[18] Ocean Township has no central downtown and consists of three main unincorporated communities: Oakhurst, Wanamassa, and Wayside.

[31][32] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cold Indian Spring Lake, Colonial Terrace, Deal Lake, Deal Park, Dogs Corners, Edgemere, Elberon Park, Green Grove, Indian Springs, Oakhurst Manor, Poplar, Shadow Lawn Manor, Wayside, Wertheins Corner, West Allenhurst and West Deal.

Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Neptune Township.

[35] The township is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown and West Long Branch on the north; Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst and Interlaken on the east; Neptune and Asbury Park on the south; and Tinton Falls on the west.

[51] Joe Palaia Park features many notable amenities, including a disc golf course and a playground.

[53] The township also offers a variety of public buildings for the community to rent out, including the Oakhurst Park Meeting Room.

[54] Such facilities provide supplies for a wide variety of events, including appliances and tables.

[54] Ocean Township's Municipal Gym is another notable facility, which features basketball courts on the inside and sports fields on the outside.

[6][59] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

[3][60][61][62] In February 2025, Board of Education trustee Jeffrey Weinstein was selected to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant when Kelly Terry stepped down from office the previous month.

[63][64] Gitta Kaplan was appointed in January 2024 to fill the seat vacated by Margie Donlon after she resigned to take office in the New Jersey General Assembly.

[61] Christopher P. Siciliano stepped down as mayor in October 2022 after receiving confirmation as the Monmouth County superintendent of elections.

[67] In January 2017, John Napolitani was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Deputy Mayor William Garofalo when he resigned from office in December 2016; Napolitani will serve on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.

[69][70] At its January 1, 2015, meeting, the Township Council chose Christopher Siciliano to fill the position of mayor that was vacated when William Larkin resigned from office the previous November after 24 years on the council and the previous 12 years as mayor.

[73] On August 25, 2007, after almost five years, Weldon was sentenced to 58 months of prison and assessed a fine of $20,000 by Senior U.S. District Judge William H.

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

[79] For the 2024-2025 session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal (D, Long Branch) and in the General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch).

[121] The Garden State Parkway is located west of Ocean in neighboring Tinton Falls.

Many of Ocean Township's businesses and commercial activities are located on these major roads, including the current construction of the Ocean Commons on Route 35, which will feature businesses like a Wawa, Inc..[122] Other notable commercial areas located on these major roads include the Seaview Shopping Center (formerly Seaview Square Mall), which is located off of Route 66 and features businesses like a Costco and HomeGoods.

[123] A brief stretch of NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line passes through in the eastern part of the township, but the closest stations are at Allenhurst[124] and Elberon.

[125] Commuter service is available on the North Jersey Coast Line south to Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head or north to points such as Belmar, Long Branch, Newark, Hoboken Terminal and Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.

[129] The ferry service also offers seasonal travel, such as to the public beaches on Sandy Hook, baseball games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, trips to Broadway matinees, Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, college football games at West Point, fall foliage in the Hudson Valley, and to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, among other excursions.