Fast Facts
- Population
- ~2,770 (2020 census), 40,000–50,000 in summer
- Typical visiting season
- Late May–Sept
- One Unusual Stat
- Entire city is a National Historic Landmark
- Lighthouse Built
- 1859
What to Know Before You Arrive
Cape May is the southernmost municipality in New Jersey, and it calls itself America's first seaside resort, a claim tied to its early-1800s start as a boarding-house destination for Philadelphia and Baltimore travelers. Fewer than 3,000 people live here year-round, but the town swells to 40,000 or 50,000 in summer.
Congress Hall, still standing on Beach Avenue, traces back to 1816, when it was built as a wooden boarding house so large that its own builder nicknamed it “Tommy's Folly.” It became Congress Hall in 1828 after that builder was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, burned down in a fire that swept through much of the town in 1878, and was rebuilt within a year — the resilience of the rebuild is the part locals tell, not the fire itself.
At the very tip of the peninsula, the Cape May Lighthouse has stood since 1859 and still operates today, automated since 1946. The surrounding Cape May Point State Park is considered one of the best places in North America to watch the fall bird migration, when hawks and songbirds funnel down the peninsula before crossing the Delaware Bay.
The Road Trip Stop
The Cape May Lighthouse, inside Cape May Point State Park, has guided ships since 1859. Climb the original cast-iron spiral staircase — 199 steps inside a 157-foot-6-inch tower — and the view stretches over Cape May City, Wildwood, and on clear days across the Delaware Bay.
Budget the time
- Thirty to forty-five minutes covers the climb and the view from the top, longer if the grounds' interpretive panels catch your attention.
- Admission is $12* for adults and $8* for ages 3–12 and veterans, with active military free.
- 199 steps, no elevator — a real staircase climb, not a quick escalator ride.
- Pair it with Cape May Point State Park's trails at the base, especially if you're visiting during fall migration season.
*Fees subject to change, please check capemaymac.org for updated information.
Neighborhoods
The Historic District (downtown Cape May)
The Victorian core of the city, blocks of gingerbread-trimmed houses that together form a single National Historic Landmark district.
Washington Street Mall
A three-block pedestrian mall in downtown Cape May, running from Ocean Street to Perry Street and filled with restaurants and stores; the city closed the street to traffic in 1970 and the mall officially opened on June 24, 1971.
The Beach & Promenade
The oceanfront strip along Beach Avenue, with Congress Hall anchoring one end and the beach itself running the length of town.
Cape May Point
A separate, smaller borough at the very tip of the peninsula, home to the lighthouse and the state park around it.
The Food Stop
Congress Hall's restaurants sit inside the 1816 hotel itself, an easy way to eat somewhere with as much history as the view outside.
The Washington Street Mall holds most of downtown Cape May's casual dining, all within a few walkable blocks of the beach.
4 breweries within 10 miles of Cape May, one of them a brewpub with a kitchen.
See all 4
- Mudhen Brewing Company127 W Rio Grande Ave, Wildwood
- Bucket Brigade Brewery205 N Main St, Cape May Court Houseproduction site*
- Cape May Brewing Company409 Breakwater Rd, Cape Mayproduction site*
- Cold Spring Brewery733 Seashore Rd, Cape Mayproduction site*
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
The Home Teams
Cape May is a small resort town with no professional, minor-league or college team of its own — the beach and the Victorian streets are the whole draw here.
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildwood | 15 min | 10 mi | routed |
| A livelier, classic boardwalk-and-arcade beach town whose year-round population of about 5,000 swells to as many as 250,000 in summer — a real contrast to Cape May's quieter Victorian pace. | |||
| Cape May-Lewes Ferry | 17 min | 13 mi | routed |
| A 17-mile crossing of the Delaware Bay connecting North Cape May to Lewes, Delaware, one of only two year-round direct ferry crossings of its kind on the East Coast. | |||
| Cape May County Park & Zoo | 5 min | 2 mi | routed |
| Free, year-round admission to more than 550 animals across 250 species on 85 acres, inland in Cape May Court House. | |||
| Atlantic Cityguide | 46 min | 36 mi | routed |
| The Boardwalk, Steel Pier and the casinos, up the coast. | |||
1 of these is a place the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Worth a Weekend
21 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of Cape May in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.
