First things first, I want to get this out of the way: I hear paying for beach access is a common east coast practice, but as a born and raised west coast person, that concept seems absolutely ridiculous to me. I know the reasoning behind it has to do with tax structures and whatnot, but even so, there are free beaches in NJ too that seem to do just fine, so I have to admit I am not on board with paying for the beach. On to the beach itself. The distance from the street to the water was pretty far, so there is plenty of room to accommodate the crowds and various activities (frisbee, volleyball, building of sand castles, etc.). The water was blissfully devoid of seaweed and threatening sea creatures, which was a definite plus. It also got very deep without being too far from shore, something us tall people really appreciate. One thing that was kind of annoying was the frequency with which large boats went past, which caused the waves to be choppy and the air to smell of fumes from the fuel. A number of planes also flew past with ads, making me feel like internet ads were invading my real life. I'd like to close with what was, for me, the absolute best thing about this beach: the lifeguards were nice! They let us go as far out and as deep as we wanted, instead of blowing their whistles and getting on our case in waist-deep water, as some life guards have a tendency to do. Thank you Cape May lifeguards, for your faith in my swimming abilities! read more

Cape May Beach - And it's sunshine, blue eyes, tan lines, slow tide rollin' in... - Beaches Near Me

This is probably one of my favorite beaches. Is nice and clean. Usually, quiet and you can find street parking.

Come on, how can you really review a beach? Anyway, nice view of the sunset, you often see dolphins swimming by, and you can walk along the boardwalk with a nice ocean breeze. I just wish they had more options for beach snacks, like Curley Fries in Wildwood or whatnot, but overall, all's good. read more

This was my first visit to Cape May in almost 30 years. It is still as beautiful & peaceful as ever. It's more family friendly than the beaches farther north. That's where the rides & boardwalk are. If you're like me & revel the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline, Cape May is the place to be. Parking is tough but there's a lot where the Acme is which is $4.00 an hour. Street parking is only 3hrs at a time but if you dont mind walking, the lot is the place to go. Oh & you'll also need to purchase beach tags. They're $6.00 daily and something like $28.00 for an entire season. You'll need them if you're going to visit the beach between 10:00am and 5:30pm. read more

We were here on the warmest sea temperature day as per calendar (8th August). We went on weekday and parking was easy. There are lot of metered parking spaces on the last road before the beach. Huge waves but the water isn't shallow enough. I thought we have to pay but it was free entrance. We had been to Ocean City beach a week ago and the sand there and here were different. The sand in Cape May was sticky and couldn't be wiped off easily. Water was warm enough to swim. There is no or very little boardwalk in this beach. But the road is lively. We struggled to find the showers and changing rooms as they are sparingly tucked on the beach. Overall a good experience compared to Ocean City. read more

Six dollars for day pass or $12 for three. The beach was beautiful and spacious. I did not go all the way to the boardwalk part of the beach but stayed at the end of it. Free parking along the street which was really great! Full of families and people enjoying themselves. Enough room to play frisbee or ball. People were laid back and friendly. The beach itself was extremely clean and the life guards on duty were also very friendly. Had a wonderful time and will be back very soon. read more

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The entire town of Cape May is an historic land mark. It is recognized by the US Government as the oldest sea side resort in the nation. It should be on your bucket list for sure! It is a resort town that started for wealthy residents of Philadelphia but now attracts tourists from all over the world! It is also known as a honeymooners paradise. I only give it 4 stars because it is not Hawaii other wise it must be the most beautiful resort town and beach in all the east coast! Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard have nothing on Cape May! One of the reasons is besides being quaint and lovely ,it also attracts a sophisticated crowd free of the racially tense attitudes we have encountered at other resort towns. Cape May is also a foodie paradise with fine dining that to this New Yorker is reasonably priced. It has been on The travel channels top ten beaches in America. It is known for it's lovely Victorian Gingerbread houses and many of them have tours. The great thing about Cape May though is you can go year round. They have a winery and foodie adventures and activities. It has music festivals, film festivals theatre festivals and theatre. It also has arts and crafts and all kinds of art classes and cultural activities and festivities. I have several albums with pictures of Cape May but they are in storage. I only have one that is really old in our apartment and it doesn't show Cape May much only a sign.. Visually it looks a lot like Key West minus the chickens. read more

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This beach is $6 to get in. Very similar to Ocean city but smaller town and further south. Very attentive life guards on duty. More restrictions in the ocean because of some rocky areas or waves. My fiance said the waves were more fun here compare to ocean city.. I don't know lol but the sand is a bit whiter, very clean, lots of space, and not crowded here. I had a nice relaxing time. read more

Cape May Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Great beach. Not crowed at all, decent bathrooms and super clean in general. 2014 is $6 to get on the beach and $12 for an umbrella. There are also surfboard, paddle board, cabana and boogie board rentals. Great sunset from the southern end. read more

I must say I'm just not a fan of Cape May beach. First off, the parking is terrible. I don't know maybe I'm just spoiled from Stone Harbor. Cape May only offers street parking. It took us 20-30 minutes to find a spot. Finally we got to the beach and it's so weird, it's not flat and there is a terrible view of the ocean. The beach is almost tiered, it's weird. The sand is also not as clean as what I'm used too. Like I said maybe I'm just spoiled but I wouldn't return and I'll just stick to the beach in SH. read more

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. It's very clean and even on holiday weekends, it's never too crowded. Parking is very easy to find and you don't have park too far from the beach entrance (or maybe, I just went on a great day). It costs 6 dollars per person for a day pass to get it. Overall, it's my favorite beach in New Jersey. It's almost four hours away from where I live but it's always worth the trip here. read more

I don't get what the hype is for this place. The town of cape may is very cute, I love the buildings and how it's no mansions, just beautiful smaller houses. But I didn't enjoy the beach. First off, they have metered parking which is inexpensive, but the machines only take quarters.... c'mon. Join this century. Free parking wasn't as hard to get as some other beaches, but it was a 20 minute walk from the water. I don't understand how no beaches on the jersey shore have paid parking lots? It's $6 per person to be on the beach, which is cheaper than some spots but still annoys me. The beach wasn't as crowded as others on a Sunday and it would be cool to walk to the lighthouse. However, the water is brown and full of seaweed!!! I'm so annoyed I had to pay for this gross water. read more

This is a special place. If you are into Victorian houses, being by the ocean and long walks on the boardwalk then be sure to put Cape May on your list. I married into a family that owns a beach house 1 block off the beach and was so glad that Hurricane Sandy spared Cape May this past year. A long weekend is perfect to get a taste of Cape May. Be sure to look at the many restaurants and MAKE reservations if you are there during high season. I am not much of a sunbather but the beaches are clean and spacious. (By the way, you will need to purchase "Beach Tags" to be on the beach. This was a totally new thing for me but it is easy to do. They will give you a ticket if you don't have your tags.) There are several B&Bs and I have heard that Halloween in Cape May is Fantastic. (never gone). read more

This long stretch of beach along the Cape May Promenade is the quintessential Jersey Shore beach. During the summer it gets packed as far as the eye can see, so grab a good spot early. You may even catch a glimpse of some dolphins swimming by in the waves. The sand isn't as picturesquely yellow as you may imagine, but it is fairly fine and the waves are nice here. Great for building sand castles and enjoying a sunny day. There are a good number of vendors who rent all sorts of beach equipment in case you forget something too. read more

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We were at Perry Street Beach today. It's so clean! No trash in ocean. Lifeguards are wonderful! Sit near the rock jetty to see the waves crashing on it. Surf can be rough on cape May beaches especially later in day. Bathrooms are about 2 blocks away. You can also rent chairs and umbrellas but it's much cheaper to buy your own. Lots of food across from beach between Perry Street and Convention Center. read more

BEAUTIFUL town, Lovely beach! A fan of boardwalks, I was only slightly disappointed at the lack of any real boardwalk here. There was a place to get "board walk" style food, though, and a cold drink! For souvenir shops, go to Washington street- a short walk from the beach. This beach was clean and family friendly. Definitely a higher concentration of older and younger people than many of the Jersey beaches which tend to house a more... teenage... population. Beach tags were $6 for a day, free after... 4? I think. Go beach walking at night, so magical! read more

This is a great family beach. Clean beaches, short walks from street. Nice little shopping area. Some very good restaurants. A very peaceful town, unlike Wildwood and other beach towns. Be aware not alot happening after 10pm. Relaxing. read more

