Who Has The Jersey Shore's Cheapest Daily Beach Badges?

So you're looking to hit the beach this weekend, but you don't want to pay a fortune.

After all, there are drinks to buy, perhaps boardwalk games to play, and ice cream to be eaten.

Where can you get the most for your beach badge dollar?

Here are the least expensive daily beach badges for adults and children 12 or older, along with a list of all the daily beach badge fees up and down the coast.

The following towns have free beach access:

Union Beach, Keyport and Keansburg in Monmouth County all have free access on Raritan Bay.

Atlantic City, North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest all have free access on the Atlantic Ocean.

Beyond the free access, the cheapest daily badges are $5, and children under 12 receive free access with an adult at every beach. Those $5 daily badges are offered in Brick, Mantoloking, Beach Haven and Ocean City.

The best deals are Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park, where you can cram a car full of kids and hit the beach for the day for a flat fee per vehicle. The caveat is that you must arrive early, especially on the weekends, because once the parking lots fill the parks close to further vehicles.

The most expensive fees are $10 per day on weekends, primarily in Monmouth County towns.

Take a look at the fees, town by town. Just a reminder that many beaches offer free or discounted access for active military members and their families, for veterans, for the disabled and for senior citizens.

SANDY HOOK: The park is operated by the National Park Service. Beach parking is $15 per vehicle ($30 for oversized vehicles) but getting on the beach is free. However, the parking lots fill up quickly, so if you're going, go early. Beach parking fees are collected from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SEA BRIGHT: Daily badges are $8; children under age 12 get in free.

MONMOUTH BEACH: Daily badges are $9.

LONG BRANCH: Daily badges are $7 on weekends, holidays and holiday Mondays. Daily badges are $5 other days. Students badges (teens 13 to 17) are $3.

SEVEN PRESIDENTS OCEANFRONT PARK, Long Branch: Controlled by Monmouth County. Daily adult badge $8; children 12 and under free. (Children 17 and under free on weekdays.) Parking: $8 daily.

DEAL: Daily badge $10 on weekends, $8 on weekdays, children under 12 free.

ALLENHURST: Daily badge $10, children under 12 free.

LOCH ARBOUR: Daily badge $10 on weekends, $6 on weekdays, children under 12 free.

ASBURY PARK: Daily badge $7 on weekends, $5 on weekdays, children under 12 free.

OCEAN GROVE: Daily badge $8, children under 12 free.

BRADLEY BEACH: Daily badge $8.50, children 12 and under free.

AVON-BY-THE-SEA: Daily badge $9, children under 12 free.

BELMAR: Daily badge $8, children under 14 free.

SPRING LAKE: Daily badge $10, children under 12 free.

SEA GIRT: Daily badge $10, children under 12 free.

MANASQUAN: Daily badge $9, children under 12 free.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH: Controlled primarily by Jenkinson's; daily badges are $10 on the weekends, $9 weekdays, with children under 12 $2.50. Martell's; Bradshaw's Beach, at Washington Avenue, and the Maryland Avenue beach, operated by Aqua Serve, charge $8 for daily badges.

BAY HEAD: Daily badges are $8, children under 12 free.

MANTOLOKING: Daily badges are $5, children under 12 free.

BRICK: Daily wristbands are $5, daily parking is $5.

LAVALLETTE: Daily badges are $8, children under 12 free.

TOMS RIVER: Daily badges are $8, children under 12 free.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS: Daily badges are $8 on weekends, $7 on weekdays, children under 12 free.

SEASIDE PARK: Daily badges are $10, children under 12 free.

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK: The per-vehicle entry fee is $10 on weekends, $6 on weekdays.

BARNEGAT LIGHT: Daily badges are $5, children under 12 free.

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP/LOVELADIES: Daily badges are $7, children under 12 free.

HARVEY CEDARS: Daily badges are $6, children under 12 free.

SURF CITY: Daily badges are $7, children under 12 free.

SHIP BOTTOM: Daily badges are $7, children under 12 free.

BEACH HAVEN: Daily badges are $5, children under 12 free.

BRIGANTINE: Daily badges are $8, children under 12 free.

ATLANTIC CITY: Free access for all.

VENTNOR CITY: No daily badge, but a weekly badge is $10.

MARGATE: Badges must be reserved in advance and are $15. Read more here.

LONGPORT: Badges are $15, children under 12 free.

OCEAN CITY: Daily badges are $5, children under 12 free.

SEA ISLE CITY: Daily badges are $10 on weekends, $5 on weekdays, children under 12 free.

AVALON: Daily badges are $6, children under 12 free. Avalon and Stone Harbor badges are good in both towns.

STONE HARBOR: Daily badges are $6, children under 12 free.

NORTH WILDWOOD: Free access for all.

WILDWOOD: Free access for all.

WILDWOOD CREST: Free access for all.

CAPE MAY: Daily badges are $6, children under 12 free.