block houses command a premium. Motels and inns cluster in Beach Haven and Ship Bottom (the Engleside Inn and the Sea Shell Resort in Beach Haven, the Drifting Sands and Sea Spray in Ship Bottom). Most reunions book one or more houses for a Saturday-to-Saturday week.
- Rental Companies
- G. Anderson Agency, Mary Allen Realty, Oceanside Realty, Zach Sicklinger / The Van Dyk Group, and Coldwell Banker Riviera Realty handle most managed LBI rentals. Vrbo and Airbnb cover the rest. Book group houses by January-February for July/August.
- House Size
- 3-5 BR houses are the standard island inventory. 6-8 BR bay-front and ocean-block houses exist (limited, $6,000-15,000+/week peak). For 30+ people the play is two or three adjacent rentals; a single very large bay-front estate can occasionally hold a mid-size group.
- Peak Season
- Late June through Labor Day. July and August are the single most competitive; book 6-8 months ahead. Saturday-to-Saturday weekly rentals are the norm, and many houses book the same families year after year.
- Shoulder Season
- June (before the July rush) and September after Labor Day - warm ocean water, thinner crowds, and meaningfully lower weekly rates. Late September is the locals' favorite. Many restaurants stay open into October.
- Restaurants
- The Chicken or the Egg (24-hour wings, casual, the LBI institution) · Mustache Bills Diner (Barnegat Light, breakfast institution) · Black Whale Bar & Fish House (Beach Haven, group-friendly) · Daddy O (Brant Beach, upscale) · Parker's Garage (raw bar, lively) · Buckalew's (Beach Haven, casual American) · Show Place Ice Cream Parlour (singing servers, kids) · Yellow Fin (Surf City, milestone dinner, reserve ahead). Reserve groups 2-3 weeks ahead in summer; most island spots are first-come or limited-reservation.
- Kid Friendly
- Climbing Old Barney, Fantasy Island's rides and arcade, the calm bay beaches and crabbing, bay-side mini golf and custard, Surflight's children's theater, and biking the flat island are reliable wins for ages 3-15. The bay side in particular suits toddlers - shallow, warm, no surf.
- Accessibility
- Several LBI towns provide beach wheelchairs and Mobi-Mat beach-access paths at designated street ends - check with each town's beach office. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park grounds and bay beach are accessible (the lighthouse climb is not). The island is flat, easing walking and biking. Newer rentals have elevators; older houses are often on stilts with stairs - confirm when booking.
- Weather Window
- Summer 78-86°F days, 65-72°F nights, humid; ocean water 68-74°F by August (bay warmer). Spring/early summer (June) 70-80°F. Fall (September-October) 68-78°F days, warm ocean. Afternoon thunderstorms common July-August. Nor'easter and hurricane awareness late August-October.
- Park Fee
- No island entry fee, but beach badges are required for ages 12+ in season (daily ~$5-10, weekly ~$20-30, varies by town). Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is free; the lighthouse climb is a small fee. Forsythe Refuge Wildlife Drive has a small per-vehicle fee.
- Official Site
- https://www.discoversouthernocean.com/
When to go
Late June through Labor Day for full beach season; July and August are the most competitive (book 6-8 months ahead). For the best value-to-weather ratio, target June or September - warm ocean water, thinner crowds, and lower weekly rates. Late September is the locals' secret: warm water, open restaurants, and quiet beaches.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
10-25 fits in a 4-6 BR ocean-block or bay-front house, or two adjacent smaller rentals near each other.
Medium group · 25–60
25-60 should book two or three adjacent vacation rentals, or a large bay-front estate plus a motel block in Beach Haven or Ship Bottom.
Large group · 60+
60+ groups combine multiple houses across one or two adjacent streets with a motel or inn block (Engleside, Sea Shell, Drifting Sands) and use a Barnegat Lighthouse State Park area or a restaurant event space for the big group meals. No single property absorbs 60+, so plan a multi-house reunion.
💰 With Reunly
Split the cost across families fairly
Reunly's budget tool tracks who paid for what and splits the bill per-family or per-adult automatically. No more Venmo group-chat math.
