As with the entire Jersey Shore, summer traffic routinely clogs local roadways throughout the season.

[17] The county is also home to many tourist attractions frequented by Philadelphia metropolitan area residents, including the beachfront communities of Seaside Heights, Long Beach Island, and Point Pleasant Beach, and Six Flags Great Adventure, an amusement park in Jackson Township that was the home to the world's tallest and second-fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka.

[18] Ocean County is a gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, one of the largest protected land areas on the East Coast.

[5][20] Jackson Township, which covers 100.62 square miles (260.6 km2), is the largest municipality in Ocean County by area.

[3] Much of the county is flat and coastal, with an extensive shoreline and many beaches along the Jersey Shore, including Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, and Surf City.

The coastal county along the Atlantic Ocean has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa and including the coast).

Average monthly temperatures in Tuckerton near the south end range from 33.2 °F (0.7 °C) in January to 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) in July.

[25] Areas closer to the coast typically experience more mild winters and cooler summers due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence.

[32][34] As of the 2000 Census, Mantoloking was the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey with a per capita money income of $114,017 as of 1999.

[35] The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $23.8 billion in 2022, which ranked 12th of 21 in the state.

The 2022 GDP numbers reflected the second year in a row of positive growth for the county, after 2020 saw a -0.4% change from 2019.

[40] This remained unchanged in 2018 As of 2025[update], Ocean County's Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice-chair ending every December 31):[41][42] Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers."

The Ocean County Prosecutor is Bradley D. Billhimer, who was nominated by Governor Phil Murphy.

[61] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[62] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[71] Georgian Court University in Lakewood Township is a private Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy college, which opened in 1908 on the former winter estate of millionaire George Jay Gould I, son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould.

[73][74] Stockton University has a campus located in Manahawkin offering undergraduate and graduate colleges of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey state system of higher education.

In addition to its campuses in Brick, Toms River, Waretown, and Jackson, it contains three magnet schools:[81] Ocean County has an extensive shoreline stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, including the Jersey Shore communities and oceanfront boardwalk resorts of Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach.

[83] Approximately 40 miles (64 km) of barrier beaches form the Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor Bays, offering ample watersports.

In addition to being the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Ocean County is also home to several state parks: ShoreTown Ballpark located in Lakewood, opened in 2001 with 6,588 reserved seats and is home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

WOBM-FM radio started broadcasting from the Bayville section of Berkeley Township in March 1968.

NJ Transit's (NJT) North Jersey Coast Line, which serves New York Penn Station and passes through Middlesex and Monmouth counties, offers service at the Bay Head and Point Pleasant Beach stations, located at the northernmost corner of the county.

[96] The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a passenger rail project proposed by NJT to serve the northern central part of the county.

Southern Ocean County is also located about 25 miles from the Atlantic City Line, which provides service to Philadelphia.

One is a nonstop express between Toms River and New York City that operates seven days a week.

The other two are rush hour only services, one operating along County Route 549 between Toms River and Brick Township before continuing onto New York City.

The Other begins and ends in Lakewood, operating via County Line Road to the Brick park and ride before continuing to New York.

Academy Bus provides service between various areas in the northern part of the county and New York City.

[100] Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.