Cape May County Beaches
Here is a listing of Cape May County beaches. In the listings of Cape May County beaches you will find beach tag prices, handicap accessibility info, beach rules and more!
AVALON
Status: Beaches will be open daily from Memorial Day weekend to Sept. 2.
Fees: $6, daily; $12, weekly; $28. Season, $23.00 if purchased before May 31. Tags also honored by Stone Harbor Beach.
Avalon is proud to offer free seasonal beach tags to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Active duty military members and their immediately families also may enjoy the beaches without a beach tag.
Individuals who are interested in reserving seasonal beach tags simply download the mobile app, purchase the requested number of seasonal beach tags, and pick up the actual beach tags upon their visit to Avalon from any beach tag checkers or at the Avalon Beach Tag Booth located at 30th Street and Avalon Avenue, which opens April 1st. To redeem the tag, the customer presses “scan now” in the Viply app and points the camera at the QR code displayed by the beach tag checker or at the booth. The phone will then display how many beach tags were purchased and the tags will be handed to the customer. Individuals may view the Viply Pass Avalon Beach Tag app at www.viplypass.com/avalon-beach-tags/.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Swimming and bathing only on protected beaches from June 16-Aug. 18, with limited number of lifeguards assigned to designated beaches May 26 to June 15 and Aug. 19 to Sept. 9.
Facilities: Public restrooms at borough hall (32nd Street and Dune Drive), public safety building (31st Street and Dune Drive), Community Hall (30th Street and the beach), tennis buildings (8th and 39th streets), 10th and Dune Drive and 30th Street and the beach (next to the tot lot).
Parking: All parking is free. Municipal lots at 28th-30th streets and beach, 32nd and Dune Drive behind borough hall, 21st Street and 5th Avenue, and off Ocean Drive at 20th Street.
Handicapped access: Plenty of handicapped access to boardwalk and beaches. Free handicapped surf chairs available at 9th, 30th and 80th streets. Reservations recommended (609) 967-7587.
Rules: Surfing at 30th Street beach and either side of 12th Street station away from bathers. Rafting and other inflatable flotation devices permitted at 12 beach areas between 9th and 78th streets. The playing of volleyball and Frisbee is permitted on the beach between 38th Street and 76th Street with the exact locations to be designated by and under the control of the Beach Patrol Captain; and, also at 31st Street behind Community Hall. No pets, fires, alcohol allowed. Limited vehicle access by permit only.
For your protection, bathing and swimming are permitted only at protected beaches where lifeguards are on duty 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM JUNE 12th THROUGH AUGUST 2st, 2017. Use of rafts and surfboards are permitted only at designated beaches.
From MAY 27th-JUNE 11th, and AUGUST 22nd-SEPTEMBER 5th, a limited number of lifeguards will be assigned to one or more designated beaches as available personnel permits
Disclaimer:
Warning! If you swim before 10:00 AM or after 5:00 PM or when lifeguards are not on duty or if you swim at a beach which is not a designated beach, you do so at YOUR OWN RISK and the Borough of Avalon assumes no liability or responsibility.
PROTECTED BEACHES
9,12,15,18,21,24,26,28, 30,32,35,38,40,43,50,57,61,65,69,73,76,79
RAFT BEACHES (use of rafts and inflated objects)
9, 12, 18, 24, 28, 35, 40, 43, 50, 61, 69, 73, 79
SURFING BEACHES
30TH Street and either side of the 12th Street lifeguard stand, and 63rd Street, but not near bathers
OTHER SURF ACTIVITIES
Kayaks, Stand up Paddleboards (including inflatable and non-inflatable) and Bodyboards and/or Bellyboards with skegs are prohibited on any beaches in the Borough during the hours of 10:00am through 5:00pm
DIGGING HOLES ON THE BEACH
Please be mindful that unattended holes left on the beach strand can cause injury to others, especially as night falls. Please be sure you fill in any holes before you leave them unattended. Never climb into a hole that has been dug on the beach as the sand may become unstable and cause an unintended entrapment.
More information: Town website or call (609) 967-8200
CAPE MAY
Status: Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Fees: Daily, $6; three-day pass, $12; weekly (Saturday-to-Saturday) $18; seasonal $28. Ages 11 and younger, free. $20.00 if purchased from December 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017 (Pre-season tags can be purchased at City Hall Tax Office)
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Facilities: Permanent restrooms/changing facilities on Beach Avenue at Second, Broadway, Windsor, Gurney, Philadelphia, Trenton and Wilmington intersections. Open-air rinsing stations all along the beachfront.
Parking: Metered parking along the beachfront, with free parking available on side streets several blocks from the beach.
