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.
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.