- LewesDelawareabout 25 mi
- Rehoboth BeachDelawareabout 30 mi
- DoverDelawareabout 40 mi
- Ocean CityMarylandabout 55 mi
- Independence HallPennsylvaniaabout 60 mi
- WilmingtonDelawareabout 60 mi
- PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaabout 65 mi
- TrentonNew Jerseyabout 80 mi
- AnnapolisMarylandabout 90 mi
- BaltimoreMarylandabout 95 mi
- Museum of Modern Art — MoMANew Yorkabout 120 mi
- National Air and Space MuseumDistrict of Columbiaabout 120 mi
- New York CityNew Yorkabout 120 mi
- NewarkNew Jerseyabout 120 mi
- Statue of Liberty National MonumentNew Yorkabout 120 mi
- Washington, D.C.District of Columbiaabout 120 mi
- Washington, D.C. — U.S. CapitolDistrict of Columbiaabout 120 mi
- FrederickMarylandabout 140 mi
- HarrisburgPennsylvaniaabout 140 mi
- Harpers FerryWest Virginiaabout 160 mi
- RichmondVirginiaabout 180 mi
Wineries Nearby
1 producer we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery
Cape May County vineyard established in 2007.
- HoursDaily 11am-5pm
- Phone(609) 846-7347
600 South Railroad Avenue, Rio Grande, NJ 08242
*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.
Zoos Nearby
Within 60 miles of Cape May, nearest first.
Cape May County Park & ZooAZA-accreditedCape May Court House
- Hours
- 10am-3:30pm (winter); 10am-4:30pm (summer)
- Season
- year-round (closed Christmas)
- Admission
- Free
- Reservations
- Not required
Free admission year-round; county-operated
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Each of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.
Water Parks and Amusement Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Cape May, nearest first.
Morey's PiersSeasonalamusement park and water parkWildwood
Three piers and two water parks; seasonal; fall hours not shown.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Practical Road Trip Info
A full day covers the lighthouse, the Historic District and a beach afternoon; most visitors stay longer for the beach alone.
Cape May requires beach tags from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; for 2026 a daily tag is $10* and a seasonal tag $40*, per person aged 12 and over.
Summer is the busy season, when the town's population is expanded by as many as 40,000 to 50,000 visitors; the city's 2026 schedule had beach tags on sale at beach entrances daily from May 23 (Memorial Day weekend) to September 7 (Labor Day), and Cape May MAC says it offers tours and events all year long. We were unable to confirm an official source for how crowded spring and fall are.
Parking in town is metered by zone, and the city says all parking meters are in effect beginning April 1, running through October 31 in its green and orange zones and through December 31 in its yellow zone. The city also lists free parking at Cape May Elementary School on Saturdays and Sundays while school is in session and daily during the summer break until 11:00 PM, with no overnight parking. We were unable to confirm from an official source how quickly spaces fill in summer.
*Fees subject to change, please check capemaycity.com for updated information.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
Cape May Lighthouse
A real, climbable lighthouse with a genuine sense of accomplishment at the top for younger visitors who make all 199 steps.
The beach
A classic, less crowded Jersey Shore beach than the bigger boardwalk towns further north.
Cape May County Zoo
A free zoo a short drive inland, an easy non-beach half-day.
Washington Street Mall
A walkable, car-free shopping street that's easy to let younger visitors range around a little.
Plan Your Visit
Cape May Lighthouse
- Address
- 215 Lighthouse Ave, Cape May Point, NJ 08212
- Hours
- Seasonal; check the official site for current climbing hours
- Price
- $12 adults · $8 ages 3–12 and veterans · free active military*
- Link
- capemaymac.org
*Fees subject to change, please check capemaymac.org for updated information.
We checked fees, seasonal opening and operating status on 2026-09-22. These change without notice — confirm with capemaymac.org, capemaycity.com and en.wikipedia.org the week you travel.