Rules: Coolers and food permitted. No alcohol. No restrictions on beach tents, umbrellas or canopies for daytime use. No bonfires or cooking permitted. Overnight camping prohibited. Ball playing and other games allowed away from beach bathers. No pets.
Handicapped access: Ramps to boardwalk at 17 streets along Beach Drive, with ramps from boardwalk to beach at Broadway, Third and Cove, Grant and Gurney streets and Trenton Avenue. Surf wheelchairs available at nine locations, with reservations suggested. Call (609) 884-9570 and chairs will be delivered by Beach Patrol. Four handicapped-accessible restrooms on boardwalk along Beach Drive. Parking meter fees throughout Cape May waived for vehicles displaying windshield placard or license plate.
Fishing: According to city ordinance, fishing is permitted along the beaches, groins and jetties east of Baltimore Avenue; and within an area 100 feet east and west of the Queen Street jetty and on the Queen Street jetty.
More information: Town website or (609) 884-9567.
NORTH WILDWOOD
Status: Beaches will be open from Memorial Day weekend through end of September.
Fees: None
Lifeguard: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, with a lifeguard stations at every street from Second to 26th avenues, as well as at the inlet. Facilities Restrooms at Seventh and 15th streets, 24th Street and the boardwalk, and Old New Jersey Avenue by the seawall. Rinse stations at the beach at Seventh and 15th streets.
Parking: Metered street parking close to beach, free street parking farther from beach and boardwalk. Many lots charge for parking by the hour. No cooking, bonfires or alcoholic beverages. No dogs or other animals. All other beach activities are welcomed. Umbrellas are allowed, and umbrella/beach chair rentals are available on the beaches.
Handicapped Access: Concrete ramp at 15th Avenue. Surf wheelchairs available at no charge on first-come, first-serve basis: 12 at Beach Patrol HQ at 15th Avenue, five at Fifth Avenue and the beach and two on Inlet Beach; reservations available by calling Beach Patrol HQ at (609) 522-7500; Handicapped-accessible restrooms at Seventh and 15th avenues and the beach; parking at 15th Avenue and the beach. ADA-compliant beach access improvements and walkways being constructed at 16th through 20th avenues, and at 23rd and 24th avenues.
More information: Town website or call (800) 882-7787
OCEAN CITY
Status: Beaches will be open weekends from Memorial Day weekend to June 8, then daily through Sept. 2.
Fees: Daily, $5; weekly, $10; season, $25. Ages 11 and younger, free.
State laws allow Ocean City to offer the free tags to veterans (the veteran only) and to active military members (including spouse and dependent children over the age of 12). Proper military or veteran ID must be presented to receive a tag.
- DD214 or any other discharge papers
- County Veteran ID Card
- Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card
- Valid driver’s License if you received a veterans tag last year.
- Government-issued active military ID
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays. Swimming permitted only at guarded beaches. Facilities Welcome centers on the Ninth Street Causeway and Ninth Street and 34th Street. Restrooms at the boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace and on First, Sixth, 12th, 34th and 59th streets. A privately owned bathhouse provides showers and changing rooms at 13th Street and Ocean Avenue, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, weather permitting. (609) 399-7121.
Parking: Metered parking available; nonmetered spaces available farther from the beach; municipal lots on Fourth, Eighth, Ninth and 14th streets and Moorlyn Terrace; pay-by-hour lots also available.
Rules: No pets. Surfing permitted at beaches marked with “S.” Surf fishing allowed on beaches where there are no lifeguards. No cooking or bonfires. Beach umbrellas and chairs welcome, with rentals available. Ball playing, Frisbees, volleyball and other recreation allowed toward back of beach areas, away from bathers. Bicycling allowed on boardwalk from 5 a.m.-noon from June 1 through Columbus Day weekend.
Handicapped access: At First, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, 12th, 14th, 26th, 29th, 34th, 36th, 40th, 43rd, 46th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 55th, 57th and 59th streets. Handicapped-accessible restrooms at the boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace and at First, Sixth, 12th and 34th streets. Beach wheelchairs available at Sports and Civic Center (6th Street and Boardwalk) 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and at four lifeguard stands. Reservations encouraged, call (609) 525-9304. No charge for on-street parking for properly marked handicapped vehicles.
More information: Town website or call or (800) 232-2465
SEA ISLE CITY
Status: While Sea Isle City suffered some damage from Hurricane Sandy, all repairs have been made and beaches are already open, with full access from Memorial Day weekend through the end of the season.
Fees: Daily, $5; weekly, $10. Season, $25; ages 11 and younger, free. Wednesdays free (except July 4). Veterans can obtain free beach tags at the welcome center. Season – $20 if purchased by May 15
Download – for free – the Viply app to purchase seasonal tags. A nominal fee will be applied. The Viply web link will show you how it works: http://www.viplypass.com/sea-isle-city/.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Beaches north of 20th Street and south of 93rd Street do not have lifeguards.
