Best time to visit New Jersey

September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

September

For the Jersey Shore, sources favor early fall, when the water is still warm and crowds thin. Summer is peak beach season.

“The weather is spectacular and the crowds are sparse, but there is plenty to do.” nj1015.com
“a surprising number will say September” lindagrandehotel.com
“September is your second favorite.” 943thepoint.com

3 of the 6 travel guides we read name these months.

New Jersey month by month

Average high and low in Newark, and days with rain

January40°F / 26°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Cape May's holiday calendar runs through New Year's Eve, and some Ocean City shops stay open all year.NHL All-Star Game
February43°F / 27°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Cape May events pick up again on Presidents Weekend.Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
March51°F / 34°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Taste Atlantic City, a month-long food celebration, runs through March 2026.
April63°F / 44°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Ocean City in spring has a nearly empty beach, with chilly water and mild weather in the 60s and low 70s.
May73°F / 54°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Water is still chilly in April and May, but biking the boardwalk and fishing off the pier work well.The Cape May Music Festival is held each spring.Cape May spring bird migration · Fleet Week New York
June82°F / 64°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Late June is a sweet spot in Ocean City: schools are just out, the water has warmed, and crowds are smaller than July.Cape May County's population swells to over 820,000 in the summer months.NYC Pride March · Tribeca Festival
July87°F / 69°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Ocean City is at its busiest, with Music Pier concerts and weekly fireworks. Rooms book far ahead.Residents voted July their favorite month.Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
August85°F / 68°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Water temperatures peak, often in the mid-to-high 70s, and the second half of the month eases slightly.US Open Tennis Championships
Best timeSeptember78°F / 61°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Water is still warm and crowds drop sharply after Labor Day.North Wildwood hosts one of the state's largest Irish Festivals each September.A local columnist calls early autumn the best time to go down the shore.West Indian American Day Parade · The Armory Show
October66°F / 49°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Crisp air, plus Ocean City's music festival and Halloween parade. It is more walking than beach lounging.The Wildwoods hold a rock and roll weekend every October.Bryant Park Winter Village · New York Comic Con
November55°F / 39°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Fall fishing charters run well into November.Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade · Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem
December45°F / 31°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Cape May's winter holiday calendar runs through New Year's Eve.Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop