New Jersey Beaches – Cape May County

Stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore is popular for its diverse beaches that provide relaxation, fun and entertainment for people of all ages. The beaches along New Jersey’s beautiful coastline are known having some of the most exciting boardwalks, magnificent beach houses, best restaurants, and great water sports among the many attractions that they offer. From quaint villages and quiet towns to vibrant cities and amusement piers, there’s something for everyone at the Jersey Shore.

Discover which shore towns produce small, relaxing communities and which towns’ famous attractions draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. Find out the best beaches in New Jersey for family fun activities from boating, kayaking, surfing and fishing to exploring nature and wildlife from legendary lighthouses and at coastal parks alongside the Jersey Shore. Here’s your guide to New Jersey’s beautiful beaches including information about daily, weekly, and seasonal beach tag fees.

Avalon

Deemed one of New Jersey’s safest beaches, Avalon is small shore town of Cape May County with a beautiful, gentle beach with natural dunes. Because of Avalon’s great geographic location, it claims to be “cooler by a mile”. The back bays of Avalon attract people who enjoy fishing, boating, and water sports of all kinds. Avalon is tucked between the busier towns of Atlantic City and Wildwood, providing visitors a quieter, more relaxing option for a shore vacation.

Official Site | Facebook

Cape May

Situated at New Jersey’s southernmost tip, beautiful Cape May is one of the nation’s oldest resort towns. Cape May is also proudly recognized as one of America’s Top 10 Beaches as it is known for its gorgeous Victorian homes and its clean and quiet beaches along the Cape May Peninsula. A great family town, there’s so much to do from swimming, boating and fishing to live entertainment, art shows. Kids love to explore the natural environment by the sea by visiting Cape May’s bird observatory and the Cape May County Zoo.

Official Site | Cape May Zoo

Ocean City

Consistently ranked high among America’s best family resorts, Cape May County’s Ocean City beach is a premier location for people of all ages who enjoy fun in the sun. Ocean City is known for its exciting boardwalk with great amusements for kids like Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Water Park, and for its great shops, food, activities and special events. While Ocean City is packed with fun for kids, adults enjoy its close proximity to Atlantic City (just a 20 minute drive away).

Official Site | Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Water Park

Sea Isle City

A South Jersey gem, Sea Isle City’s beach lies in Cape May County and encompasses the a community feel along with ocean-side fun, delicious restaurants, fantastic bars and popular events such as the annual Polar Bear Plunge each winter. Getting to Sea Isle is easy (exit 17 off the Garden State Parkway) and its gorgeous sandy beach makes it well worth the trip.

Official Site

Stone Harbor

With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intercoastal Waterway to the left, the seven mile island of Stone Harbor is packed with gorgeous sloping beaches, quaint shops, great restaurants and fun for all ages. Situated in Cape May County between North Wildwood and Avalon, Stone Harbor offers relaxing beaches, sports and activities, and water adventures from fishing and surfing to jet skiing and more.

Official Site

Strathmere

A South Jersey secret, the pleasant shore town of Strathmere is located just 8 minutes away from Atlantic City, between Ocean City and Sea Isle City and is part of Cape May County’s Upper Township. 100 years ago its name was changed to Strathmere, previously referred to as Corson’s Inlet because the shore surrounds Corson’s Inlet waterway. Therefore, it is still famously described as the “town that can’t be found”. Another little known feature of the beautiful Strathmere seashore is that its beach is free, as opposed to other Jersey Shore beaches.

Unofficial Site

Wildwood

Built during the 1950s and 1960s, Wildwood’s rich history is evident today as its landmarks have maintained the era’s Doo-Wop theme. Another highly-ranked favorite among Americans, Wildwood draws huge crowds each summer as tourists flock to the free beach and boardwalk for games, great eats, the famous “Tramcar”, big events and entertaining nightlife. Wildwood is home to the celebrated attractions at Morey’s Piers including exciting amusement rides and fantastic water parks. Besides the popular city of Wildwood, “The Wildwoods” also includes the quieter towns of Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood.

Official Site