Whether you are a casual stroller, a die-hard angler or a roller-coaster thrill-seeker, the defining anchors of New Jersey’s coastline are the structures that stretch bravely out over the Atlantic Ocean and the southern Bayshore of the New York harbor. The story of the Jersey Shore is permanently written upon these planks, which have been famously built, leveled by devastating hurricanes and fires, rebuilt and continuously planned anew for future generations.
From exclusive private angling sanctuaries to bustling amusement meccas and even highly restricted federal installations, New Jersey’s piers shape our waterfront identity. Here’s your guide to every pier that juts out over the sand toward the water.
Bayshore Piers
Most Patriotic Pier
Future astronauts looking down at Earth will likely spot the pier of NWS (Naval Weapons Station) Earle’s waterfront complex right alongside the Great Wall of China—a three-pronged “finger” pier, whose trestle stretches an incredible 2.9 miles into the Raritan Bay from Leonardo. Not only is this one of the longest finger piers in the world, but it’s wide enough for both trains and motor vehicles to deliver supplies to load on to ships that resupply the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. Although NWS pier typically is strictly look-but-don’t-touch, there is an exception for active duty, reserve and retired military personnel plus current and former employees and contractors with NWS Earle. Call NWS Earle MWR at 732-866-2448 to begin the application process.
Fishiest Pier
Undoubtedly the Keansburg Fishing Pier.If you want to know what’s biting before you even pack your tackle box, just dial Keansburg Pier’s daily recorded phone message or check their fishing reports on their Facebook page (but not their out-of-date website). This iconic 2,000-foot-long wooden landmark serves as the ultimate barometer for Raritan Bay angling, proving that a great pier is as much about the community on the planks as the fish in the water. A section of the pier collapsed from the ice this past winter, but most of the pier is still open every day.
Three other piers jut into the bay including the Keyport Fishing Pier along the city’s waterfront park , a local hub for community crabbing and spectacular views of the Raritan Bay and New York City. Further east, fish from or swim under the pier at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth at a beach that includes restrooms, free parking and free beach access. Finally, there’s the fishing pier at the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor, tucked away at the far eastern side of the municipal harbor along the trail to Highlands.
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Sandy Hook to Belmar
Most Photogenic Pier
Known up and down the coast for its length and remarkably tall pilings, the pier owned and operated by the Belmar Fishing Club creates a striking architectural silhouette whether viewed from the horizon or walking beneath it. But don’t ask to walk out on the pier. The members of the Belmar Fishing Club own and manage the Club House at the foot of the pier and remain steadfast in keeping it private. Whether you read it on their website or call them, you get the same message, “Unfortunately, we are not accepting new members or additions to the waiting list at this time.”
The Second-Most Musical Pier
It was once the greatest music pier, perhaps in the world. Some of greatest acts of the past 80 years played at the Paramount Theatre or Convention Hall on the pier at Asbury Park, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ike and Tina Turner, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and, of course, Bruce Springsteen. Due to long‑running structural and safety problems, the Paramount Theatre and the main Convention Hall auditorium are closed with no firm reopening date. The Grand Arcade, connecting the building and the promenades at each side of Convention Hall, houses a dozen shops and bars, but if you’re looking for live music, head across the street to the Stone Pony, the Stone Pony Summer Stage or the Wonder Bar.
Next to Asbury, the somewhat controversial cross-shaped pier in Ocean Grove suffered severe structural issues late last year and remains closed while the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association determines next steps. Anticipation is building in Long Branch, where in 1879, the first fishing pier along the Atlantic Ocean opened. A new Long Branch Pier is under construction and targeted to welcome strollers and anglers alike in 2027.
Point Pleasant Beach to Seaside Heights
The Booziest Pier
While Point Pleasant Beach’s boardwalk is decidedly kid-friendly, adults flock to the pier to party. Fans of MTV’s Jersey Shore and their ilk converge on Jenks (Jenkinson’s Club) or its next-door neighbor, Martell’s Tiki Bar. Both legendary beach clubs extend directly off the boardwalk over the sand. With live music and outdoor spaces, crowds soak in the ocean breeze late into the night.
