The Ultimate Family Guide to Cape May Beaches

The best Cape May beaches for families are the city beaches along the Promenade, because the Cape May Beach Patrol guards every one of them, from the Cove to Poverty Beach, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer, and children 11 and under need no beach tag. A two-mile beach mat runs from Madison Avenue to the Cove, so a stroller or a beach wheelchair can get close to the water. The beaches outside the city are different, since swimming is prohibited at Higbee Beach and Sunset Beach has no lifeguards. We travel slowly with kids, one thing a day and a long afternoon in the water, so a guarded beach with a restroom nearby matters more to us than a view. By the end you will know which beach suits your family, what tags and parking cost, and which beaches are for walking.

A life ring and dune fence above the beach at Cape May, New Jersey — A guarded beach entrance at Cape May. Photo by E. Vitka on Unsplash.

Before You Go: The Rules for Every Cape May Beach

Beach tags: Everyone 12 and older needs a tag on the city beaches from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (May 23 in 2026) to Labor Day (September 7), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A day tag is $10, a three-day tag $20, a week (Saturday to Saturday) $25 and a season $40, and children 11 and under are free. Buy them at the Beach Tag Office at 704 Beach Avenue (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), at City Hall at 643 Washington Street on weekdays, at the booths at Broadway, Gurney, Howard and Madison, or online through Jersey Cape Tags. The office and booths take cash or personal check only. (City of Cape May beach tags)
Lifeguards: The Cape May Beach Patrol guards every beach in the city, from the Cove to Poverty Beach, about 2.5 miles, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At peak season nearly 60 guards staff 25 stands. (Cape May Beach Patrol)
Parking: Meters run from April 1, at $2 an hour in most zones and $3 an hour in the yellow zone, and ParkMobile works on them. Free parking is at Cape May Elementary School, Lafayette Street and Madison Avenue, daily during the summer break until 11 p.m., with no overnight parking. (City of Cape May parking)
Accessibility: A beach mat runs about two miles from Madison Avenue to the Cove at Third Avenue, with platforms toward the water. Twelve beach wheelchairs can be signed out from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the Beach Patrol, 609-884-9520. (City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs)
Dogs: Leashed dogs are allowed on the Promenade from October through April. In Lower Township, which includes Sunset Beach, dogs other than service animals are kept off the beaches from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (City of Cape May FAQ, Lower Township beach rules)

Cape May Beaches at a Glance

Beach	Lifeguards	Parking	Best for
The Cove	Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season	Metered street parking along Beach Avenue, $2 an hour in most zones	Families with a stroller or a wheelchair user
The Promenade beaches, Broadway to Madison Avenue	Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season	Metered parking on and near Beach Avenue, or the free lot at Cape May Elementary School, Lafayette Street and Madison Avenue, in summer	A first beach day with small children
The east end, Philadelphia Avenue to Poverty Beach	Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season	Metered parking, $2 an hour in most zones, and ParkMobile works on the meters	Families staying at the east end of town
Cape May Point beaches	Guarded by the Cape May Point Beach Patrol from Saturday, June 20 to Monday, September 7 in 2026	Not published on the borough’s beach pages	Families staying near the lighthouse
Sunset Beach	No lifeguards. It is outside the stretch the city’s Beach Patrol guards, and we found no lifeguard service there	Not published by the township	The evening
Higbee Beach	None. Swimming is prohibited	Not published on the state map	A morning walk on the trails
Cape May Point State Park and the lighthouse	Outside both the city’s and the borough’s beach patrols, and we could not confirm any lifeguards	Not published on a page we could read	Children old enough to climb 199 steps

Which Beach for Which Family

Toddlers and first swimmers: the Promenade beaches, guarded from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with restrooms and a beach wheelchair close by (Cape May Beach Patrol, City of Cape May restrooms, City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs).
A stroller or a wheelchair user: the Cove or anywhere from Madison Avenue west, along the two-mile beach mat (City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs).
No car: the Promenade beaches, where the tag booths, restrooms and lifeguards are all along Beach Avenue (City of Cape May beach tags, City of Cape May restrooms).
A guarded beach beside the lighthouse: Cape May Point, guarded from June 20 to September 7 in 2026, and free for veterans (Cape May Point Beach Patrol, Borough of Cape May Point beach tags).
The evening: Sunset Beach for the sunset over Delaware Bay, on the sand rather than in the water.

