Seaside Heights Attractions
Seaside Heights, NJ

Your Local Guide to Exploring Seaside Heights Attractions

From the boardwalk to the bay, here’s everything we know about spending a week — or a whole summer — exploring Seaside Heights Attractions.

See Our Rental Browse All Guides
.8 mi
Of Boardwalk
100+
Rides & Attractions
1 mi
Of Beach
Exit 82
Garden State Pkwy
40+
Places to Eat

Explore Seaside Heights

What to do when you’re here

Seaside Heights NJ has been a vacation destination for people from all over the East Coast since the early 1800’s. Starting as a small coastal community to a thriving seaside resort town.

Situated along the Jersey Shore, the town has become synonymous with summer fun, attractions, and a vibrant boardwalk culture. Though the town is popular from the MTV series ‘Jersey Shore’, make no mistake, this vacation hotspot is family friendly!

It’s Time to Explore Seaside Heights and all it has to offer including its many Seaside Heights rentals perfect for your next beach vacation.

The Beach & Boardwalk 3 blk

The Seaside Heights boardwalk is renowned for its vibrant entertainment scene. Take a leisurely stroll along the iconic boardwalk, where you’ll discover thrilling rides, lively arcades, and many dining options. Indulge in mouthwatering treats like funnel cakes and cotton candy as you immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere.

Boardwalk guide Casino Pier Arcades Carousel Kohr Brothers Seagull etiquette Beach Info
Things to do in Seaside

Badge prices, hours, what you can and can’t bring, and the best spots to set up for the day, plus more to do in Seaside Heights.

Beach info & rules Beach badges Crabbing Breakwater waterpark 2026 events Rainy day activities
Food & restaurants walkable

There are plenty of great places to eat in Seaside, 40+ by our last count! Best of all, most Seaside Heights Rentals are located in walking distance to most, if not all local eateries. The bad news, you are going to spend quite a bit of time making decisions. Take our advice, plan ahead and if you can, grab a reservation for dinner meals.

Boardwalk Restaurants Boardwalk Treats Seafood Breakfast Bars Lobster rolls Pizza
Day trips 30–60 mi

When you need a change of scenery. You don’t have to leave Seaside to have a full vacation. But if you’ve got seven days here, and there is a rainy day or a few restless kids, or if you want adult time, a day trip or two goes a long way.

Island Beach State Park Breweries Renault Winery
Est. 1913

More than a century on the Jersey Shore

Seaside Heights has been drawing people from New York and Philadelphia since the railroads opened the coast. Here’s a little of what makes this town worth coming back to.

Long before the boardwalk, before the rides and the arcades, Seaside Heights was farmland and fishing village. The barrier island sat quietly at the edge of the Atlantic, its shoreline worked by local families who’d been there for generations.

All of that changed in the late 1800s when the railroad arrived. Families from Newark, Philly, and New York discovered what the locals already knew — the beaches here were wide, clean, and the water was warm by July. Hotels went up. Cottages followed. By the early 1900s the town had a boardwalk, a carousel, and a saltwater pool right in the center of town.

“Seaside Heights has been hit hard, rebuilt, and come back stronger — every single time.”

The Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, the Freeman Fire of 1955, and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 each took something from the town. Each time, the community rebuilt. That’s not just history — it’s the character of the place. The same families have been coming here for three and four generations. We’re one of them.

110+ Years as a beach destination
#1 Ocean County beach ranking
3× Rebuilt after major disasters
A timeline
Late 1800s
The railroad opens the coast

Visitors from New York and Philadelphia begin arriving by train. The first hotels and cottages appear along the beachfront.

1913
Borough of Seaside Heights incorporated

The town officially becomes its own borough, separating from Dover Township. The boardwalk is already drawing summer crowds.

Early 1900s
The saltwater pool & carousel era

A massive saltwater pool opens in the center of town. The hand-carved carousel — still operating today — begins delighting visitors.

