How NJ beaches could become more affordable by summer 2026, but probably won’t

Well, that's another summer in the books for the Jersey Shore. From the amazing concerts to the amusement rides and arcades on the boardwalks, there's no denying people don't love a trip along the Jersey coast.

And that will be the case too when the summer of 2026 arrives in less than 10 months (let the countdown begin). Yes, there were some more financial challenges this time around, it didn't completely stop those who wanted to pay a visit.

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In fact, most visitors don't seem to care how much they spend when they come down. Just think about that for a minute. It's not cheap at all to visit the Jersey Shore during the summer months.

Food and rides are already expensive, but there's not much we can do about that. We also have to budget for parking, which can also get quite expensive.

The only saving grace for parking is this. If you're staying somewhere near the beach, then oftentimes you already have a parking space at the location you're staying at. Not always, but sometimes.

And, although it's a little soon to predict how 2026 will go, now is the time to grab those great deals. After all, it's not cheap to go on vacation. Why not score those deals while you can?

There is, however, one burden that is exclusive to New Jersey. At least, it is when it comes to our public beaches. And it's just another financial burden we need to budget for.

Unfortunately, both residents and visitors might be to partially blame for this (you'll see why shortly). Hopefully, 2026 will mark a change to help us get rid of this ridiculous practice forever.

Yup, we're talking about the dreaded and unnecessary beach badge (or tag).

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.