Parking in Ship Bottom

Ship Bottom primarily offers free public street parking, with separate municipal parking at certain parks and recreation facilities. Because the Route 72 bridge enters Long Beach Island here, traffic can make the parking search more difficult on summer turnover days.

Ship Bottom Parking at a Glance

• Beach parking: Free curbside parking on numbered ocean streets.
• Bayfront parking: Available at designated municipal recreation facilities.
• Boat ramp: Parking and launching at the Robert W. Nissen facility follow separate permit and fee rules.
• Accessible beach routes: ADA-compliant access is identified at 15th and 20th streets.
• Parking changes: Several traffic and parking rules were updated in 2026.

Where to Park for the Beach

Use a legal curb space near the numbered street serving your beach entrance. The closest ocean blocks fill first. If no space is available, search progressively toward Long Beach Boulevard while watching for posted restrictions.

Bayfront Parks and Municipal Parking

• 10th Street Waterfront Park: Municipal parking serves the waterfront park and Robert W. Nissen boat-ramp area.
• Sunset Point: Signed parking is available for park visitors.
• Boat-ramp spaces: Follow the ramp’s posted permit, fee and vehicle rules.

Municipal recreation lots should not be used as unattended overflow parking for unrelated destinations.

Free Parking and Current Restrictions

Ordinary legal curbside spaces do not use a townwide beach-meter system. Free spaces are still subject to no-parking signs, accessible-space rules, time limits and temporary controls.

Ship Bottom adopted multiple parking and traffic amendments in 2026. Rely on newly installed signs rather than parking habits from an earlier visit.

Accessible Parking and Beach Assistance

ADA-compliant beach access is available at 15th and 20th streets, with additional access ramps at other streets. Marked accessible parking requires a valid placard or plate. The borough also operates Beach Wheels and a beach-taxi assistance program.

Bridge Traffic and Arrival Tips

• Select a street before crossing the Route 72 bridge.
• Avoid sudden stops and turns immediately after entering the borough.
• On rental turnover days, arrive outside the heaviest midday traffic period when possible.
• Once parked, use the LBI Shuttle or a bicycle for additional island trips.

Oversized and Overnight Vehicles

Confirm private parking before bringing an RV, camper, boat trailer or oversized vehicle. An empty curb space does not necessarily permit overnight storage.

Official Parking Resources

Check the Ship Bottom municipal website, parks and recreation information and Beach Wheels and beach-taxi program.