YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO CAPE MAY COUNTY'S BEST BEACHES

Cape May County isn't just one beach it's a coastal tapestry of barrier islands and Delaware Bay shoreline, each stretch of sand offering its own personality and its own reason to visit. Whether you're a birder with binoculars, a surfer chasing the next wave, a parent searching for calm water gentle enough for toddlers, or a dog owner looking to let your pup run free, the Jersey Cape has a beach made for you.

This guide covers five standout beaches: Higbee Beach, Cape May City Beach, Stone Harbor Beach, North Wildwood Beach, and Villas Bayside breaking down beach tag requirements and costs, swimming conditions, lifeguard schedules, and which activities each beach does best.

Understanding Beach Tags

Beach tags are admission passes required at certain beaches from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, typically during guarded hours (10am–5pm or 10am–5:30pm). They fund lifeguard services, beach maintenance, and restrooms. Children under 12 are always free, and active military and veterans receive free tags with proper ID. Always keep your tag on you when you leave the beach, you'll need it to re-enter.

Two teenage boys carrying surfboards along a forest and marsh trail at Higbee Beach, Cape May NJ, heading toward the bay at sunset — Higbee offers numerous trails that lead to the bay. A perk of this beautiful hideaway.

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area

Location: New England Road, Lower Township | Beach

Tag: None — Free to All Tucked at the tip of the Cape May peninsula along the Delaware Bay, Higbee Beach is one of the county's most treasured natural gems. This 1,160-acre Wildlife Management Area offers 1.5 miles of pristine bay shoreline, nearly two miles of nature trails, and two elevated viewing platforms. No beach tag is ever required.

Swimming: Not recommended. There are no lifeguards, and the bay bottom has remnants of former industrial activity. This is a beach for walking and exploring, not bathing.

Bird Watching: World-class. National Geographic named Higbee one of the top ten birding destinations onthe planet. Sitting at the tip of the Atlantic Flyway, millions of birds funnel through during fall migration warblers, raptors, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and more. In spring, it's the first landfall for northbound birds crossing the Delaware Bay.

Dog Walking: Dogs on leash are welcome September 1st through April 30th only. No dogs on the beach May through August.

Some beaches are made for crowds. Higbee Beach was made for something richer. Tucked along the Delaware Bay at the tip of Cape May's peninsula, this 1,160- acre wildlife sanctuary is a world unto itself. Walk the easy nature trails, comb the shore for treasures, breathe in the salt air, and watch the bay shimmer at golden hour. National Geographic named it one of the top ten birding destinations on the planet and one visit tells you exactly why. Bring your binoculars, bring your dog this fall, and bring your sense of wonder. Higbee Beach gives it all back tenfold.

Hiking: The 2.2-mile loop trail is rated easy and takes about 45 minutes. Bring your own water and snacks no vendors or trash cans on site (carry-in, carry-out). A port-a-potty is near the main trailhead.

Note: Portions of Higbee WMA are closed through approximately December 2026 due to the Pond Creek Restoration Project. Check with NJ Fish & Wildlife before visiting.

Cape May City Beach

Location: Beach Avenue, Cape May City | Beach Tag: Required, Ages 12+ Cape May City's beaches stretch approximately 2.5 miles along Beach Avenue — a classic Jersey Shore experience with a Victorian backdrop, a promenade lined with showers and benches, and food vendors just steps away.

Beach Tag Costs: Daily $10 | Weekly $25 | Seasonal $40 (discounted to $30 before April 30) | Under 12 free | Military/veterans free with ID.

Where to Buy: Beach Tag Headquarters at 704 Beach Avenue or promenade kiosks at Howard, Gurney, Madison, and Broadway. In-person requires cash or check. Digital daily tags available at cape-may.jerseycapetickets.com.

Mail orders: send a check to 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204 ($3shipping). Questions: 609-884-9525.

Swimming: Excellent. Lifeguards on duty 10am–5:30pm, July 1 through Labor Day, with certified EMTs on site. The Atlantic surf is typically gentle to moderate — suitable for most swimmers and fun for bodyboarders.

Families: Restrooms every half-mile along the promenade, showers at beach entrances, nearby vendors, and free surf chairs for mobility-impaired visitors (10:30am–4:30pm, no reservation needed). Volleyball nets at Steger Beach and 2nd Avenue Beach.

Surfing: Designated surf beaches at Poverty Beach (Wilmington Avenue), The Cove, Gurney Street, and South Queen Street.

Picnics: Coolers and food welcome. No alcohol, no fires, no portable cooking devices. Tents and umbrellas are fine.

