This paper presents a methodology for directly estimating recreational benefits associated with beach renourishment. The methodology is employed to estimate benefits for the renourishment of the northern New Jersey beaches. It is shown that estimated benefits are more sensitive to the estimated increase in visitation associated with beach renourishment than to the estimated increase in willingness-to-pay. More emphasis needs to be placed on visitation estimates in a cost-benefit analysis of beach renourishment than has been done previously. Additionally, for the first time, estimates of the existence value of beach renourishment are provided.