Two New Jersey Beaches Named Among Nation's Cleanest
Point Pleasant Beach and Stone Harbor Beach earned top spots on a new list of the country's cleanest shorelines.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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Islands.com has identified two New Jersey destinations as being among the nine cleanest beaches in the United States. Point Pleasant Beach and Stone Harbor Beach were recognized following rigorous water quality testing.
Why it matters
The rankings highlight coastal areas that consistently meet strict safety standards for water quality. These results provide beachgoers with clear information regarding the health and cleanliness of popular state destinations.
Point Pleasant Beach placed second and Stone Harbor Beach ranked sixth on the national list. Both locations maintained a 95% pass rate for water quality standards throughout the 2025 testing season.
The players
Islands.com
This travel and lifestyle media outlet compiled the rankings of the cleanest beaches in the United States.
Point Pleasant Beach
This coastal municipality is located in New Jersey and secured the second position on the national list of cleanest beaches.
Stone Harbor Beach
Situated in New Jersey, this beach reached the sixth spot on the list of cleanest beaches in the country.
The details
Researchers evaluated water samples for levels of the bacteria Enterococcus using data from the Swim Guide and state health departments. Beaches were assessed based on their adherence to established safety thresholds for cleanliness.
Timeline
Testing for the beach water quality occurred during the 2025 season.
Culture Shift
These rankings reflect a broader cultural movement toward transparent, data-driven assessments of environmental quality in public recreation spaces. This shift moves beyond aesthetic appeal to prioritize public health standards as a core metric for evaluating the quality of travel destinations.
These rankings provide residents and visitors with confidence regarding the safety and sanitary conditions of their local shorelines. Travelers can use these metrics to plan visits to beaches that prioritize rigorous water quality testing.
The takeaway
Maintaining high water quality is essential for the continued appeal and public safety of state coastal attractions. Beachgoers should continue to check local health department reports before planning trips to ensure the most current conditions.
Further reading
Find more tips on maintaining clean environments in the Home Cleaning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Burlingtoncountytimes.
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Do you choose your vacation beaches based on published cleanliness rankings?