Dogs: Not permitted on Cape May City Beaches Memorial Day through Labor Day.

With miles of Atlantic shoreline, serene Delaware Bay beaches, and some of the world's greatest birding, Cape May County doesn't just of er a day at the beach, it offers a lifetime of them.

Stone Harbor Beach

Location: Stone Harbor, Seven Mile Island | Beach

Tag: Required, Ages 12+ Stone Harbor's beaches are often described as pristine, uncrowded, and peaceful — reflecting the town's quiet, upscale character. White sand, gentle surf, and a laid-back pace draw loyal repeat visitors year after year.

Beach Tag Costs: Daily $8 | Weekly $25 | Seasonal $35 before May 31 / $40 after | Under 12 free | Military/veterans free with ID. Tags are valid at both Stone Harbor and Avalon beaches.

Where to Buy: 95th Street Beach Tag office, open daily 10am–4pm in season. Contact: 609-967-7587.

Swimming: Gentle, manageable surf with lifeguards on duty 10am–5pm, Memorial Day through Labor

Day. Handicap beach access at multiple street locations including 95th, 101st, and 111th Streets.

Families & Small Children: Stone Harbor is consistently cited as one of the best family beaches on the Shore. Quieter atmosphere and gentler surf make it especially appealing for younger children.

Surfing: Designated surf beaches at 30th Street and 12th Street.

Bird Watching: Don't miss the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary the only municipally sponsored heronry in the United States, home to Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, and more. It's a short walk or bike ride from the beach.

Whale & Dolphin Watching: The Skimmer eco-cruise departs from The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor for back-bay salt marsh tours. For open-ocean whale watching, the Cape May Whale Watcher fleet covers the waters around Stone Harbor and beyond.

North Wildwood Beach

Location: North Wildwood, Five Mile Island | Beach

Tag: None — Free to All North Wildwood is part of the legendary Wildwoods, five miles of free, wide, white-sand beaches that USA Today readers have named Best Beaches in New Jersey, with the Wildwoods Boardwalk voted #1 Best Boardwalk in the country in 2025. No beach tags. No fees. Just show up.

Swimming: Lifeguards on duty 10am–5:30pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day, with 20 surf chairs available for visitors with limited mobility.

Conditions line: 609-522-7500.

Families: Hard to beat. Wide beaches give kids enormous room to roam, and the famous Wildwood Boardwalk featuring Morey's Piers, water parks, arcades, and classic boardwalk food is right there. Free beach plus free events plus boardwalk entertainment makes this one of the most family-friendly, budget-friendly destinations on the East Coast.

Surfing: Designated surf beach between 8th and 10th Avenues. The Wildwoods host regular surf

tournaments throughout the season.

Fishing: Surf fishing is permitted with the proper permit (forms available on the North Wildwood city

website). Hereford Inlet area is especially popular with surf anglers.

Whale & Dolphin Watching: The Starlight Fleet departs from Wildwood with dolphin and whale watching tours all summer — great for pairing with a boardwalk day.

Dogs: Designated dog beach at 24th Avenue in North Wildwood. Dogs are not permitted on other beaches May through October.

Cape May County, NJ beach day with teens relaxing on a blanket with surfboards and sodas along the Atlantic Ocean on a sunny summer day — The perfect day on the sand, watermelon in hand.

Villas Bayside Beach

Location: The Villas, Lower Township | Beach Tag: None, Free to All. The Villas Bayside beaches are a true local secret, calm, uncrowded, and free, with some of the most spectacular sunsets in all of Cape May County. The Delaware Bay experience here is completely different from the ocean beaches just minutes away.

Swimming: No lifeguards on duty, wade with caution and never swim alone. The water is very calm and shallow, with sandbars extending hundreds of feet from shore. During low tide the water can be muddy. Better for wading and splashing than distance swimming, especially for small children under direct adult supervision.

Small Children: The exceptionally shallow, calm bay water makes this one of the gentlest water experiences in the county, ideal for toddlers and children intimidated by ocean waves. Come prepared: no vendors or amenities on site, so bring chairs, shade, snacks, and water.

Sunsets & Picnics: The beaches face west, directly toward the Delaware Bay, and the sunsets are legendary among locals. No

restrictions on bringing food. The peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere makes this a perfect evening picnic destination.

Bird Watching: The bay shoreline and adjacent wetlands are exceptional for birding, particularly during the spring horseshoe crab spawn when Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, and other shorebirds congregate in large numbers. Herons, ospreys, and seasonal waterfowl are common year-round. The nearby Cape May National Wildlife Refuge offers additional trails and viewing.