Ship Bottom is the first town you hit when you cross the Causeway Bridge onto Long Beach Island, which is why it's nicknamed the "Gateway to LBI." It's central, easy to get around, and home to some of the island's most recognized shops and restaurants. If you want to be within a short drive of both ends of the island, Ship Bottom is the smartest base.
Ship Bottom's beaches run from 4th Street north to 30th Street, with lifeguarded access at most numbered streets in summer. The beaches are wide, clean, and slightly less crowded than Beach Haven's because there's less foot traffic from a downtown core. Beach badges are required Memorial Day through Labor Day and can be purchased at the borough hall or online through the Borough of Ship Bottom.
Parking is generally easier in Ship Bottom than in Beach Haven. Free street parking is available on most side streets, though the blocks closest to the ocean fill up by mid-morning. There are also metered spaces along Long Beach Boulevard near the shopping district. Be mindful of resident-only zones in the height of summer.
Both of Ship Bottom's boundaries run down the middle of a street, which is unusual and catches people out. At the north end the line is the centerline of South 2nd Street — the north side is Surf City, the south side is Ship Bottom. That means all of South 3rd Street is Ship Bottom despite carrying a Surf City mailing address, which is why the borough describes its own beaches as starting at the southern end of 3rd Street. At the south end the same thing happens at 31st Street: Ship Bottom on the north side, Brant Beach in Long Beach Township on the south. Neighbors facing each other across either street live in different towns, pay different taxes, and need different beach badges.
Ship Bottom punches above its weight on food. Ship Bottom Shellfish for raw bar and lobster rolls, Raimondo's for classic red-sauce Italian (BYOB), Dune 18 for upscale-casual dining, Speakeasy Pizzeria for some of the best pizza on the island, Bageleddi's for chewy bagels (50+ years), Ship Bottom Ice Cream Co. for homemade ice cream and Italian ice, and The Local Market & Kitchen for specialty coffee and grab-and-go.
Day-trippers, central-island lovers, surfers, and families who want quick access to the boulevard's shopping and food without Beach Haven's crowds.
