My husband will be taking the kids to the beach for the day ( from Phila ) and wants a beach with public restroom facilities available. Any suggestions? He was thinking of Atlantic City due to close proximity but is it not a place you would take your kids?

Island Beach State Park. Just get there early, b/c once the 2 parking lots fill up, they close the place until it starts to clear out.

There are two large, clean restrooms, with changing facilities and a snack bar.

Forgot to mention - it's incredibly reasonable. For $10 per CAR (on weekends) you get: entrance fee and free use of the beach facilities.

We just went y-day and brought my sister and parents. For $10 the 7 of us spend a very nice day at the beach.

Just as an FYI, NJ is in a budget crisis; all state parks will be closed as of July 5 until they can agree on a budget so Island Beach may not be open!!
Atlantic City has a pretty neat boardwalk that the kids would like; I just would not stay very late!

Ocean City NJ has restrooms and is the definitive family beach town. Go for it...

public beach bathrooms are filthy overall. dirty floors, cigarette butts, toilet paper and sand. go to atlantic city casinos for bodily functions they are immaculate.

Drive 30 minutes further and go to Cape May. You will see public facilities so just plan on staying the full day and let the kids sleep on the way home.

Casinos will be closed, too, as of July 5th (budget crisis).

I would go to Spring Lake.They have a halfway decent bathrooms. Most PHL people go to the south jersy beaches but Spring Lake is lovely. First class beach. I would not go to AC beach if it were the ONLY beach to attend!! If you must go to the South Jersey beaches try Ocean City. Spring Lake is straight shot down 195 very little traffic and parking is FREE.

diann - I don't get the aversion Philadelphian's have to going going to the northern NJ beaches. From the northern suburbs, it's significantly faster to get to Island Beach or Pt. Pleasant than Wildwood/Cape May.

thanks all, I appreciate your input. I'm disappointed the island state beach is closed. That would've been our first choice. I think we might try Spring Lake. Do they require beach tags?

Yes Spring Lake requires beach tags. They were $7.00 last year.Also there is a boardwalk at Spring lake but not one with games, food, activities.

Karens, not sure I follow what you are saying. Are you stating it is the same time to go to Pt pleasant? You might be right about that one I just don't go to Pt. Pleasant. Well I live in Yardley/Newtown area. Not the city. I know it takes me 35-40 minutes tops to get to Spring lake beach.

Island Beach is beautiful but unfortunately it is closed, thelatest is that all state closures will be reopening tomorrow, just in time for the sunshine!!!!