A Guide to Ocean County NJ’s 33 Towns

Ocean County is made up of 33 municipalities, stretching from Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head in the north to Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor in the south, and west into the Pine Barrens. Here is a quick guide to Ocean County, NJ’s towns, grouped by area, so newcomers and longtime locals alike can get to know the whole county.

Northern Ocean County

Towns: Bay Head, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant, Brick, Lakewood, Jackson and Plumsted.

This is where Ocean County meets Monmouth County. Point Pleasant Beach has the inlet docks and the Jenkinson’s boardwalk, while Bay Head is a small, historic beach borough known for Mueller’s Bakery and The Grenville. Brick borders Barnegat Bay and hosts its Winter Fest at Windward Beach Park. Inland, Lakewood is home to Ocean County Park and The Strand Theater, Jackson is home to Six Flags Great Adventure, and Plumsted, including New Egypt, has a rural feel with Laurita Winery.

Central Ocean County and the County Seat

Towns: Toms River, South Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate, Island Heights, Berkeley, Lakehurst and Manchester.

Toms River is the county seat, home to the Ocean County Administration Building on Hooper Avenue and a walkable downtown on Washington Street. Across the river, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate and Island Heights are small bayside boroughs, and Island Heights is home to the John F. Peto Studio Museum. Berkeley covers Bayville and Double Trouble State Park. Lakehurst is tied to aviation history through Navy Lakehurst, now part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and Manchester hosts Christmas in the Pines at Harry Wright Lake.

The Northern Barrier Island

Towns: Mantoloking, Lavallette, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park.

This narrow strip between the ocean and Barnegat Bay runs south to Island Beach State Park. Mantoloking is quiet and residential, Lavallette has a small-town boardwalk and Hometown Christmas Weekend, Seaside Heights has the classic amusement boardwalk and Casino Pier, and Seaside Park is the gateway to Island Beach. Ortley Beach, a section of Toms River, sits on the island here too.

Southern Ocean County Mainland

Towns: Lacey, Ocean Township, Barnegat, Stafford, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton.

Lacey includes Forked River, Ocean Township includes Waretown and Wells Mills County Park, and Barnegat is home to Cloverdale Farm County Park and the Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site. Stafford includes Manahawkin, the shopping hub at the foot of the Causeway to Long Beach Island. Farther south, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton share a baymen heritage on display at Tuckerton Seaport.

Long Beach Island

Towns: Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Surf City, Ship Bottom and Beach Haven.

Long Beach Island is reached by the Causeway from Stafford. Barnegat Light at the north tip is home to Old Barney, Harvey Cedars and Surf City are mostly residential beach towns, and Ship Bottom is the island’s front door. Long Beach Township covers several sections of the island, including Loveladies, home of the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences. Beach Haven, at the southern end, has the Surflight Theatre and the LBI Historical Museum.

Getting Around

The Garden State Parkway runs north to south through the middle of the county, while Route 9 links the older mainland town centers from Lakewood to Tuckerton. Route 37 runs east through Toms River and across Barnegat Bay to the northern barrier island, and Route 72 carries traffic from Manahawkin over the Causeway to Long Beach Island. In winter, the barrier island towns are quiet and easy to explore, while the mainland stays busy year-round.

Find Your Town

Every one of Ocean County’s 33 municipalities has a contact page in the county’s government directory, with links to local offices. See the Ocean County municipal directory.

More in Ocean County: holiday events, parks, beaches and local restaurants in every corner of the county.