Friend and I visited the Cape May Lighthouse last fall while staying in Stone Harbor. The weather was blurry, so we set out in search of the Lighthouse. The House is very easy to get to and the grounds are lovely. There is a WW2 bunker on the beach and beach access is easy. Had the weather been a little better we probably would've climbed for the view, but it wasn't so we opted for the nearby vineyard! Would like to visit again and take the camera for a climb. read more

I have visited Cape May Lighthouse twice, including the NJ Lighthouse Challenge in October 2013 as well as a separate visit in May 2013. Having climbed this lighthouse once, I am fortunate to have the unique experience of a "night climb." Even though one will not see the sites that are visible during the day, I highly recommend doing this night time activity. read more

Excellent historical seashore sight to visit. There are many different viewing platform so that visitors can do lots of hawk watching and monarch butterfly watching. It is a beautifully maintained property. If one wants to one could walk the many stairs to the top of the lighthouse but that wasn't what we could do this day. Instead we opted to go on one of the platforms looking for hocks and spotted some find high in the sky circling Swans and egrets and ducks and geese below. They had a huge parking lot with plenty of handicap parking. The signage around the site was very well done with clear entrance and exits. I was also pleased with the conditions of the bathrooms. read more

Didn't get a chance to go up but it looked decent from the outside. Seen much better lighthouses along highway 1 on the west coast. read more

Definitely worth the ticket ($8 per adult $5 3-12) to go up and the 199 steps!!. The view is amazing, the beach there is super nice too and you can't beat the dolphin watching just right there at the shore. read more

Beautiful spot on a beautiful day. Choose to climb the 217 steps up the lighthouse ($10). Wander over to the observation areas as well as down onto the beach. Get a good look at a WW II bunker read more

Fun climb, amazing views of Delaware Bay and the beach at the southernmost tip of New Jersey!

A must! The walk up is interesting and educational- although tight with the spiral staircase and flow of traffic. Well worth the climb for the breeze and the view. Such a breathtaking sight. read more

Cape May Lighthouse - No shouting. Just sights. - Museums Near Me - Cape May Point, New Jersey

Great stop! My girlfriend and I climbed the 199 steps to the top and enjoyed the views! Three days later and our legs are still sore! read more

See all

4.5 stars... The Cape May lighthouse is definitely worth a visit if you're at all fascinated by lighthouses. The lighthouse is fully restored, still in use today, and is open to the public until dusk. The parking lot is huge and also offers access to the beach which also houses an old WWII bunker. The old oil house has been turned into a very small gift shop (which didn't have anything worth buying in my opinion) and they also have bathrooms, and a museum (which was closed when I was there). You can go into the lighthouse to check out the spiral staircase for free but climbing to the top costs $7 (well worth it in my opinion). It's 217 steps to the top of the lighthouse (199 of which are the spiral staircase). The steps are wide but not wide enough for 2 people so there are a number of nooks (with windows and some fact sheets) along the way to let people by (or rest if you need to). At the top you'll see the rotating light overhead but you won't be allowed to continue up the small wooden staircase to get to it. What you will be able to do is go outside the lighthouse on the 360 degree balcony about 130 or so feet above the ground (and much higher than that above the ocean). At the top you'll also find a worker there answering every question you could think of about the lighthouse (though most of the questions you'll have will be answered in the flyer you get when you pay). A great time to come is around 6-7ish because you can check out the lighthouse and the view, then drive a mile or two down the street and watch the sunset at Sunset Beach (parking at both places will be free). Then once the sun goes down and the lighthouse and parking lot are closed, it's also a great time to come back to the lighthouse and check out the rotating beam of light coming from the lighthouse. This awesome view is very difficult to photograph so try coming when there's still a little light in the sky or else you'll definitely need a tripod and a camera that isn't too noisy at high ISOs if you want a good shot. Here are some facts about the lighthouse: 1859- Lighthouse completed (the lighthouse cost was about 40k and the lens was 15k, that's about 4 million and 1.5 million in today's dollars) 1933- Lighthouse electrified 1938- Lighthouse automated (eliminated the need for a keeper who made the equivalent of about 60k/yr in todays dollars) 1941-1945- The lighthouse (along with all lighthouses on the east coast) were darkened during WWII due to threats from enemy submarines 1946- A rotating light was installed and the 1st order Fresnel lens was brought to the Cape May County Museum 1988- The lighthouse opened to the public 2002- Current light (DCB-224) is installed which uses mirrors rather than lenses to focus and project the light (24miles out to sea) read more