Sample 5-day Long Beach Island reunion (summer)
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Saturday - Arrival & Settle In
- 2:00 PM check-in at the rental house(s) - badges and keys
- 3:30 PM supply run in Ship Bottom (groceries + beach gear)
- 4:30 PM first swim at the ocean beach
- 6:30 PM group dinner at the house - cook night
- 8:00 PM bay-side sunset walk + frozen custard
Sunday - Beach Day
- 8:30 AM breakfast at the house
- 9:30 AM full ocean-beach setup - umbrellas, lifeguarded swim
- 12:30 PM lunch back at the house
- 2:00 PM nap-and-shade break
- 4:00 PM afternoon beach session for the surf crowd
- 6:30 PM dinner at the Black Whale or Buckalew's in Beach Haven
- 8:30 PM mini golf on the bay side
Monday - Old Barney & North End
- 8:00 AM breakfast at Mustache Bills Diner (Barnegat Light)
- 9:30 AM climb Barnegat Lighthouse ("Old Barney")
- 10:30 AM Barnegat Lighthouse State Park - jetty and maritime trail
- 12:30 PM lunch on the north end
- 2:00 PM calm bay beach + crabbing for the little kids
- 6:30 PM dinner at the Chicken or the Egg (LBI wings institution)
Tuesday - Bay Day & Beach Haven
- 8:30 AM breakfast at the house
- 9:30 AM kayaking / SUP / sailing on Barnegat Bay
- 12:00 PM lunch in Beach Haven
- 1:30 PM Museum of NJ Maritime History (A/C break)
- 4:00 PM beach or pool time
- 6:30 PM Fantasy Island Amusement Park - rides and arcade
- 8:00 PM Show Place Ice Cream Parlour (singing servers)
Wednesday - Theatre, Bikes & Goodbyes
- 8:30 AM breakfast at the house
- 9:30 AM morning bike ride along the flat island
- 11:00 AM final beach walk and shell hunt
- 12:30 PM goodbye lunch at Yellow Fin or a Surf City spot
- 2:00 PM matinee at the Surflight Theatre (optional) or travel home
📅 With Reunly
Build the Long Beach Island, New Jersey reunion schedule in minutes
Drag the sample itinerary above into Reunly's Schedule, add per-event RSVPs, and share one link with the whole family. Rosi (our AI) fills in gaps from your group size and dates.
Reunion organizer tips
Book 6-8 months ahead for July and August; the bigger bay-front and ocean-block houses go by January-February and often re-book the same families year after year. June and September weeks can be had a few months out at lower rates.
Choose your end of the island deliberately. Barnegat Light (north) is the quiet, residential, lighthouse-and-fishing end. Beach Haven (south) has Fantasy Island, Surflight Theatre, and the busiest restaurant row. Ship Bottom (middle) is closest to the Causeway and the supermarket. Match the town to your group's vibe.
Get an ocean-and-bay block house. LBI is so narrow that many houses sit a short walk from both the surf and the calm bay - the single best setup for a multi-gen reunion, letting toddlers do bay days and teens do surf days without a car.
Buy weekly beach badges, not daily. For ages 12+, weekly badges per town are far cheaper than daily for a week-long stay - and remember the town that issued them; badge rules and beaches are town-by-town on LBI.
Climb Old Barney early. The 217-step climb and the lighthouse-park jetty are best in the cool morning before the heat and crowds. Pair it with breakfast at Mustache Bills Diner in Barnegat Light - a north-end institution.
Plan one Fantasy Island night and one Surflight night. Fantasy Island's rides and arcade handle the kid-energy evening; the Surflight Theatre musical is the dressed-up family night and the rainy-day backup. Both are in Beach Haven.
Lean on the bay for the little kids. Barnegat Bay's shallow, warm, surf-free water is ideal for toddlers, crabbing off a dock, and first-time kayaking - the perfect counterweight to the Atlantic surf for a mixed-age group.
Stock the house from the Causeway-side stores. The big supermarket and beach-gear shops cluster in Ship Bottom right where the Causeway lands - do the supply run there on arrival. Instacart and ShopRite delivery reach much of the island.