The Comeback Pier
Seaside Heights’ legendary Casino Pier has storm‑story cred to match its thrills, thanks to The Star Jet Coaster that famously ended up in the ocean after Superstorm Sandy demolished part of the pier in 2012. Today this reborn, ride‑packed pier features new coasters, a Ferris wheel and old‑school games of chance, keeping the classic, loud‑and‑salty American boardwalk vibe very much alive. There is no admission to the pier, but you pay for rides individually.
Atlantic City & Absecon Island
Most World-Famous Pier
From diving horses to dazzling thrill rides, from vaudeville legends to a Broadway musical named after it, Steel Pier stands as Atlantic City’s undisputed heavyweight of entertainment along the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. Stretching 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, this historic landmark today offers boardwalk rides, amusement games, food and drinks, and The Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel with incredible views of Absecon Island and nearby Brigantine.
Most Romantic Pier
The Ventnor City Fishing Pier blends serious angling with quiet coastal charm. Stretching gracefully out from the boardwalk, the far end features a buys public fishing platform that requires paid admission. But locals know the true magic of the pier lies midway before the admission gate where benches invite couples, friends and solo strollers to linger. Here, people wander out to watch the sun rise over a usually tranquil ocean or relax at day’s end to enjoy the sea breezes.
The pier-centric Absecon Island serves up three more piers including two more in Atlantic City. The Central Pier Arcade and Speedway competes with the Steel Pier for the family entertainment business, especially with its go-kart track. Farther south, the old Million Dollar Pier continues to struggle with its identity. Most recently, ACX1 Studios had converted most of the large mall-like space into a production studio, but it is now in bankruptcy.
The pier of the Angler’s Club of Absecon Island in Margate is a members-only fishing pier and clubhouse jutting from a quiet residential stretch of beach, offering serious anglers room to cast, swap stories and keep gear far from the beach crowds. There is no direct public contact for the club, so prospective fishermen have to seek an existing member to be sponsored into this tight-knit community.
Ocean City to Avalon
Most Musical Pier
Sorry, Bruce Springsteen, but when it comes to musical piers, the Ocean City Music Pier is still going strong. This architectural jewel was built in 1928 as a concert hall and today plays host to a summer concert series, tribute bands, musical theater productions and orchestral performances featuring guest artists such as Lee Greenwood, The Righteous Brothers and Broadway’s Lea Salonga.
The Ocean City Fishing Club the oldest continuously operated fishing club in the nation, built a private, members-only pier at 14th Street and the Boardwalk in 1916. It’s distinct from the public Ocean City Fishing Pier on the bay side. The pier reaches roughly 635 feet out over the sand and water, with a clubhouse, deck, gear storage and bait facilities. For prospective members, they host open houses. This year they are 6-8 pm, July 30 and August 13.
Even farther south is the Avalon Fishing Pier is yet another private pier which does not actively promote membership or public access. Built in 1933, the pier is 900-foot long, having been extended 200 feet in 2016 to reach out farther into the ocean to allow year-round fishing.
The Wildwoods
The Most Amusing Pier(s)
Together, Morey’s oceanfront piers (Surfside Pier, Morey’s Pier and Adventure Pier) in Wildwood deliver some of the best seaside amusements on the planet, a continuous run of rides and slides stretching out from the boardwalk above the sand. Under the Morey’s banner, you’ll find classic wooden and soaring steel coasters, a towering Ferris wheel that lights up the shoreline and two sprawling water parks where guests can plunge, float and race through a maze of slides. Adrenaline junkies and families alike will find something to love here, from heart-pounding drops to gentle spins with the ocean as their backdrop.
The Coolest Pier
Seaport Pier in North Wildwood trades roller coasters for resort vibes, anchoring the boardwalk with a sun-splashed pool, a lively stage and a sprawling bar scene. By day, its pool and cabanas feel like a beachside oasis; by night, live music and events turn the pier into a mini-festival with ocean views.
The Saddest Pier
Originally built in 1919 by the private Wildwood Crest Fishing Club and acquired by the Borough of Wildwood Crest in 2006, the Wildwood Crest Fishing Pier (aka the Heather Road Fishing Pier) no longer lives up to its name. You can’t cast a line into the ocean from it anymore because decades of sand accretion have left the structure stranded on dry land. With Cape May County funding in place, the Borough plans to extend the deck in the next few years, so it once again sits above the ocean.
