These Are The Jersey Shore's Best Underrated Beaches For Scenic Ocean Views And Fewer Crowds

Are you tired of every trip to the Jersey Shore turning into a funnel cake-gobbling contest, with overpriced lemonade and a crowded boardwalk adding some spice to your sunburn-addled search for some space on the beach? Maybe doing the rounds at Atlantic City doesn't suit you anymore. Well, fortunately for you, not all of New Jersey's 130 miles of beaches subject visitors to the Garden State's uglier side. Some of the best underrated beaches offer scenic views and fewer crowds; you just have to know where to look.

Few states in the country match New Jersey in terms of sheer volume of beaches. The Garden State's 454 beaches put it fifth in the country, just after Florida (via World Population Review). Atlantic City tops the list of busiest seaside destinations on beach-centric site Sandee's list of most crowded beaches in the state, quickly followed by Wildwood and Seaside Heights.

One good filter for crowds lies just off the water. The boardwalk is as much a part of a Jersey Shore experience as the ocean and sand itself. There are plenty that offer ocean views and seaside fun — and crowds. The absence of a boardwalk and the addition of pay-to-enter fees (usually called badges or tags) will then, by default, lower the number of people visiting. As a result, many of the beaches in this list are boardwalk-less. It's part of the tradeoff, and a worthwhile one. Just be sure to check prices before you go.

What better way to find oceanic views than to rest atop a 10-mile-long barrier island? Island Beach State Park floats out in the ocean, a pristine wall of white sand and greenery. The mix of dunes and beaches offers an antidote to the mass of crowds that travelers will find at the Jersey Shore's more popular spots. It is, first and foremost, far from a boardwalk. However, it's difficult to reach in general. It's a half-hour drive from the nearest major city, Toms River, with limited parking options that occasionally cause the beach to close on busier holiday weekends.

Look closely enough at a map of the Garden State, and you'll see an appendage sticking out of the state's northeast corner, pointing an accusatory finger at Staten Island. That peninsula, Sandy Hook, is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, containing beaches and places to decamp from modern life. Its northernmost beach offers sandy shores and a view of the New York City skyline. The long-ish walk there helps keep crowds at bay. "Beautiful and weird place," one recent visitor wrote in a review on Google. "So natural, but the city skyline is right there."

About 8 miles south of Ocean City, home to one of the longest and best boardwalks in the world, lies the boardwalk-less Strathmere. Strathmere bypasses many of the downsides of a Jersey Shore hotspot by remaining steadfastly residential while still being close enough to the hubbub. "Quiet and mostly private, this beach is perfect for relaxation," one recent visitor wrote in a review on Google. "We've been visiting for years, and it's never crowded, allowing ample space to unwind. [...] If you prefer to avoid crowded beaches and noisy kids, this is the spot for you."

At the right angle, New Jersey can resemble a stocking hanging off the mantle (if you don't see it, squint harder). Lodged in the very tippy toe of that sock lies Cove Beach, a Goldilocks zone of oceanic shorefront and small-town life. The beach's position makes for calmer waters, ideal for families with young ones. Its location at the very southern tip of the Jersey Shore makes it an ideal spot to take in sunsets. Be aware, however, that out-of-towners have been caught off-guard by the fee for day use, and people who regularly check for beach tags.

Few things are as New Jersey as "The Boss." And few beaches are as close to Asbury Park as Ocean Grove. The town was founded in the late 1800s as part of a Methodist camp, where "religion and recreation should go hand in hand." The ocean-facing beach maintains its identity as a place of peaceful, thoughtful respite. By default, it attracts fewer crowds, too. "If you are looking for a place to relax, clear your mind, and enjoy the ocean without feeling overwhelmed by huge crowds, this beach is perfect," one recent visitor wrote in a review on Google.

Less than 15 minutes away from the cacophony and blinding lights of Atlantic City lies Brigantine Beach, a white-sanded oasis of peace and scenic views. Sitting atop a barrier island, the local shoals spelled doom for its fair share of ships in the 18th and 19th centuries — and still find the occasional boat washed upon its shores. The lucky sailors couldn't have found a better place to be marooned. Ditto for travelers. Besides the beach, the nearby wildlife management area on the other side of the island gives bird lovers a reason to bring their binoculars.

A few miles south of Ocean Grove, Spring Lake offers a contrasting, super chic beach resort town vibe. It's one of the rare beaches with a boardwalk on this list, yet avoids the downsides that come with a walkway above the sand. You can partially thank its "no coolers" rules, which force visitors to leave behind the liquid inspiration for annoying behavior, and consequently filter many of them out. "The boardwalk is peaceful and pristine without all the commercial noise, and the Victorian architecture makes you feel like you've stepped back in time," one visitor wrote on Google.

New Jersey's Long Beach Island offers an 18-mile stretch of beaches, lighthouses, and amusement parks. Holgate, at the island's southern tip, offers the cool chaser to all that excitement. Its shores offer a clear view of Atlantic City's glitzy skyline, minus the hoopla. Its remote location, even for the island, means crowds won't be an issue. Surfers, on the other hand, will find waves aplenty. The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge lies just beyond the beach, remaining closed off during the prime nesting season to protect its endangered birds.

Sometimes, a beach manages to establish a culture and etiquette that deters visitors who would otherwise swarm it with loud Bluetooth speakers, coolers full of suspect liquids, and PG-13 behavior. Sea Girt has pulled off that feat, maintaining some semblance of normalcy and sensible behavior with strict badging rules and a ban on food and booze on the beach. Visitors frequently comment on its family-friendly vibes. Taken together, it only makes sense that the adjacent town has become a top-ranked beachy retirement haven.

While much hay has been made about the downsides of a boardwalk, Avon-by-the-Sea's beach features one of the Jersey Shore's best for ocean views and seaside fun, without any of the compromises that come with it (you also can't get more snazzy than a hyphenated name). Chalk it up to a long, strict list of nuisance-ridding rules, from no booze or speakers to no changing clothes on the beach. The result? "A very beautiful place," one local wrote in a review on Google. "A well-managed beach, a pleasant atmosphere, and well-maintained grounds. [...] Everything is perfect for spending some enjoyable moments."