Ocean City, NJ uses Garden State Parkway Exit 30 from the north and Exit 25 or 29 from the south.
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For Ocean City, New Jersey, the right Parkway exit depends on which direction you are coming from and which part of the island you want first. Drivers coming south from North Jersey, New York, or the Atlantic City Expressway usually use Garden State Parkway Exit 30 for Somers Point and downtown Ocean City.
Drivers coming north from Cape May often use Exit 25 for the 34th Street Bridge or Exit 29 for the Route 52 Causeway into 9th Street. In plain terms: Exit 30 is the common answer, but Exit 25 can be better for the south end and 34th Street area.
Which Garden State Parkway Exit Should You Use?
Garden State Parkway Exit 30 is the most direct exit for downtown Ocean City and the boardwalk when driving south. Garden State Parkway Exit 25 is the easier choice for the 34th Street area, south-end beaches, or rentals below about 30th Street.
Ocean City sits on a barrier island, so the exit is only half the answer. The bridge you cross matters just as much as the number on the Parkway sign.
- Use Exit 30 for downtown Ocean City, the boardwalk, Music Pier, 9th Street, and most north-end or center-island addresses.
- Use Exit 25 for 34th Street, 46th Street, 55th Street, Corson’s Inlet, and the south end of Ocean City.
- Use Exit 29 when driving north and aiming for the Route 52 Causeway into 9th Street.
Driver shortcut: Enter the exact Ocean City street address into your navigation app before you leave the Parkway. A 9th Street address and a 55th Street address can point to different exits.
Ocean City, NJ Parkway Exit By Starting Point
Ocean City, NJ has more than one useful Garden State Parkway approach because the island has multiple bridge entries. The table below gives the most practical exit for the trip most drivers are trying to make.
| Starting Point Or Destination | Use This Exit | Bridge Or Road Into Ocean City |
|---|---|---|
| North Jersey or New York to downtown | Exit 30 | Laurel Drive to Route 52 and 9th Street Bridge |
| Atlantic City Expressway to boardwalk area | Exit 30 | Somers Point approach to the 9th Street Bridge |
| Philadelphia to central Ocean City | Exit 30 | Garden State Parkway South, then Route 52 Causeway |
| Cape May to 34th Street area | Exit 25 | Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street Bridge |
| Cape May to downtown or Music Pier | Exit 29 | US 9 North toward Somers Point, then Route 52 |
| South-end beaches and Corson’s Inlet | Exit 25 | Roosevelt Boulevard to 34th Street, then south on the island |
| Margate, Longport, or coastal Atlantic City | No Parkway exit needed | Ocean City-Longport Bridge into the north end |
Getting From Exit 30 To Ocean City
Exit 30 feeds drivers into Somers Point, then across the Route 52 Causeway into Ocean City at 9th Street. Ocean City’s own Music Pier directions list the northbound arrival pattern from the Parkway as Exit 30 onto Laurel Drive, then MacArthur Boulevard, Stainton Memorial Causeway, and 9th Street.
That route is useful if your destination is near the boardwalk, Asbury Avenue, downtown shops, the Music Pier, Gillian’s Wonderland Pier area, or the north half of the island. The 9th Street Bridge drops you near the center of the action, which is why Exit 30 is the answer many visitors hear first.
For an official city reference on the Parkway approach, Ocean City’s Music Pier travel document lists Exit 30 from the north and Exit 29 from the south in its Ocean City Music Pier directions.
When Exit 25 Makes More Sense
Exit 25 makes more sense when your Ocean City address is closer to 34th Street, 46th Street, 55th Street, or the south-end beaches. Exit 25 connects toward Roosevelt Boulevard and the 34th Street Bridge, which lands farther south than the 9th Street Bridge.
Many beach-house rentals, quieter family blocks, and south-end stays sit well below the boardwalk core. For those addresses, Exit 30 can send you onto the island too far north, then force a slow drive down local streets.
Use Exit 25 when the address number is high or the route preview shows 34th Street Bridge. Use Exit 30 when the route preview shows Route 52, Stainton Memorial Causeway, or 9th Street Bridge.
How Do You Reach The Boardwalk After The Exit?
Most boardwalk visitors should aim for 9th Street after leaving the Parkway. The 9th Street Bridge is the cleanest entry for the Music Pier, downtown, and the densest boardwalk blocks.
After crossing into Ocean City on 9th Street, the beach and boardwalk are straight ahead to the east. Parking becomes tighter near the boardwalk in summer, so drivers should expect metered spaces, paid lots, and slower traffic close to beach blocks.
For a smoother arrival, decide before the bridge whether you want the boardwalk, a rental house, a restaurant, or a beach block. Ocean City’s island grid is simple once you are there, but summer traffic makes wrong turns costly.
Ocean City Entry Points Compared
Ocean City has four main road approaches, and each one works for a different part of the island. The bridge name is often more useful than the exit number once you are close to town.
| Entry Point | Where It Lands | Works For |
|---|---|---|
| Route 52 Causeway | 9th Street | Downtown, Music Pier, boardwalk, north-central stays |
| 34th Street Bridge | 34th Street | Mid-island rentals, south-end beach days, family stays |
| Ocean City-Longport Bridge | Gardens Parkway and north end | Longport, Margate, north-end Ocean City |
| Corson’s Inlet approach | South end near Strathmere | South-end drives, scenic coastal routing, local traffic |
| Somers Point local roads | Route 52 and 9th Street Bridge | Restaurants before crossing, downtown access |
| Marmora local roads | Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street Bridge | 34th Street stores, south-half lodging |
| Atlantic City coastal route | Longport Bridge | Drivers already on Absecon Island |
Where To Stay After Picking Your Exit
Ocean City’s exit choice should match where you sleep: north and central stays usually favor Exit 30, while south-end stays usually favor Exit 25. Picking lodging by street number can save time every time you leave or return to the island.
For overnight trips, compare places near the part of the island your exit feeds first:
A stay near 9th Street works well for boardwalk nights and downtown meals. A stay near 34th Street or farther south works better for quieter beach blocks and easier drives toward Marmora, Sea Isle City, and Cape May.
Pick The Right Ocean City Exit
Use Exit 30 if you want the simplest answer for downtown Ocean City, NJ, the boardwalk, or a 9th Street arrival. Use Exit 25 if your address is closer to 34th Street or the south end, and use Exit 29 when driving north from Cape May toward the Route 52 Causeway.
- Boardwalk, Music Pier, downtown: Exit 30, then Route 52 Causeway to 9th Street.
- 34th Street, south-end rentals, Corson’s Inlet: Exit 25, then Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street Bridge.
- Coming north from Cape May to downtown: Exit 29 can route you toward Somers Point and the 9th Street Bridge.
- Coming from Longport or Margate: skip the Parkway and use the Longport Bridge.
The safest planning move is simple: match the exit to the street number. Low-numbered and boardwalk-focused trips usually favor Exit 30; higher-numbered south-island trips usually favor Exit 25.
References & Sources
- City of Ocean City, New Jersey.“Ocean City Music Pier Technical Rider.”Lists Parkway directions to Ocean City, including Exit 30 from the north and Exit 29 from the south.