1944
The Great Atlantic Hurricane

A powerful storm tears through the Shore. The town rebuilds within a season — the first of several such recoveries.

1955
The Freeman Fire

A devastating boardwalk fire destroys several blocks. Rebuilt again, faster than anyone expected.

2012
Hurricane Sandy — and the rebuild

Sandy decimates the boardwalk and much of the town. By summer 2013 the rides were running again. Casino Pier is now better than ever.

Today
Still the best week of the summer

New Jersey’s top-rated Ocean County beach. The same families keep coming back — including ours, every year since 2012.

When to Come to Seaside Heights, NJ

Every week at the Shore is different

Here’s what you’re actually getting depending on when you book — from the size of the crowds to the temperature of the water.

Late June
Jun 22 – Jun 30
  • All rides open
  • Water is still cool
  • Best for teens
  • Crowds building
Peak
July
Jul 1 – Jul 31
  • Busiest month
  • Water warms up mid-month
  • Book way ahead
  • All events happening
Peak
Early August
Aug 1 – Aug 20
  • Still very busy
  • Warmest water
  • Great weather patterns
  • Full season vibe
Late August
Aug 21 – Sep 1
  • Our favorite week
  • PA schools back
  • Thinner crowds
  • Ocean still perfect
FAQ

Good questions. Real answers.

Everything you’d want to know before your trip.

Is there a grocery store in Seaside?
+
There is actually a very nice Acme (yes, I said Acme) right on the border of Seaside Heights and Ortley. Diagonal and right on the map, go north on the Boulevard, once you go past the CVS and enter into Ortley, turn around and come back south on 35. ShopRite will come up on your right. Right next to the Acme there is also a large liquor store.
Are There Churches in Seaside Heights?
+

Yes, there are churches in the area. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church is the closest and right in SSH. Located at 100 Grant Ave, Seaside Heights.

Also close by are St. Elisabeth’s Chapel Episcopal Church. Located at 7 3rd Ave, Ortley. St Catharine of Siena Catholic Church. Located at 50 E St, Seaside Park. Union Church of Seaside Park, Non-denominational. Located at 47 4th Ave, Seaside Park.

Additionally, there are several synagogues and temples in the area, such as the Jewish Center of Sussex County in Newton and Temple Beth Or in Brick. Whether you’re looking to attend a weekly worship service or simply explore the local religious community, there are plenty of options available.

Emergency Information For Seaside Heights
+

We hope you don’t need this information and this is not one of the things to do in Seaside Heights that makes your list. But it is important to be prepared. Here are some important things to know about the town.

The police and fire station is located in the center of town on Grant Ave.

The nearest hospital is west on RT 37. Go back in the direction of the Garden State Parkway, instead of getting on the GSP, keep going straight, the hospital will come up on your left.

Not one for hospitals? If you take RT 37 again back over the bridge, again keep going straight past the GSP entrance and turn around at the next uturn. Come back down 37 east to the Kohl’s shopping center. Inside that shopping center is an urgent care. OR you could also take RT 35 north to Point Pleasant. Right before you enter the town, you will come to a circle, there is a McDonalds in the center, go left and you will see an Urgent Care that is actually an emergency room.

Is Seaside Heights safe?
+
Yes, Seaside Heights is safe. Early summer teen crowds can get rowdy (avoid Memorial Weekend), and occasionally out of towners might try to plan a flash mob here and there, but the town does a great job staying on top of these things and shutting them down before they are an issue. It is wise though, to be smart about leaving your items unattended on the beach, that is just common sense you would apply anywhere.
Where is Seaside Heights located?
+
SSH is about 60 miles south of New York City and roughly 90 miles northeast of Philadelphia. From NYC: Garden State Parkway south to Exit 82, then Route 37 east over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge. From Philly: NJ Turnpike to the Parkway, same exit
Are there Hotels in Seaside Heights?
+
No, there are no hotels in Seaside Heights, only motels. Check out our guide on Hotels near Seaside Heights