The Hideaway
5416 South Bay Avenue
Beach Haven, NJ
Ocean on one side, bay on the other, and a rooftop in between.
About The Hideaway
The Hideaway sits at the very southern tip of Long Beach Island in Beach Haven, on a narrow strip of land where the Atlantic and Barnegat Bay nearly meet. The property dates to the 1950s and once operated as the Jolly Roger, a name longtime islanders still use with affection. Today it runs as a small, personally hosted motel with just over a dozen rooms, close enough to both shorelines that guests can watch the sun rise over the ocean and set over the bay from the same rooftop deck. Owners Judy and Brad keep the operation intimate and hands-on, the kind of place where the hosts remember your name and point you to the uncrowded stretch of beach. It is a quiet, romantic corner of a busy shore town, built for people who want the water and not much else.
What The Hideaway Is Known For
The Hideaway earns its name and its loyal following through location and hosting rather than luxury. Almost nowhere else on Long Beach Island puts you 44 steps from the ocean with a rooftop that sees water on three sides, and few places at any price are run with the personal, remember-your-name attention Judy and Brad bring. It is the rare shore motel that people return to year after year and call the best on the island, a distinction earned by the setting and the care rather than any single amenity.
Amenities
- Breakfast Included
- WiFi
- Rooftop sundeck with ocean and bay views
- Complimentary beach chairs and towels
- Seasonal beach badges for guests
- Morning coffee and baked goods
- In-room mini refrigerators
- Live surf cam
What Guests Love
- Coffee and muffins or cake are set out every morning and through the day, included for guests.
- The rooftop deck has water views on three sides and is widely called the best sunset spot on the island.
- Seasonal beach badges are provided for guests, so beach access is handled the moment you arrive.
- At just 44 steps from the beach, it is one of the closest places to the sand at the island's quiet south end.
Worth Knowing
- Rooms are cozy and built for two to four guests, so pack light and lean into the beach-cottage scale.
- The property sits at the far south end of the island, a calmer and less crowded stretch than the busier northern towns.
- Beach chairs and towels are available on site, so you can travel light and grab what you need on the way to the sand.
- The season is limited to the warmer months, so confirm operating dates before planning a shoulder-season trip.
The Room
Rooms are compact, clean, and bright, dressed simply in a breezy shore palette that suits the setting. Each accommodates two to four guests and comes with a private bath, a television, and a small refrigerator for keeping drinks and beach snacks cold. WiFi runs throughout. The scale is deliberately modest, closer to a tidy beach cottage room than a resort suite, and the appeal is location rather than square footage. With so few rooms, the property never feels crowded, and there is a calm, almost private quality to the whole place even in peak season.
The Grounds
The building steps up two levels, with drive-up parking on site and rooms opening to exterior walkways rather than interior halls. The signature feature is the rooftop deck, which has water views on three sides, the ocean, the bay, and the open sky between them, and is widely considered the best sunset perch on the island. Beach chairs and towels are available for guests, and the sand is remarkably close: the owners count 44 steps to the beach and another 62 to the ocean itself. A wildlife refuge and the bay are both a short walk in the other direction, so the whole natural sweep of the island's south end is within reach on foot.
The Experience
A stay here revolves around water and proximity. You roll out of bed, grab a coffee and a muffin from the morning spread, and are on the sand in under a minute. During the season the hosts provide beach badges, so there is no scramble for access. Days drift between the ocean beach and the quieter bay side, and the rooftop deck becomes the gathering point as the light softens, everyone drifting up with a drink to watch the sky go pink over the bay. Judy and Brad are a constant, warm presence, quick with a recommendation or a beach chair. The feeling most guests carry home is one of ease: a small, unfussy place where the beach is right there and someone genuinely looks after you.
Details
Beach Haven, NJ 8008
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Hideaway pet friendly?
No, The Hideaway does not allow pets.
Does The Hideaway have EV charging?
No, The Hideaway does not have EV charging.
Does The Hideaway have WiFi?
Yes, The Hideaway has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Hideaway?
Beach Haven Beach: 0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Fantasy Island Amusement Park: 0.6 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park: 18 miles, about a 35 minute drive.
How far is The Hideaway from Beach Haven Beach?
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Hideaway from Fantasy Island Amusement Park?
0.6 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Hideaway from Barnegat Lighthouse State Park?
18 miles, about a 35 minute drive.
How close is The Hideaway to the beach?
The Hideaway is about 44 steps from the beach and 62 from the ocean itself, one of the closest places to the sand at the south end of Long Beach Island.
Does The Hideaway have a rooftop deck?
Yes. The Hideaway has a rooftop sundeck with water views on three sides, ocean, bay, and open sky, and it is widely considered the best sunset spot on the island.
Does The Hideaway provide beach badges?
Yes. During the season The Hideaway provides beach badges for guests, so beach access is arranged when you arrive.
Does The Hideaway serve breakfast?
The Hideaway sets out complimentary coffee and baked goods such as muffins and cakes every morning and through the day for guests.
Does The Hideaway have a pool?
The Hideaway does not have a pool. Its draw is direct beach access, with the ocean about 44 steps away and a rooftop deck overlooking the water.
Is parking free at The Hideaway?
Yes. The Hideaway offers free on-site parking, with rooms accessed by exterior walkways rather than interior halls.
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Things to Do Near Long Beach Island
Beach Haven Beach
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.1 miles, about a 1-minute walk, the ocean beach sits directly across from the property, a wide and often uncrowded stretch of sand at the island's south end with easy guest access.
Fantasy Island Amusement Park
0.6 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.6 miles, about a 3-minute drive, this classic Victorian-themed family amusement park in Beach Haven has rides, an arcade, and a boardwalk feel that anchors the town's summer nightlife.
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
18 miles, about a 35 minute drive.
18 miles, about a 35-minute drive to the island's north tip, Old Barney is a beloved 1859 lighthouse you can climb for sweeping views over the inlet and the Atlantic.