USA Today asked the entire country to vote for the best boardwalk in America. The country answered. And apparently, the country has great taste.
Out of the top 10 boardwalks in the nation for 2026, four of them are in New Jersey. Florida, where we would expect some rave reviews, did not even crack the list. New Jersey basically showed up, took seats on both sides of the table, and left everyone else fighting for the scraps.
If you grew up in NJ, none of this is surprising. If you’re from out of state and somehow still debating whether the Jersey Shore is worth the trip, consider this your sign.
Wildwoods: #1 for Two Years Running
Wildwoods took the top spot for the second consecutive year, which at this point feels less like an award and more like a formality. The boardwalk stretches 38 blocks, runs 2.5 miles, and packs in over 100 rides and attractions across three amusement piers, two waterparks, arcades, games, and enough food options to put you into a genuine decision paralysis situation.
The summer of 2026 for Wildwood brings a lot of new stuff worth knowing about too. The Giant Wheel, one of the most recognizable pieces of the Wildwoods skyline, is getting a full renovation and should be back up and running by Memorial Day weekend. A new hotel and several new restaurants are all ready to bring some fun this summer season.
On the events front, this summer is stacked. The Barefoot Country Music Festival runs June 18-21 with Post Malone and Kelsea Ballerini headlining. The free Wildwoods Airshow is back September 12-13. And if you haven’t done the classic tram car ride down the boards yet, the new Coastal Cruiser hop-on, hop-off shuttle gives you another way to get around without putting in the miles yourself.
One fun fact that never gets old: the Wildwoods Boardwalk was so well-designed that Disney World and Hershey Park used it as the model for their own boardwalk-style attractions. The original is still better.
Ocean City: #3
Ocean City landing at #3 nationally should surprise absolutely no one who has spent a summer weekend there. It’s the family boardwalk. Dry town, rides, games, the historic Music Pier, and a food lineup that turns a one-day trip into an annual tradition. Generations of Jersey families have been making the same Ocean City trip for decades, and the boardwalk keeps earning it.
Atlantic City: #5
Every boardwalk in America owes something to Atlantic City. It was the first. Built in 1870, the AC Boardwalk invented the concept before anyone else had thought to nail boards together on a beach. Today it’s a completely different animal, with the casinos and the hotels and the neon, but the bones of the original boardwalk experience are still there if you know where to look.
Point Pleasant Beach: #10
Jenkinson’s boardwalk is one of those places that people either have strong memories of or haven’t been to yet. The aquarium alone makes it worth a stop if you have kids. Add in the rides, the arcades, and the food, and Point Pleasant Beach a solid full-day trip from anywhere in Central Jersey. Coming in at #10 on a national list is nothing to sneeze at, especially when the competition includes California and Virginia.
We literally live in the best boardwalk state in the country. So, pick a shore town, pack a cooler, and go walk some boards this summer. You’ve got four nationally ranked options, all within a couple hours of each other, all worth your time.
Below is the full list of USA Today 10Best Boardwalks winners.
- Wildwoods Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ
- Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah, TX
- Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ
- Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, NC
- Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
- Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice, CA
- Ocean Beach Park Boardwalk, New London, CT
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, VA
- Boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Source: USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
