Beach fee

MamatoA2010 · June 2014

I'm trying to figure out what the average going rate for going to the beach is. I just paid an arm and a leg for DD and I to attend a beach that is close to where we live ($17 for both of us! And that didn't include buying ice cream and snacks while there) She loved the beach but I can't be spending $22 every week this summer even though I know the season is short. I am not a resident in the town that this beach is located in but I honestly don't think its much cheaper even if you are. So what do you guys spend?

MamatoA2010 · June 2014

@Sundae13‌ - yep! Sucks! Plus the day we went it was filled with high schoolers.

Xtine22 · June 2014

If we pay anything its for parking.

Growing up the beach I liked to go to charged but you could get a season pass even if you didn't live in the town.

DreadLoc · June 2014

it's free, we just have to pay for parking.

the north is weird.

klondikebar · June 2014

I've only been to one beach where we had to pay to park. We went with DH on a work trip so it's not local. It was many years ago, but it was $10. Our local beaches are all free.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

jesuisfatiguee · June 2014

I've paid $10 to get into a park on the lake. I didn't realize this was a thing, too. Lame.

fancynewbeesly · June 2014

Yep. NJ.

And it is completely ridiculous. Within 30 miles, we may have 5-10 different small towns with beaches, and each town requires a different beach badge. So, if you buy a season badge for beach A. And then you make plans to go with friends to beach B, you have to buy a daily beach badge at Beach B. (Even though the beaches may only be about 5-8 minutes apart.)

LBI is the worst at that---each municipality in it---and then island I think is only 22 miles long--and about 10 different "towns"--requires there own badge.

fancynewbeesly · June 2014

In NJ--this is the 2013 beach badge prices:

https://www.newjerseyshore.com/beach-badges.shtml

fancynewbeesly · June 2014

LauraT25 said:

And it is completely ridiculous. Within 30 miles, we may have 5-10 different small towns with beaches, and each town requires a different beach badge. So, if you buy a season badge for beach A. And then you make plans to go with friends to beach B, you have to buy a daily beach badge at Beach B. (Even though the beaches may only be about 5-8 minutes apart)
So much RAGE at this.

I completely agree---I have stated it for years. Personally, I think IF we have to pay for beach badges, it be by county--and that will allow you to go on....ANY beach in that county. Or we easily solve the problem and I go to the beach in May/early June and after Labor Day---and not pay for the beach.

Definitely a bonus when you live 10 minutes from them.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

jenn330 · June 2014

Lots if beaches here- all free to attend. Free parking for most, just parking meters for a couple of them if you want to park super close.

NotSharknado · June 2014

MamatoA2010 said:

@Sundae13‌ - yep! Sucks! Plus the day we went it was filled with high schoolers.

Well I'm assuming you went to a man made beach where you need to be a resident to get in for cheaper? Chicago beaches don't cost $17 to get in.

NotSharknado · June 2014

Sundae13 said:

Ew, high schoolers. Ew.

Imagine that, high schoolers at a beach during summer break. Weird.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

dashofreality · June 2014

I have definitely learned something new in this thread today. I have never heard of paying for the beach. I have been to the beach in FL, SC, NC, DE, CA and ME never paid, apparently it was a good thing that we avoided NJ.

Right now we are living in Eastern NC, and as long as we go early we don't even have to pay for parking. I would be very torn about paying for the beach, because the kids love it and it is a million times easier than going to the pool where I have to constantly make sure my kid doesn't try to kill himself.

LucilleAustero · June 2014

I live on Long Island and we have amazing beaches, but they are all fee beaches.

My husband works for the state parks during the summer break from teaching, so we get into the state beaches for free.

NotSharknado · June 2014

Sundae13 said:

NotSharknado said:

Sundae13 said:

Ew, high schoolers. Ew.

Imagine that, high schoolers at a beach during summer break. Weird.

Uh, that was sarcasm.