Sources — 18 claims, 17 checked against the source on 2026-09-22
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cape May is the southernmost municipality in New Jersey; population 2,768 (2020 census); summer population expands to 40,000-50,000 visitors; the entire city is designated the Cape May Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, for its concentration of Victorian architecture | Cape May, New Jersey — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The city claims to be America's first seaside resort; Cape May Historic District has numerous Late Victorian style buildings (Eclectic, Stick, Shingle, Bungalow) with gingerbread trim; per NPS architectural historian Carolyn Pitts, Cape May has "one of the largest collections of late 19th century frame buildings left in the United States" | Cape May Historic District — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Congress Hall first built 1816 as a wooden boarding house, nicknamed "Tommy's Folly" by builder Thomas H. Hughes for being too big; renamed Congress Hall in 1828 after Hughes was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; burned down in Cape May's Great Fire of 1878; rebuilt within a year | Congress Hall (Cape May, New Jersey) — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Cape May Lighthouse built 1859 under U.S. Army engineer William F. Raynolds, automated in 1946, continues operating today; located in Cape May Point State Park | Cape May Light — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Cape May Lighthouse tower is 157 feet 6 inches tall; 217 total steps from the ground to the top, with 199 steps in the cast-iron spiral staircase; view extends to Cape May City and Wildwood | Cape May Light — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Cape May Lighthouse admission: $12 adults, $8 ages 3-12, $8 veterans, free active military; located at 215 Lighthouse Ave in Cape May Point State Park; climb the original 199-step cast-iron spiral stairway; maintained by Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture), which opened it to the public in 1988 | Cape May Lighthouse — Cape May MAC, official site | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Cape May Point State Park is 244 acres in Lower Township with a Cape May Point postal address; offers walking, hiking and nature trails; considered one of the best places in North America to view the fall bird migration | Cape May Point State Park — Wikipedia | Checked |
| City of Cape May 2026 beach tag prices: seasonal $40 (May 1 to Labor Day), weekly (Saturday to Saturday) $25, three-day $20, daily $10, per person age 12 and older; the city's FAQ says tags are required on all persons 12 and over on city beaches when beaches are open and lifeguards are on duty | City of Cape May — Beach Tag, official site | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Wildwood, NJ: year-round population 5,157 (2020 census); summer population can swell to 250,000; a popular Jersey Shore resort destination | Wildwood, New Jersey — Wikipedia | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Cape May-Lewes Ferry crosses 17 miles of the Delaware Bay connecting North Cape May, NJ with Lewes, DE; one of only two year-round direct ferry crossings of its kind on the East Coast | Cape May-Lewes Ferry — Wikipedia | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Cape May County Park & Zoo provides free year-round admission to more than 550 animals representing 250 species across 85 acres of exhibits; located at 707 U.S. Route 9 North in Cape May Court House | Cape May County Park & Zoo — Wikipedia | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Best road-trip season for Cape May | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| The city's 2026 schedule: beach tags sold at beach entrances daily from May 23 to September 7 (Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day) | City of Cape May — Frequently Asked Questions, official site | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Cape May MAC says it offers tours and events all year long | Plan Your Visit — Cape May MAC, official site | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| City of Cape May parking meters: in effect beginning April 1; green and orange zones April 1 to October 31, yellow zone April 1 to December 31; free parking at Cape May Elementary School weekends during the school year and daily during summer break until 11:00 PM, no overnight parking | City of Cape May — Parking Meter Information, official site | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| The Washington Street Mall is a pedestrian mall in downtown Cape May from Ocean Street to Perry Street; the city closed the street to traffic in 1970; the mall officially opened June 24, 1971; filled with restaurants and stores | Washington Street Mall — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Driving distance from Atlantic City to Cape May: 48 miles via the Atlantic City Expressway west to Exit 7S, then the Garden State Parkway south | Directions to Cape May — Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May | Checked |
| The city lists 2026 beach tags at Seasonal $40.00, Weekly $25.00, Three Day $20.00 and Daily $10.00, prices per person age 12 and older, required Memorial Day Weekend Saturday 5/23 to Labor Day 9/7 from 10AM–5PM (checked 2026-10-14) | City of Cape May — Beach Tags | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Cape May, not drive time.
- Cape May County (WWD) — 7 miles
- Millville Municipal (MIV) — 24 miles
- Atlantic City International (ACY) — 29 miles
Also in
A stop on this page turns up in other Highway Heads collections.
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