The Seven Cape May Beaches, One by One

The Cove

Families with a stroller or a wheelchair user, because the city’s beach mat ends here and a beach wheelchair is kept at Third Avenue. (Cape May Beach Patrol)

Run by: City of Cape May.
Where: Beach Avenue at Third Avenue, the western end of the city beachfront.
Lifeguards: Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season (Cape May Beach Patrol).
The water: Open Atlantic at the western end of the guarded stretch. Swim in front of a lifeguard stand. (Cape May Beach Patrol)
Parking: Metered street parking along Beach Avenue, $2 an hour in most zones.
Fees: City beach tag for ages 12 and up, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Facilities: The end of the city’s two-mile beach mat, and one of the places a beach wheelchair is kept (the city has twelve, spread across seventeen locations).
Hours and season: Tags and lifeguards 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer.
Good to know: Beach wheelchairs are first come, first served from 10 a.m. and must be back by 4:30 p.m.
Source: Cape May Beach Patrol, City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs, City of Cape May parking, checked September 28, 2026.

The Promenade beaches, Broadway to Madison Avenue

A first beach day with small children, because tags, restrooms, a beach wheelchair and a lifeguard stand are all within a block or two. (Cape May Beach Patrol)

Run by: City of Cape May.
Where: Any street end along Beach Avenue between Broadway and Madison Avenue.
Lifeguards: Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season (Cape May Beach Patrol).
The water: Open Atlantic. The patrol staffs 25 stands along the city beaches, so swim in front of one. (Cape May Beach Patrol)
Parking: Metered parking on and near Beach Avenue, or the free lot at Cape May Elementary School, Lafayette Street and Madison Avenue, in summer.
Fees: City beach tag for ages 12 and up. Booths at Broadway, Gurney, Howard and Madison sell them from May 23.
Facilities: Beachfront restrooms at Beach and Broadway and at Beach and Grant, beach wheelchairs at Broadway, Congress, Perry, Ocean, Gurney, Howard, Jefferson and Madison, and chairs, umbrellas and snacks from licensed vendors on most beaches.
Hours and season: Tags and lifeguards 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer. The beachfront restrooms open mid-April to mid-November.
Good to know: Buy tags in advance at the Beach Tag Office at 704 Beach Avenue, which opens at 9 a.m., to skip the booth line, and bring cash or a check.
Source: Cape May Beach Patrol, City of Cape May beach tags, City of Cape May restrooms, City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs, City of Cape May beaches, checked September 28, 2026.

The east end, Philadelphia Avenue to Poverty Beach

Families staying at the east end of town, with restrooms at two street ends and six beach wheelchair stations along the way. (Cape May Beach Patrol)

Run by: City of Cape May.
Where: Street ends from Philadelphia Avenue east along Beach Avenue to Poverty Beach, the eastern end of the guarded stretch.
Lifeguards: Guarded by the Cape May Beach Patrol, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season (Cape May Beach Patrol).
The water: Open Atlantic at the eastern end of the guarded stretch. Swim in front of a lifeguard stand. (Cape May Beach Patrol)
Parking: Metered parking, $2 an hour in most zones, and ParkMobile works on the meters.
Fees: City beach tag for ages 12 and up.
Facilities: Beachfront restrooms at Beach and Trenton and at Beach and Wilmington, and beach wheelchairs at Philadelphia, Reading, Trenton, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Wilmington.
Hours and season: Tags and lifeguards 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer.
Good to know: The beach mat stops at Madison Avenue, so from here a wheelchair user needs one of the beach wheelchairs to reach the water.
Source: Cape May Beach Patrol, City of Cape May restrooms, City of Cape May beach mats and wheelchairs, City of Cape May parking, checked September 28, 2026.