Cape May Beach - Beaches Near Me

This beach has too much sand, the ocean was too wet, the sun was too hot, the shells were too hard, the water was not blue enough, and my umbrella blew away. 1/10 do not recommend /j read more

Beautiful beach with occasional dolphins watch. The entry fee is $6 for a day but $12 for three days. They give you a pin as a beach pass instead of a bracelet like most places. The sand is so soft and the water is so green! This beach is very clean and very family friendly. There is a small boardwalk with shops and a small arcade. There is a bathroom inside the Convention Hall (it is more clean) but the place closes at 4pm. There is also another bathroom along the shore (they called it comfort station) that opens late. Parking is easy to find along the beach. read more

Cape May Beach - Beautiful view of Cape May beach - Beaches Near Me

5 star beach. Clean, quiet for reading and peaceful for watching dolphins, a family beach. Nice little boardwalk area and shoppes are great for browsing, souvenirs and antiques. Cape May Lighthouse and Sunset Beach are a plus. I had the best chocolate covered blueberries here. read more

First beach I've ever been to in NJ so I have no point of reference to compare with rest of jersey shore, however this was a very clean beach. I live near ocean city MD and have visited the beach quite frequently. One thing I discovered is the"beach tag". Never in my life have I paid to go on a beach, so I thought that was pretty strange... apparently it's a NJ thing. Weird . Kinda like the BYOB thing. But that's another review for another time. read more

This is the best of the jersey shore. It's a little further, but like most good things that take a little more effort, it's worth it. I also think because it's a little further, you lose some of the crowd - which has its perks. There is an actual town to bike/walk around. The beach is nice with bathrooms (excuse me, comfort stations), showers, and plenty of food options. The lobster house is the classic seafood favorite, but I'd go to h&h seafood instead any day. read more

4.5 stars... Despite what you may have heard you can actually drive from NYC to Cape May in 2.5 hrs if you don't encounter traffic and don't make pit stops which was the case when I left at 7am (typical traffic will put you closer to 3 hours). Even though the coast of Cape May is just one continuous beach they sometimes refer to different areas as different beaches. The main stretch of beach most people go to would be along Beach Ave from Grant to Howard but the most convenient and most popular area is between Perry and Decatur. If you go beyond the main stretch you'll find much less people and more locals but you'll also be farther from shops and restaurants and the beach might not be as well kept up (meaning they'll be more pebbles and things in the sand). There's a couple things you need to know about the water here in Cape May. First of all even though you're just south of what many people consider the Northeast the water is still chilly all year (though definitely swimmable and not freezing in the hottest summer months). Secondly the waves here are pretty big which I found to be a lot of fun and is great for surfers and boogie boarders but not for those looking for calmer waters to bring the kids or just relax in the ocean. The other things you'd be interested in knowing is that this public beach is not free. A beach tag is required for entry (every entrance to the beach has someone selling/checking them). Currently daily tags are $5, three day is $10, weekly is $13, and seasonal is $15-25 depending on when you get it for. There are no beach parking lots so you'll have to use the metered parking here which has a 10 hour limit along Beach Ave or 3 hour limits on many of the side streets close by (you'll just have to go back to your car every three hours to feed the meter). Parking in Cape May can be horrendous so if you get there too late or just want to save money you'll find yourself parking farther from the beach for free and walking down (which isn't a bad walk at all if you don't have a ton of beach gear with you). On the busiest sections of the beach they have beach umbrellas, chairs, and boogie boards you can rent for very reasonable rates as well as a few beverage options ($2) if you don't want to leave the beach. Boogie boards are $4 for 1hr or $6 for 2 hours. Umbrellas are $11 for the day (until 4:30-5pm when they come by and collect them) if you get there early or $7 after 2pm. If you've never been to Cape May before expect a gorgeous beach town better than nearly any non-tropical beach you've been to full of gorgeous Victorian B&B's, shops, and huge beaches. The downside is that you can expect to pay very high prices for nearly every accommodation ($160-300) and restaurant (think NYC prices: of $10 burgers and $26 entrees at many of the places) and the people just aren't as friendly as you'd find in New England or southern beach towns. Also don't expect any sort of amazing coastal seafood at every turn like you would in places throughout New England or Baltimore (it's not to say you won't find good food there but it's far from a sure thing). If you've ever heard of Cape May's Sunset Beach and the Cape May Lighthouse, both are definitely worth a visit but neither are walking distance from the rest of Cape May so once the day is wrapping up take the time to drive the 10 or so minutes away to check both of them out. read more

