Cape May County is home to some of New Jersey’s most renowned and historic beaches. Though they all share the beautiful Atlantic Coastline, each municipality’s beach is unique and memorable in its own way. So play in the sand, take a nap, go for a refreshing dip or soak up the sunshine on any and all of our Jersey Cape’s beautiful beaches!
Here’s all you need to know about each municipality’s beach regulations, tagging policies and facilities so you can enjoy some fun in the sun.
Avalon
Required: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for ages 12 and up
Fees: Seasonal – $28; Weekly – $12; Daily – $6; active military and immediate family, and veterans – free. Tags also honored on Stone Harbor beaches.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: Borough lots at 28th – 30th Streets & the beach; 32nd & Dune Drive behind the Municipal Building; on the corner of 21st Street & 5th Avenue; off Ocean Drive on 20th Street. All parking in Avalon is free of charge.
Restrooms: Borough Hall, 32nd & Dune Drive; Public Safety Building, 31st & Dune Drive; Community Hall, 30th & the beach; Tennis Buildings, 8th & 39th Streets; 10th & Dune Drive; 30th Street & the beach (next to the Tot Lot).
Where to Purchase: Avalon beach tags can be purchased at the Beach Tag Booth at Community Hall, 30th Street & Avalon Avenue, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or via mobile app at viplypass.com/avalon-beach-tags (fees apply; redeem tags at Beach Tag Booth or with any tag checker).
More Information: avalonboro.net, (609) 967-7587
Cape May
Required: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for ages 12 and up
Fees: Seasonal – $28; Weekly – $18; 3-day – $12; Daily – $6; active military and immediate family, and veterans – free.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Metered parking is available along the beachfront; free parking is located several blocks in on smaller side streets.
Restrooms: Comfort stations are located along the promenade.
Where to Purchase: Beach tags can be purchased at the City Hall Tax Office, 643 Washington St., Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no holidays). To order seasonal tags through mail, visit capemaycity.com to download the beach tag order form and send a check or cash to the City Hall Tax Office. There is a flat $4 shipping fee per order, or $11 for Canada orders. A maximum of ten seasonal tags per individual may be purchased. Weekly, 3-day and daily beach tags can only be purchased on the beach.
More Information: capemaycity.com, (609) 884-9540
Cape May Point
Required: June 16 through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for ages 12 and up
Fees: Seasonal – $35; Weekly – $25; Daily – $10; active military and immediate family, and veterans – free.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: Free street parking is available throughout the Borough.
Restrooms: Restrooms are available within walking distance of the beaches, and at Cape May Point Municipal Building, 215 Lighthouse Ave., and Cape May Point State Park.
Where to Purchase: Purchase beach tags at the Cape May Point Municipal Building, 215 Lighthouse Ave., in the Beach Director’s Office, daily 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (no holidays). Seasonal tags can be purchased through the mail and will be held at the Borough Building until your arrival. Make checks payable to “Borough of CMP.” All tags can be purchased on the beach from any beach tag inspector beginning June 16.
More Information: capemaypoint.org, (609) 884-8468 ext. 22
Ocean City
Required: June 1 through Sept. 2, for ages 12 and up
Fees: Seasonal – $25; Weekly – $10; Daily – $5; active military and immediate family (children up to age 23), and veterans – free.
Lifeguards: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Metered parking available (parking meter mobile app – www.parkmobile.com); non-metered spaces available farther from the beach; municipal and metered lots also available.
Restrooms: 1st Street & Boardwalk; 6th Street & Boardwalk; Music Pier; 11th Street & Boardwalk; 12th Street & Boardwalk; 34th Street & Beach; 59th Street & Beach. All bathrooms are handicapped accessible.
Where to Purchase: Purchase in person at City Hall, 9th & Asbury; Rt. 52 Welcome Center; Henry Knight Building, 12th & Haven (no holidays); 46th Street Welcome Center, 46th & West; Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk; or Aquatic & Fitness Center, 17th & Simpson (no holidays). Seasonal tags can be purchased online at ocnj.us/beachtags, or through the mail by downloading the mail order form and mailing checks to the City of Ocean City/Beach Tag Office. Make checks payable to City of Ocean City. $5 handling fee applies and there is a 10 tag limit per order.
More Information: ocnj.us/beachtags, (609) 399-6111 ext. 9377
Sea Isle City
Required: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for ages 12 and up.
Fees: Seasonal – $25; Weekly – $10; Daily – $5; active military and immediate family, and veterans – free; Wednesdays are FREE, except on July 4.
Lifeguards: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Metered parking available; parking lots located at 125 JFK Blvd., 40th Street & Central Avenue, 42nd Place & Bay, 45th Street & Landis Avenue, 46th Street & Central Avenue and 94th Street & Landis Avenue; parking permits are available at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 233 JFK Blvd., 2nd Floor, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no holidays), or by mail, at a seasonal rate of $200 or weekly rate of $30.
Restrooms: 32nd Street & the Promenade*; 40th Street & the Promenade*; JFK Boulevard & Landis Avenue; 347 – 42nd Place; 44th Street & the Promenade*; 60th Street & Central Avenue; 6108 Central Ave.; 85th Street & the beach*; 94th Street & Landis Avenue (*rinse stations).
Where to Purchase: The Beach Tag Office is located at 300 JFK Blvd. inside the Welcome Center and is open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seasonal beach tags are also available at the City Hall Tax Office, 233 JFK Blvd., 2nd Floor, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no holidays). The beach tag vending machine located in the lobby of City Hall, 233 JFK Boulevard, is accessible 24/7 (cash only; accepts ones, fives, tens and twenties and does not make change). Purchase beach tags via mobile app at viplypass.com/sea-isle-city (fees apply; must have mobile device with Viply app to pick up tags)
More Information: visitsicnj.com/beach-tags, (609) 263-8687 ext. 106
Stone Harbor
Required: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for ages 12 and up
Fees: Seasonal – $28; Weekly – $12; Daily – $6; active military and immediate family, and veterans – free. Tags also honored on Avalon beaches.
Lifeguards: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: Metered parking available; three-hour meters on designated streets; four-hour meters at two lots on the north side of 96th Street west of Third Avenue, and one lot between Second and Third avenues and Borough Hall; parking permits are available in the Borough Clerk’s Office, 9508 Second Ave., at the cost of $225 per season (good in designated lots only).
Restrooms: 95th Street & Second Avenue; 95th Street & the beach; 122nd Street.
Where to Purchase: Beach tags can be purchased at Stone Harbor Borough Hall, 9508 Second Ave., via cash/check Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Beach Tag Office, 95th & the beach, open daily 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., via mobile app at viplypass.com/stone-harbor-beach-tags (fees apply; pick up physical tags at Borough Hall), or through mail by visiting stoneharbornj.org, downloading the beach tag order form and sending a check to Borough Hall. Make checks payable to “Borough of Stone Harbor.” Beach tags must be picked up at Borough Hall or the Beach Tag Office.
More Information: stoneharbornj.org, (609) 368-6805
The Wildwoods
Fees: None; Wildwoods’ beaches are FREE!
Lifeguards: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Metered parking available close to the beach; free street parking available farther from the beach and Boardwalk; parking lots close to the beach and Boardwalk are available, and most charge by the hour.
Restrooms: Along the boardwalk; Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk between Andrews Avenue and Baker Avenue beaches; porta-potties on beach.