Where To Stay in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Stone Harbor, New Jersey, is one of the most scenic beaches along the Jersey shore. If this is your first time visiting, and you’re wondering where the best places to stay are in Stone Harbor, continue reading to get insights from a local on all of the available accommodations.

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Best Areas to Stay in Stone Harbor

Before we jump into the best hotels, let’s start by breaking down the best areas to stay in Stone Harbor based on your preferences.

The primary shopping street in Stone Harbor is 96th Street. This is where you’ll find a bunch of cute shopping boutiques, fudge shops, ice cream, and restaurants. If you’d like to be in walking distance to 96th Street, the best nearby accommodations would be The Reeds, The Stone Harbor Inn, and the Lark.

If you’d prefer to stay away from the more active parts of the town, then your best fit would likely be staying towards the end of the island (streets ~ 110 up to 122). Unfortunately there aren’t any hotels or inns down by that side of the area, which is one of the reasons it remains so quiet and serene. If you’d like to stay at the end of the island, your best bet is to look online for personal rental homes.

If you’re traveling with kids, or anyone who would enjoy an open field to spend some time outside, we recommend looking close to the public park between 80th Street and 82nd Street. While they technically have an Avalon address, the best hotels near the park are the ICONA and the Windrift.

The last consideration to make before we jump into our hotel highlights below is whether or not you prefer the bayside or beachside of the island. If you prefer the bay, you’ll be privy to the best sunset views on the island. If you prefer the beachside, you’ll have the luxury of having only a short walk when going to and from the shore. So really it’s just personal preference! The best bayside hotel would again be The Reeds, and the best beachside options would be the ICONA or Windrift.

Stone Harbor Hotel Highlights

The Reeds at Shelter Haven

Already mentioned a few times in this post, one of the most popular accommodations in Stone Harbor is the Reeds at Shelter Haven (also just referred to as The Reeds for short). Considered a luxury resort (yes, even known as Oprah’s favorite hotel at the shore), the Reeds offers many amenities that will turn your beach getaway into a full blown escape.

Some of the most notable highlights & amenities of staying at the Reeds include:

• Beach Services: while the Reeds is a bayside resort, they offer complimentary beach services to drop you off at the beach, along with all of your beach accessories. They also offer “beach butlers” that offer service while you’re at the beach as well!
• Salt Spa: the Reeds’ spa offers massages, facials, baths, wellness therapies, and beauty treatments.
• Fitness Center: while you can always go for a run on the beach as well, the Reeds offers a fully equipped gym to use during your stay. During the summer months, the Reeds also hosts a daily morning yoga class out on the deck.
• Rooftop Pool: if salt water is not your thing, the Reeds provides access to a rooftop pool and hot tub to enjoy during the summer.
• Bay Access: one of the best perks of the Reeds is its location – it’s right on the bay! They also throw in complimentary access to their paddle-boards and kayaks for use if you stay in the summer months.

A further perk of staying at the Reeds is that its featured Water Star Grille is one of the most popular places to go for drinks & a bite in the evenings, and especially at sunset! You’ll definitely be staying at the hot spot in town if you go with the Reeds.

The only true downside of the Reeds is, of course, its price. While Stone Harbor in general can be quite pricey, the Reeds is definitely considered a luxury accommodation. However, there is a reason people keep coming back to it for more!

The ICONA Hotel

The second biggest hotel on the island, and another staple to the area, is the ICONA Hotel. Also known as the Windrift (from its legacy name), the ICONA is the best option for those who want a hotel right on the beach!

Another popular spot to go for drinks in the evening, the ICONA boasts a Sandbar from which you can reserve private cabanas, fire pits, or order a quick bite. Also onsite is a vast heated pool to enjoy if its too windy to head down to the beach, where ICONA offers umbrellas & chairs to their guests. Additional amenities at the ICONA include the following:

• Beach Access: the ICONA is located beachside with a direct sand path right to the shore.
• Fitness Center: for those who like to work out before hitting the beach, the ICONA has a 24-hour fitness center on site.
• In-ground Pool: though right next to the beach, the ICONA pool is one of the most popular amenities to enjoy while staying at this hotel!

While technically an Avalon address, the ICONA is right on the border of Stone Harbor and closer to that town center than Avalon’s.

The Lark Motel

For an alternative accommodation that is still right near 96th Street, and within a couple blocks of the beach, the Lark Motel is a good option. This motel is right amongst the hustle and bustle of town, and offers a heated pool and complimentary beach tags during your stay!

The Dunes Motel

Right around the corner from the Lark is another convenient option, the Dunes Motel. This again is close to 96th Street festivities, and within walking distance to the beach. Like the Lark, the Dunes has a pool and complimentary beach tags for guests to use.

The Colonial Lodge

The Colonial Lodge is another motel option that is relatively close to main street and the beach, and while it is not right on 96th Street it is definitely within walking distance to everything. The Colonial Lodge does not have a pool.

Wherever you end up staying during your visit to Stone Harbor, we hope you have a relaxing getaway! Please let us know where you chose to stay in the comments below, and how you liked the accommodations! 🙂

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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.