The main attraction; the Cape May Beach. Guys, lets face it; you're not in the Caribbean. The waters are not crystal blue. This is Jersey, but it's probably the best Jersey has to offer. The beaches are never crowded. If you've been to Wild Wood, you know what crowded is. You can always find a spot to set up camp on the Cape May Beaches. There are bathrooms at good intervals, plenty of real estate to setup volleyball, throw some football or some Frisbee. Little known secret; if you don't have the cash, stop by the beach after four. Usually they are done collecting their donations from beach-goers and you can still catch the tail end of the days sun. It can help those who are on a tight budget. Just make sure to pay it forward in some way; try recommending some of the better establishments in the area to friends and family! read more

I've been to a lot of beaches up and down the eastern seaboard. The sand here is as good as it gets. Small smooth grains with almost no stones. My complaint is the surf. Here during a relatively low swell week with a 1-2 foot shore break expected I was excited to get the kids on their boogie boards. The beach is very steep at the waterline causing the waves to stand up really fast and then crash right away on bare sand. This made for very short rides with violent and dangerous finishes. I much prefer beaches that have long breaks where you feel you can keep walking out and it never gets deeper and the waves break in at least a foot or two of water so there is a cushion if you fall off the board. We did find a spot that was close to a stone jetty that was a little better, but it was really crowded which validated my observation. I was also a little weary of being so close to the rocks. read more

I vacationed here every summer in the early 60's and on a recent visit I was shocked to see what happened to the place, 1st off what used to be open , free beach space is now clogged with beach front homes that in effect have literally killed the area for anyone who wants to just walk on the beach, very few , narrow spots are left. And while I understand you must pay to go on the beach I would suggest you stay to the north because what you get for your $ just isn't worth it, plus the town has built up so much that any idea of relaxing is out the window, the throng of out of state and even the country causes so much traffic jams that it just isn't fun going there anymore. Like the old saying goes " All good things must come to an end " Mine did 2 weeks ago... Sad read more

This is probably our favorite beach vacation spot. Not to far to drive to and always a nice relaxing vacation. The beach is always clean and the public restrooms are some of the cleanest around. I guess that's the benefits of having to pay a fee to go to the beach. If you plan ahead, you can buy the beach tags for the season for $15 (if you buy it before March 31st each year. check this link... http://www.capemaytimes.com/cape-may/beach-tags.htm) The area is very historic and quite. We park the car when we arrive and usually never move it until we're ready to head home. Depending on where you stay, you can walk to the beach, to the restaurants and the retails shops easily. I hope this was helpful and if you go, have a great time! read more

Decided to stop by after spending 10 days for the 4th of July festivities with family in Washington, DC. Never met a beach I did not love, this is no exception! Perfect weather, gentle waves and warm sand. This is a place for everyone. Fun to search and sift through the beautiful coloured stones. Lovely gift shops. Parking was no trouble. Close to our hotel (The Wilbraham Mansion A+) and other conveniences as well. Most highly recommended. read more

A great vacation spot for couples and families. Beautiful victorian homes, a cute town of shops (that stay open late!), good restuarants. The beach is not a far walk -so it is good if you have kids. There are no cheesy Jersey people around. The town is very Dog friendly. A lot of rentals of all levels are available. There are tours (historical, ghost etc.) to keep you busy thruout the day. Fun place! read more

We've been vacationing at this beach for 20 years. We first took our little one to listen to the waves when she was only 8 weeks old, and she loved it from the start. The beach is clean. This is most likely due to the upkeep afforded by the cost of a beach tag. You can buy daily, 3 day, weekly, and seasonal. I think it was $14 or $15 last year for a weekly. Kids are free. There are parts of the beach that are pebbly. The pebbles are a bit uncomfortable to walk on, but honestly, it just depends on the tides. Jellyfish on the beach are relatively rare. And the shells aren't usually too great unless there has been a storm, but there is always something for the little ones to find. The water is always on the too-chilly-for-me-side, but I appear to be the only one with this problem. There are areas where surfers can do there thing, with most of the beach dedicated to swimming and frolicking in the surf. I almost don't like to give this place a good review- it's been getting more expensive and more crowded every year. Don't everyone go while I'm there! read more