Build in a sunset tradition. LBI faces west over the bay, so a nightly sunset spot - the Bay Village in Beach Haven, the lighthouse jetty, or your own bay-side deck - becomes the easy, free, everyone-together moment of the trip.
Plan around afternoon thunderstorms and the single Causeway. July-August storms blow through fast - keep an indoor backup (Surflight, the Maritime Museum, Ship Bottom shopping). And remember there's one bridge on and off the island; avoid the Saturday changeover-day traffic crunch when planning arrivals.
Try a party-boat or charter for the anglers. Barnegat Light and Beach Haven both run party boats and charters for fluke and sea bass - a great half-day for the fishing branch of the family while everyone else takes the beach.
Let Reunly handle the logistics. Use the budget tool to split lodging across the houses and beach-badge costs, the polls feature to vote between the Fantasy Island night and the Surflight show, and the itinerary to keep 30 people pointed at the same beach.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app - she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Long Beach Island, New Jersey reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags - no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
What's the best time to book Long Beach Island for a family reunion?
Late June through Labor Day for full beach season; July and August are the most competitive, so book group houses 6-8 months ahead - many bay-front and ocean-block homes go by January-February. For the best value, target June or September: warm ocean water, thinner crowds, and lower weekly rates. Late September is the locals' favorite.
Is Long Beach Island good for little kids and grandparents?
Yes - LBI is the quieter, residential Jersey Shore. The island is so narrow that many houses sit a short walk from both the calm, surf-free Barnegat Bay (ideal for toddlers and crabbing) and the lifeguarded Atlantic beaches. Add Fantasy Island's gentle rides, mini golf, and the flat, bike-friendly streets, and it suits every generation.
What is the closest airport to Long Beach Island?
Philadelphia (PHL) at 1.5 hours is the practical fly-in, followed by Newark (EWR) at 1.75 hours. Atlantic City (ACY) is a small regional airport 45 minutes south. Most reunion families drive - LBI is 1.5-3 hours from Philadelphia, New York, Trenton, and Baltimore via the Garden State Parkway and the single Causeway from Manahawkin.
How big a house do we need for 25 people on LBI?
A 6-8 BR bay-front or ocean-block house (limited inventory, $6,000-15,000+/week peak), or two adjacent 4-5 BR houses. For 40+ people the standard play is three or four adjacent rentals on the same or neighboring streets, occasionally combined with a motel block in Beach Haven or Ship Bottom.
Which part of Long Beach Island should we stay on?
Barnegat Light (north end) is quiet, residential, and built around the lighthouse and fishing. Beach Haven (south end) has Fantasy Island, the Surflight Theatre, and the busiest restaurant row - best for families wanting nightlife and kid activities. Ship Bottom (middle) is closest to the Causeway, the supermarket, and surf shops. Match the town to your group.
Do we need beach badges on LBI?
Yes - beach badges are required for ages 12+ in season (children under 12 are free). They are sold by town - daily badges run roughly $5-10 and weekly badges $20-30. Buy weekly badges for a week-long stay, and remember which town issued them, since beaches are managed town by town.
How much does a week-long LBI reunion cost per family?
Peak July/August: roughly $3,500-6,500 per family of 4 (lodging is the big driver, plus food, badges, and activities). Shoulder season (June, September): meaningfully lower weekly rates. Beach badges, Fantasy Island, and dining add up, but the calm bay beaches and biking are low-cost.
What is there to do on LBI besides the beach?
Climb Barnegat Lighthouse ("Old Barney"), ride Fantasy Island's amusements in Beach Haven, catch a musical at the Surflight Theatre, kayak and crab on Barnegat Bay, bike the flat island, birdwatch at the Forsythe refuge on the mainland, and visit the Museum of NJ Maritime History. Sunsets over the bay are a nightly tradition.
Other reunion-friendly spots nearby
Helpful planning guides
The complete family reunion checklist
12-month, 6-month, and day-of checklists organizers actually use.
Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
How to estimate, track, and split costs without spreadsheets.
Read the guide →Family reunion on a $2,500 budget
A real budget breakdown for a destination reunion under $2.5K.
Read the guide →