Long Branch, a resort town on New Jersey's north shore, is an up-and-coming arts community with a year-round schedule of fun things to do. The options for lodging in Long Branch run the gamut and suit all types of travelers. With resorts, fancy hotels, boutique inns, campgrounds, motels, and bed-and-breakfast inns, every vacation and every budget will find the perfect place to anchor after a full day of fun.

Long Beach accommodations are particularly busy around the Fourth of July holiday, when vacationers flock to Oceanfest. The family-friendly festival fills the oceanfront promenade with a variety of fun events, live music, games, and good eats. Local businesses sponsor the big event, including one of the Long Branch hotels: the Ocean Place Resort & Spa.

This elegant choice for lodging in Long Beach surrounds its guests with luxury right in a location perched between Atlantic City beaches and New York City. Guests staying in the suites can lounge on their private balconies, sipping coffee and watching the fishing boats work on the day's catch. The biggest of all of the Long Branch hotels has more than 250 guestrooms in total. All of the finely appointed rooms offer great views either of the Atlantic Ocean, the NYC skyline, or Sandy Hook, a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, as well as crisp linens, plush pillows, high-speed Internet, and on-demand TV channels. Guests at this New Jersey Beach resort also can play a round of golf, savor a relaxing spa treatment, relax in the indoor or outdoor pool, get in a good workout at the fitness center, taste the freshest seafood at the onsite restaurant, and grab a drink at the tiki lounge.

Other choices for Long Branch hotels include the Bungalow (pictured). This boutique hotel is located in Pier Village, a primer place for shopping, dining, and enjoying the local scene. Guests can cozy up in their rooms featuring flat-screen TVs, MP3 player docks, king-sized beds, fireplaces, and kitchenettes. They also can hang out in the lobby, trying their hand at backgammon, billiards, and chess at this comfortable place for lodging in Long Branch. The café is known for its clever cocktails and good eats.

Many vacationers make arrangements for lodging in Long Branch for their summer vacations, but a host of locations are open all year. During the shoulder season (April, May, September, and October), there are particularly good rates to be found. And those looking for value can book one of the packages provided by Long Branch hotels that combine overnight stays with food, golf, spa treatments, or local attractions.

Budget-minded travelers also can make reservations at Long Branch motels. The Ocean Court Motel combines value and hospitality with a strategic location right across the street from the boardwalk. The 22 rooms, complete with individually controlled heat and air conditioning, feature full kitchens. Cooking a few meals in can really help the budget. Ocean Court is just three blocks from the train station; with low fares and frequent departures, it's quite easy to take the train from Newark and New York City.

The list of Long Branch motels also includes familiar names. With reservations at the Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and La Qunita Inn, travelers can add points to their rewards programs and earn free stays. With these Long Branch motels, good rates, clean rooms, and comfortable rooms are all easy to find.

Other communities in Monmouth County, including Bradley Beach, Belmar Beach, and Asbury Park, are other options for overnight accommodations. With 27 miles of coastline and a wide range of things to do within a short drive, it makes sense to consider nearby communities. A wide variety of New Jersey beach hotels are just minutes away from Long Branch.