What a truly beautiful lighthouse! I was so sure that BJ brought me here to propose! Instead, he bought me a $5 Cape May diamond necklace. Yay. read more

The lighthouse can be seen from pretty much every point within the park here. It is pretty much the prototypical lighthouse, one you'd see if you just drew what you imagined a lighthouse to be. From the red and white color to the distinctive shape, it is precisely a lighthouse. You can climb to the top for a few dollars and get fairly close to the light mechanism and a good view of the tip of Cape May. The rest of the park is worth exploring as well for nature views and lots of migratory birds. read more

Enjoyed the atmosphere... especially on a beautiful sunny day. A lot to read and learn about near the lighthouse with a friendly guide to answer any questions you may have onsite. read more

The Cape May Light House is one of our regular vacation stops every year. The climb to the top gives you a decent work-out and the view out over the ocean is fantastic. Looking forward to making the climb again next year. read more

you gotta love the fact that this place not only has a lighthouse but also a nature center and a beach. All of them immaculately kept. Perfect for losing yourself in your thoughts of world domination.... read more

View was gorgeous at top and had a great breeze. There are several landings u can stop on. There is a guide to answer questions. It is $8 and they do accept credit cards. There is a small gift shop, a museum and a trail to the beach. The beach is gorgeous. Parking is free read more

Beautiful place to enjoy an afternoon. Trails, bird watching, lighthouse climbing....a beautiful piece of the jersey shore.

Excellent views. Great for picture taking. The 199 steps climb will log in your exercise for the day. Luckily, there are little stops on the way up if you need to catch your breath. It can get crowded as the climb is narrow and service as both entrance and exit. So folks does a little clumsy dance when their paths cross. Overall. Great experience. read more

The family really enjoyed our day at the lighthouse. You have to climb to the top because the view is a nice one. The cost is very nominal and understandable. They need the funds to preserve this beautiful piece of history. There are things to do nearby such a walking routes. It's a must do if you're in Cape May. read more

It costs 8 bucks and you will be in and out in 20 minutes. The climb is not tough and the view is really amazing. Really cool to see water on three sides of NJ. We were glad we did it but certainly would not do it again. Worth the one trip up. read more

Great experience for the family. You get to climb to the top of this beautiful lighthouse with amazing views. The cost is very reasonable and your money goes for the upkeep of the lighthouse. There are also many trails nearby for hiking and bird watching. read more

I ventured here while staying at St. Mary by the Sea for a retreat and considered it one of the highlights of the trip. I loved the walking paths through the woods with views of lots of birds and gorgeous swans. After wandering around the visitors center a friendly staff membeer invited me to take part in a childrens nature presentation. So happy I did. One hour of handsome lizards, snakes crawling up my arms, turtles, toads, and rats - I was in heaven!! (I have never understood people's phobias about these creatures....they are amazing.) The presenter was also a comical fellow and was good with the kids... including the big ones like me. read more

Perfect..$10 to climb 199 steps and see the point is worth every dollar and step. Great views. Try and go when there's not a bus load and enjoy every moment. read more

Wow, what a climb! I did my best to not act like I was dying, but it sure was hard. However there are 6 landings that you can pause at and catch your breath while "reading" about history (aka catching your breath). Once you get to the top, the cool air and view are WELL worth it! I suggest going about an hour before sunset, bc the sun on the water in the distance is perfect then. I loved the experience, but do wish the workers were a little more friendly and willing to take ownership of the lighthouse's history and story. read more

Really beautiful place, going on top of the lighthouse is a lot of fun and the views are amazing. I believe it's $8 to go on top. Really great for kids and families. read more

Its a Lighthouse with history in a beautiful area, where can you really go wrong?! I loved the fact that the place wasn't crowded but then again, not everyone enjoys the brisk wind of Winter up high above ground with a view of the ocean. Here's a heads up.... wear comfortable shoes if you are planning on walking up the stairs. The only thing I didn't like is that the gift shop closed before we got a chance to buy something; however, we did show up 2o minutes before closing and the employees were very nice and generous to allow us to go up to the lighthouse. read more

Great historical facts, lighthouse and friendly staff. Great way to spend an hour or so touring the lighthouse and surrounding beach area.