Facilities: Beachfront public restrooms with rinse stations at 32nd, 40th, 44th, 85th and 94th streets (handicapped accessible). Public restrooms at five other locations.
Parking: Metered parking from May 15 to Sept. 15. Nonmetered spaces available throughout Sea Isle. Parking lots located at 125 JFK Blvd., 40th Street and Central Avenue, 42nd Place and the Bay, 48th Street and Central Avenue and 94th Street and Landis Avenue.
Rules: No dogs on beaches, approaches or promenades. No alcohol, picnicking or bonfires. Various beaches between 20th-93rd allow rafting, surfing, kayaking and volleyball.
Handicapped access: Ramps from street to the promenade at 29th, 40th, 44th and 57th streets; beach access at 41st and 85th streets; gazebo with picnic facilities at 85th street entrance; access to 94th St. gazebo at Townsend’s Inlet Park. Surf chairs available at Beach Patrol HQ (44th Street and Promenade) 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, on first-come, first-served basis, reservations accepted, Handicapped-accessible restrooms at 32nd, 40th, 44th , 85th and 94th streets.
More information: Town website or call (609) 263-0050
STONE HARBOR
Status: Limited beach access until Memorial Day weekend when “the dredging program is scheduled to be completed,” said Carrie Bosacco of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol. Otherwise, Stone Harbor does not have any residual damage from Hurricane Sandy.
Fees: All persons 12 and older must display tags the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Beach tags: seasonal through May 31, $23. Seasonal tags after June 1, $28. Weekly, $12; daily, $6. Beach-tag office is at 95th Street and the beach, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Veterans Free Beach Tags:
Free Veterans Beach Tags can be picked up at 95th St Beach Tag Office 7 days a week 10am-4pm. Veterans will be issued a specialized veterans tag, not the yearly generic beach tag.
Documentation required issuing free Veterans Beach Tag: All veterans must appear in person and provide a copy of their DD 214 Form which indicated that they have been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces or any of the following:
–Cape May County Veterans card, issued by the county
–American Legion card
–VFW card
–Vietnam Veterans of America card
–Disabled Veterans of America card
–Marine Corps League card
In addition Veteran must show photo id for proof of identification and completion of Borough of Stone Harbor Beach Tag tracking form.
The proof of veteran’s status will be kept on file with the Borough. If proof is on file veteran will only need to show Proof of identification in subsequent years in order to be issued the free beach Tag.
Each year a control sheet will be maintained by Beach Tag Supervisor. Such control sheet must include Name of Veteran, Checkmark that DD 214 Form or other approved identification is on file, Tag Number issued and date issued.
Control Sheet will be held by Front Desk receptionist prior to Memorial Day weekend. At that time all information will be forwarded to Beach Tag Supervisor. At end of season, any unissued tags and Control Sheet will be turned into the Chief Financial Officer. Chief Financial Officer will verify that the all tags issued are properly recorded on control sheet at end of season.
Beach Tag Supervisor will submit a monthly report to CFO indicating number of Free Veterans tags issued.
**Policy is subject to change once official rules and regulations are promulgated by the State of New Jersey.
***There is no change in policy for issuing free beach tags to Active Duty Military and families. These tags will only be issued at Beach Tag office during normal business hours after Memorial Day weekend.
Lifeguards: On duty 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, regularly spaced on beaches between 81st and 122nd streets.
Facilities: Permanent restrooms at 95th Street and in front of borough hall on 2nd Avenue. Portable restrooms at 122nd Street and the beach. No permanent changing rooms or showers. Rinse-off station available at 95th Street.
Concessions: Six on-beach concession stands added this year selling pre-packaged (not hot) food and refreshments at 80th, 83rd, 95th, 100th, 108th and 123rd streets. They will also rent umbrellas and beach chairs.
Parking: Free parking lot at 123rd Street. Paid kiosk lot at 95th Street (closes at 5 p.m.). Free street parking along beach area and side streets. Metered parking in business district.
Rules: Swimming, rafts and surfboards are permitted at designated beaches only. Unless noted otherwise designated beaches are for swimming only. Swimming and rafting beaches are all designated beaches except 81st, 86th, 105th, 110th, 112th, and 122nd Streets. The use of surfboards (with leases attached) are permitted at the beaches at 81st and 110th Streets only. Kayaks are permitted at 122nd Street through 126th Street only, and life jackets must be worn at all times while in the water.
Prohibited:Picnics, Alcoholic Beverages, Fires, Glass Bottles, Sleeping from sunset to sunrise.
SAILCRAFT must be licensed and beached at designated areas only.