One of my favorite places I have ever vacationed. This has become our yearly vacation trip and we just LOVE IT. So beautiful, the beaches are amazingly clean and extremely peaceful. Gets very crowded during peak summer season, but still worth it. We watched Dolphins from the beach, enjoyed the summer sun, and relaxed on the beach. I am always so sad to leave this place. Can't wait to go back. read more

....We booked a room at LaMer hotel for 5 lovely nights as a get-away trip......upon checking in we asked for the Senior and Triple AAA discont as they do have it,,,,,,,,we were abruptly told that the discount was not available to us because we didn't do it when booking the room-----no one told us we had to do that when booking------they refused to change the bill-----this left a bad taste in my mouth and and aggravated me to no end......that is bad way to do business and I will never stay here again....... read more

very clean, short walk to the ocean from the road, friendly life guards, not overly crowded. You are required to purchase a beach tag (between 10:00am - 5:00pm) but for the cleanliness of the beach and the fun that can be had I believe it is worth it. read more

Beach is very nice and clean. There is a $6 entrance fee. It may be difficult to find parking on crowded days. There is no boardwalk, but there are plenty of places to eat on the main road. Beach go-ers were really nice to my friends and I when we went and even helped up set up our umbrella! I didn't see or encounter many young kids or too many teens on the beach. It is a very nice and relaxing beach environment and community. I def recommend spending a weekend there to take advantage of the charming beach community. They have a bunch of beautiful homes and shops that make a weekend of wandering very fulfilling! If you get a chance, try to stay or come for the sunset, it is very beautiful! read more

That is so true. Next will have to pay to go to parks to maintain. It is clean and less crowded which I prefer for my grandchildren.

Can't ever go wrong with the Cape May beach. Always clean, relatively quiet, and just a great place to be. My family and I love coming to Cape May beach. read more

On vacay the wife and I thought we would try something new and check out the beaches north of us for a change.. So our first stop upon stepping off the ferry was Cape May Beach. Now I'm seeing a lot of 4 & 5 star reviews of this beach? But i'm thinking maybe these folks are unfamiliar with southern beaches? Because while almost all southern beaches have pay parking and other beach related services and equipment. The physical beaches themselves from Rehobeth down to Key West are totally free!! $6.00 a head for a "beach tag" allowing you to use a beach that's no more free of dirty sand than the totally unattended beaches that are FREE in the OBX? Ludicrous! Cape May Beaches good news!! Well parking isn't free either, but there's more of it available than at most southern beaches. Also you'll find less touristy T-shirt trap venues and more restaurants at Cape May Beach than at her southern sister beaches which I found nice. You will also find more Victorian era B&B's across from Cape May Beach than any other beach town we've ever visited! Why? No clue.... Certainly different by southern beach standards who have long since modernized their boardwalks. Northern beaches like Cape May appear to embrace their traditional conservatism while still managing a profit? Guess it works for them? But for me it didn't... My first visit to a yankee land beach is also my last, cheers! read more

I've been to many beaches and Cape May is one of my favorites. It's very clean and the other vacationers and residents are very nice from the experiences I've had. The only downfall is the beach tag rule. It's common for beaches on the east coast to charge for beach access, Cape May along with other Jersey shore points is one of them. The prices aren't too bad. It's $6 for one day, $12 for three consecutive days and $28 for the whole season. There was another option, but I can't remember the price or the timeframe of access. Other than the beach tags, it's actually not too crowded. My family has been coming mid-August for quite some time and it's not that bad compared to Ocean City. Other than the beach, driving around and checking out the old houses is also pretty cool. The mansions are huge and beautiful to look at. The Cape May Lighthouse is also pretty cool as well! Overall, Cape May is definitely one of my favorite beaches at the Jersey Shore and I haven't had a bad experience yet! read more

The beach is nice, but the beach service is very rude. Why are there so many reserved umbrellas and chairs if no one is using them. We're paying for the beach, we should be allowed to pay for something visibly available. And parking is awful. I could have saved my money. read more

Cape May beaches are consistently clean, quiet, not overly crowded and relaxing. Use caution at high tide as there can be a drop when you walk in about 4 feet or so but otherwise you are fine. If you're looking for a very quiet area try Poverty Beach located north of Pittsburg Ave on the bend and you'll have very few neighbors in the sand. read more