I know, I was being even more sarcastic for good measure.

colliebabe · June 2014

I'm in MA and some of the better beaches cost about $20-$35 for parking. I live near a "city beach" where I can walk or find street parking for free, so I take DD there unless we are doing a full day beach trip.

colliebabe · June 2014

@uconnhuskie007 I was going to ask you which beach that is - is it Good Harbor?

colliebabe · June 2014

@uconnhuskie007 Ahhh I was so close! I love the Gloucester beaches. We usually go there or go south to Nantasket in Hull for day trips.

colliebabe · June 2014

uconnhuskie007 said:

We've never been to nantasket but live closer to the south shore and thought about going last weekend but couldn't get ourselves together in reasonable time

It's very nice but gets very crowded on the weekends. We went last year for the 4th of July and had a lot of fun, but there wasn't a lot of room to spread out.

lollitots · June 2014

Most of the beaches by me are free. If you park at a state beach parkinglot it is $15 for the day and $1 per hour at a county beach parking lot. I live in So. CA, so there are a ton of beaches by me and we go all the time. Both the state parks and the county beaches have annual passes to buy if you want one.

lollitots · June 2014

Wait, I assume the amount you paid was for parking. Do you have to pay per person? and do you have to pay to go onto the beach itself? Isn't going onto the actual sand free everywhere?

outnumbered · June 2014

uconnhuskie007 said:

@colliebabe - with Wingarsheek, it takes me about 45 minutes to get there, and since they limit parking, if I don't leave my house by 6:30 (to get there for 7:15) there's a good chance we won't get in.

Is Nantasket similar? (As you can see, I'm looking for a new, closer beach!)

@uconnhuskie007 It might be farther for you, but we go to the state park beach (not the town beach) in Salisbury. The state park pass is $35 for the entire year. We really like it and the fee is so much cheaper. We also use the pass to go swimming at Walden pond on weekday evenings.

ETA: The parks pass is good for one year at any state park in MA There might be some state run beaches on the South Shore.

steponalego11 · June 2014

Starearedkid said:

Yep. NJ.

And it is completely ridiculous. Within 30 miles, we may have 5-10 different small towns with beaches, and each town requires a different beach badge. So, if you buy a season badge for beach A. And then you make plans to go with friends to beach B, you have to buy a daily beach badge at Beach B. (Even though the beaches may only be about 5-8 minutes apart.)

LBI is the worst at that---each municipality in it---and then island I think is only 22 miles long--and about 10 different "towns"--requires there own badge.

Yup LBI is where I live and not only all the different beach badges but police and fire depts too. You don't have to pay for parking though and the seasonal badge rates can be bought cheaper pre-season. Now if we had public restrooms by that beaches that would solve a whole other problem with LBI beaches.

minervacullen · June 2014

I'm in Michigan and we pay an extra $10 a year with our license plate renewal to get into all state parks ( beaches included) when we go to city or county beaches we usually pay 5-7$ for the car load. Unless we park away and walk, then it's free.

LaurelBee · June 2014

@MamatoA2010‌ I'm curious what beach you went to. North Ave beach is free in Chicago, but the water is damn cold.

I bought a blow up pool and splash pad thing for my back yard and skipped the beach pass this year. I'm also hoping certain friends invite us over to swim *hint hint*

The HS kids don't bother me at the beach. The girls mostly stand around or lay out and and I usually want the shady areas. The boys ignore anyone w/ kids (or w/o boobs).

NotSharknado · June 2014

LaurelBee said:
@MamatoA2010‌ I'm curious what beach you went to. North Ave beach is free in Chicago, but the water is damn cold.

I bought a blow up pool and splash pad thing for my back yard and skipped the beach pass this year. I'm also hoping certain friends invite us over to swim *hint hint*

The HS kids don't bother me at the beach. The girls mostly stand around or lay out and and I usually want the shady areas. The boys ignore anyone w/ kids (or w/o boobs).

Hint taken!

MamatoA2010 · June 2014

LaurelBee said:
@MamatoA2010‌ I'm curious what beach you went to. North Ave beach is free in Chicago, but the water is damn cold.

I bought a blow up pool and splash pad thing for my back yard and skipped the beach pass this year. I'm also hoping certain friends invite us over to swim *hint hint*

The HS kids don't bother me at the beach. The girls mostly stand around or lay out and and I usually want the shady areas. The boys ignore anyone w/ kids (or w/o boobs).

@LaurelBee‌ - we were at Glencoe Beach. No charge for parking but beach access was $17 for both DD and I.

MamatoA2010 · June 2014

Andplusalso, the water was frigid! Not many people were in the water, mostly just laying out, playing on the playground at the beach and playing in the sand.

Want a personalized experience?

Beach fee

Re: Beach fee

Choose Another Board

Search Boards