Really fun afternoon. The lighthouse is not too rigorous to climb. It's $8 admission with a nice view at the top! If you're there before three, you can also check out the WWII lookout tower. The lighthouse has a beautiful beach and rock boardwalks that are fun to sit on in the warm weather! read more

Even if you don't climb to the top of the lighthouse, the rest of the state park was free and well worth a visit. There are good hiking trails and the beach made for a nice quiet place to hang out, walk along the ocean, check out the bunker and look out for dolphis. However, I think the reason the beach is so quiet is that you can't swim - there is still debris out in the water apparently. But it is a nice change of pace compared to how packed the swimming beaches were. read more

My favorite lighthouse in all of NJ. I even have a tattoo of it on my arm. Quite a hike to the top, but once your there it is well worth it. Beautiful view of ocean and Cape May Beach. It really is breath taking. read more

The light house has stood here for a very long time and is currently undergoing restoration, I can remember as a young boy watching it's beacon shinning out into the Atlantic Ocean and seeing the ships pass by near shore, what is a shame is how much the town has been built up and while I understand you need attractions to draw in vacationers I feel they have gone overboard because on many days just getting around the small town is a true pain in the tail feathers, even worse than many big cities, so what is the point of driving for hours to get caught up in that mess, it defies logic read more

A very fun family activity! It has 200 steps, but don't worry because every 30 steps, there is a landing to take a break where there is educational information about the lighthouse. At the top, there is a man who can answer any and all questions about the house, the history, the architecture. Make sure to go on a day when it is sunny out, because you will be able to see all the way to Delaware, which is really cool. read more

What a lovely way to end our day in Cape May! There are beautiful views from the top & we were excited to see dolphins swimming by. The staff was super friendly & knowledgeable. read more

Teens and adults will enjoy! Great history to be learned while making the adventure. The views are awesome. Kids are free if you show most of the local hotel keys. read more

199 steps to the top = FUN! Located in a beautiful state park with a gorgeous beach. No matter what time of year, this place is scenic and serene. It is always worth the trip! Free parking, $8 per adult to climb. Check into Yelp first for 10% off! read more

We have been here two years in a row. Great time, the lighthouse has some great history. There is a free museum on the property which is really neat. Fort on the beach is pretty cool to check out while you are there. Great for kids!! read more

The climb only takes 5 mins and is definitely worth getting to the top as the view is breath-taking.

Very cool pace to visit, the view is nice with a cool breeze. It was a good workout as well. The staff was really nice, and we bought the group ticket to see the WWII lookout tower, too, so we paid $12 a person total. I thought it was worth it. read more

It's a neat light house and worth seeing if you are on the cape. I like it because you can also walk to the beach while you are there, so it's sort of like a 2-for-1. Also, it's only $7.00 to climb to the top! read more

Cape May Lighthouse is part of the Cape May Point State Park . This park is a major migratory stop over for shore birds and also a stop over for butterflys. This park has a number of trails for walking and you also will get a great view of the ocean beach side. On most days you can see dolphins playing off shore from the lighthouse less than a hundred yards from the beach side. In addition to the Lighthouse, you can also check out the World War II bunker of visit the World War II tower, which is an old range site. This park is the southern most tip of New Jersey, and is usually a quiet relief from the busy town of Cape May. If you are going to the Park or the Lighthouse don't forget to stop in at the Red General Store for a breakfast, lunch or ice cream or ice tea for a refreshment. If you continue down Sunset Drive you will get to Sunset Point, every night they have a flag ceremony at sunset and play God Bless America. This is one of our most favorite spots in Cape May, it's always a surprise to visit this special location during each season to check out the local wild life and enjoy the sunset, don't miss it if you come to Cape May. Don't forget to hunt for Cape May Diamonds at the point, or you can always visit the Sunset Point gift shop and pick up a shell or collectible. read more