Fewer crowds, prices that tend to be lower, and water that’s still warm enough to swim in. Travel and Leisure included the Jersey Shore in a roundup of the best places to visit in September, both in the U.S. and abroad. The Garden State’s coastline shared the list with ten other American destinations, all recognized for the same easy mix of warm weather and a shoreline that holds onto its charm long after Labor Day.
Travel and Leisure Praises South Jersey’s 90 Miles of Coast
More than 90 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches line South Jersey’s coast, backed by restaurants, entertainment venues, lighthouses and fresh local produce, per Travel and Leisure. Come September, the crowds that packed the sand all summer have mostly cleared out, but the ocean stays plenty warm through the month. It’s the kind of stretch, mild weather without the peak-season rush, that makes the month worth planning a trip around.
Atlantic City Keeps the Nightlife Going After Labor Day
Labor Day doesn’t slow Atlantic City down much. The Boardwalk’s historic Steel Pier keeps its amusement rides running, and the nightlife carries on with concerts, casinos, clubs and restaurants, according to Travel and Leisure. New Jersey Monthly fills in more of the picture. Harrah’s Pool After Dark sits inside a 90-foot glass dome, and Caesars’ 18-plus performance The Hook pairs well with dinner beforehand at the restaurant Superfrico.
Wildwood’s September Airshow and Free Beaches Draw a Crowd
Wildwood saves some of its biggest moments for September, including the Wildwoods Thunder Over the Waves Airshow, when stunt pilots, vintage aircraft, precision parachute teams and military jets take over the sky, Travel and Leisure reports. The beaches here are free, backed by live music, amusement rides and a two-mile boardwalk. Morey’s Piers is the borough’s real draw, with more than 100 rides spread across three parks clustered along a 12-block stretch.
Cape May’s Victorian Charm Comes With a Serious Food Scene
Cape May’s reputation as one of the country’s oldest seaside resort towns comes with nearly 600 preserved Victorian buildings still standing. The food scene backs it up, from George’s Place for breakfast and the long-running Mad Batter to the sidewalk favorite Hot Dog Tommy’s, a pint at the C-View Inn and French fare at Maison Bleue for something dressier.
Ocean City’s Boardwalk Stays Busy Into the Fall
Eight miles of beach and a 2.5-mile boardwalk keep Ocean City busy well into fall. Renting a bike from Ocean City Bicycle Center is a good way to take it all in before the line forms at Brown’s Restaurant for fresh donuts. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Playland’s Castaway Cove, home to the triple-launch GaleForce coaster, keep the rides spinning, while Manco and Manco Pizza and Shriver’s saltwater taffy round out a day on the boards.
Family-Friendly Fun From Point Pleasant Beach to Long Beach Island
Point Pleasant Beach pairs its boardwalk with Jenkinson’s Aquarium, where sharks, penguins and stingrays pull kids out of the sun, then sends them off to Hoffman’s for homemade ice cream. Down on Long Beach Island, Beach Haven brings the same family-friendly energy, with Fantasy Island amusement park and the Thundering Surf water park anchoring a downtown built for browsing, shopping and dining.
Quieter Shore Towns for Travelers Who Skip the Crowds
Not every Shore town chases the crowds. Spring Lake keeps two miles of sand free of food and drink, bordered by the longest non-commercial boardwalk in the state. Strathmere, a 1.5-mile hamlet tucked between Ocean City and Sea Isle City, skips beach tags altogether. And Stone Harbor stays low-key with a laid-back 96th Street shopping strip and Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream, a local staple since the 1920s.
Where to Stay for a September Jersey Shore Trip
There’s no shortage of places to base a September trip. Travel and Leisure and WPG Talk Radio both call out Ocean Casino Resort, Borgata Hotel Casino, and Caesars Atlantic City for travelers staying near the casinos, along with The Virginia Hotel and Congress Hall in Cape May. Asbury Ocean Club covers the northern Shore, and the boutique James Bradley sits just a block from the Bradley Beach boardwalk.
The Jersey Shore Earns Its Spot on a Star-Studded September List
The Jersey Shore shares this year’s September list with the Finger Lakes in New York, Telluride, Colorado, and California’s Napa Valley, all called out by Travel and Leisure for their own seasonal pull. But between warm surf, thinner crowds, and towns that range from Atlantic City’s casino floors to Cape May’s quiet streets, the Shore holds onto a version of summer that doesn’t come with a wait for a boardwalk table.