Vehicles are permitted on the beach by permit only from October 1 through March 31st. For information regarding permits, call 368-5102. Permits are issued the day after Labor Day until March the following year.
Handicapped access: Ramps to beach at 83rd, 88th, 92nd, 95th, 101st, 103rd, 105th, 111th, 114th and 119th streets. Portable restrooms with handicapped-accessible stalls on 82nd Street recreation field, 95th Street and the beach, and the 123rd Street parking lot at the beach. Parking available at 95th Street and the beach, no charge for vehicles parked in metered spaces if displaying windshield placard or license plate. Six surf chairs available at beach-tag office at 95th Street and the beach, reservations suggested (609) 368-6805.
More information: Town website or call (609) 368-6805
STRATHMERE BEACH
Status: Beach is open and ready for visitors.
Fees: None
Lifeguards: Beesley’s Point beach has lifeguards daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. All other public beaches from Seaview Avenue to Taylor Avenue have lifeguards from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Facilities: No permanent public restrooms; one portable restroom at Williams and Putnam avenues, one at 2500 Commonwealth Ave. and one at 1495 Commonwealth Ave. Restrooms cannot be used for changing. No rinse-off facilities.
Parking: Free street parking.
Rules: Beaches open sunrise to sunset. No ball playing; rafts, inner tubes and other inflatables not allowed in lifeguard-protected areas. No alcohol, cooking or fires, pets, vehicles or horses. Fishing prohibited on beaches between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Surfboards allowed between Tecumseh Avenue and Sumner Avenue beaches; catamarans allowed between Prescott Road and Nelson Street beaches.
Handicapped access: At Williams Avenue and Neptune Road and at Putnam Avenue, along Whale Beach; two surf chairs available at Beach Patrol Building, Williams Avenue and Neptune Road, with reservations suggested; call (609) 263-1151 or e-mail utbp@uppertownship.com; two on-street handicapped parking spaces available.
More information: Township website or call (609) 886-2005
WILDWOOD
Status: Open Fridays-Sundays through June 14, then daily.
Fees: None
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Facilities: No public changing rooms, rinse-off stations or showers. Permanent restroom buildings located at intervals along the boardwalk; portable restroom located at end of the beach ramps every other street.
Parking: Metered parking 8 a.m.-3 a.m. daily, with free street parking available on some side streets and pay-by-hour lots available near all attractions.
Rules: No pets. Rafts and flotation devices, ball playing, Frisbees and other games permitted only in areas designated by lifeguards. Alcohol, skimboards, watercraft, vehicles and fires/cooking prohibited. Visitors are asked not to feed sea gulls.
Handicapped access: Ramps to boardwalk at each street ending at boardwalk; direct access to beach at Cresse Avenue beyond boardwalk. Beach Patrol will provide transport from boardwalk onto sand for disabled persons and one companion after 11 a.m., return transport before 4 p.m.; surf wheelchairs at Beach Patrol HQ (Lincoln and Ocean avenues). For reservations, call (609) 522-8258. Handicapped-accessible restrooms on boardwalk level at Glenwood, Youngs and Leaming avenues; ramp from boardwalk to beach for restrooms/comfort station at Schellenger Avenue, handicapped-accessible portable restrooms at seven beach walkways. Street parking available, also municipal lots at Rio Grande, Taylor, Leaming and Hand avenues.
Boardwalk: Classic Jersey Shore 2-mile-long boardwalk with shops, eateries, arcades, games of chance, rides, amusements and go-kart racing. Tram car transportation with the iconic “Watch the tram car, please” warning. Amusement piers sustained no damage from Hurricane Sandy. Rides and attractions, shops, stores and restaurants will all be back for business.
More information: Town website or call (609) 522-8258
WILDWOOD CREST
Status: Beaches open weekends from Memorial Day weekend through June 15, then daily from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. through Labor Day.
Fees: Free
Lifeguards: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Facilities: Permanent restrooms at Sunrise Park on Rambler Road and Scoop Taylor Park at Heather Road and Ocean Avenue; some portable restrooms at points along the beach. Restrooms cannot be used as changing facilities. No rinse-off stations available.
Parking: Metered street parking along the beach for about 1½ blocks, with free street parking beyond. Municipal lot with free parking at the recreation center at Heather Road and Ocean Avenue.
Rules: No alcohol, vehicles, ball playing, Frisbees, kites, animals or fires on beach. Flotation devices permitted in posted areas. Surfing beach located at Rambler Road. No surf fishing during swimming hours.
Handicapped access: At 39 entry points to beach, with the exception of Crosse and Washington streets. Surf wheelchairs available at Rambler Road, call (609) 522-3825. Handicapped-accessible restrooms at Sunrise Park at Rambler Road.
More information: Town website or call (609) 522-3825