Cape May Point beaches

Families staying near the lighthouse, and veterans in the family get in free. (Cape May Point Beach Patrol)

Run by: Borough of Cape May Point.
Where: The borough next to Cape May Point State Park, west of the city.
Lifeguards: Guarded by the Cape May Point Beach Patrol from Saturday, June 20 to Monday, September 7 in 2026 (Cape May Point Beach Patrol).
The water: Swim only where and when the borough’s lifeguards are on duty. (Cape May Point Beach Patrol)
Parking: Not published on the borough’s beach pages.
Fees: Borough tag for ages 12 and up: $10 a day, $25 a week, $50 a season ($40 before May 31). Under 12, active-duty military and veterans are free. Sold at each beach entrance from June 20 at 10 a.m..
Facilities: Not listed on the borough’s beach pages, so plan on the lighthouse area for restrooms.
Hours and season: Guarded June 20 to September 7.
Good to know: The borough’s lifeguard season starts almost a month after the city’s, so before June 20 swim on a city beach instead.
Source: Cape May Point Beach Patrol, Borough of Cape May Point beach tags, checked September 28, 2026.

Sunset Beach

The evening, for the sunset over the bay and for hunting Cape May diamonds, the pebbles children collect along the tide line. (Cape May Beach Patrol)

Run by: Lower Township.
Where: Lower Township, on Delaware Bay, outside the City of Cape May.
Lifeguards: No lifeguards. It is outside the stretch the city’s Beach Patrol guards, and we found no lifeguard service there (Cape May Beach Patrol).
The water: Delaware Bay, unguarded. Treat it as a sunset and treasure-hunting beach, not a swimming beach. (Cape May Beach Patrol)
Parking: Not published by the township.
Fees: Outside the city, so no city beach tag applies.
Facilities: Not listed on an official page.
Hours and season: Township rules keep dogs off the beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Good to know: Alcohol is prohibited on Lower Township beaches, and the dog hours above apply in summer.
Source: Cape May Beach Patrol, Lower Township beach rules, checked September 28, 2026.

Higbee Beach

A morning walk on the trails, not a beach day. (NJ Fish and Wildlife)

Run by: NJ Fish and Wildlife (Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area).
Where: A state Wildlife Management Area in Lower Township, on Delaware Bay.
Lifeguards: None. Swimming is prohibited (NJ Fish and Wildlife).
The water: Swimming is prohibited on the Wildlife Management Area. (NJ Fish and Wildlife)
Parking: Not published on the state map.
Fees: None published.
Facilities: Trails, no beach facilities listed.
Hours and season: Wildlife Management Areas close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m..
Good to know: Picnicking, alcohol and fires are also prohibited here, so pack water and plan a walk.
Source: NJ Fish and Wildlife, checked September 28, 2026.

Cape May Point State Park and the lighthouse

Children old enough to climb 199 steps, for the view over the point. (Cape May MAC)

Run by: State of New Jersey (the lighthouse is run by Cape May MAC).
Where: 215 Lighthouse Avenue, Cape May Point.
Lifeguards: Outside both the city’s and the borough’s beach patrols, and we could not confirm any lifeguards (Cape May MAC).
The water: Not a swimming stop. Keep the day to the lighthouse and the trails. (Cape May MAC)
Parking: Not published on a page we could read.
Fees: Lighthouse climb $12 for adults and $8 for children 3 to 12, free for active military.
Facilities: The lighthouse, with 199 steps in its spiral staircase.
Hours and season: Lighthouse hours vary by season, and the last climb is 15 minutes before closing.
Good to know: Children 3 to 12 pay the $8 rate for the climb.
Source: Cape May MAC, checked September 28, 2026.

Not for Swimming

Sunset Beach, Higbee Beach and Cape May Point State Park and the lighthouse are worth a visit, but not for a swim. Sunset Beach: No lifeguards. It is outside the stretch the city’s Beach Patrol guards, and we found no lifeguard service there. Higbee Beach: None. Swimming is prohibited. Cape May Point State Park and the lighthouse: Outside both the city’s and the borough’s beach patrols, and we could not confirm any lifeguards. Keep children on the sand at all three, and save the swimming for a guarded city beach (Cape May Beach Patrol, NJ Fish and Wildlife).

Where to Stay in Cape May

Staying within walking distance of Beach Avenue puts the city beaches, the tag booths and the restrooms at the end of your street, and saves the meter. Our guide to the best family hotels with pools in Cape May scores the hotels with the pools to match.

Check Cape May Rates on Booking.com →

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Find Family Rentals on VRBO →

FAQs About Cape May Beaches

Do I need a beach tag in Cape May?

On the city beaches, yes, for everyone 12 and older from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A day tag is $10, a three-day tag $20, a week $25 and a season $40, and children 11 and under are free. Cape May Point sells its own tags, and Sunset Beach and Higbee Beach need none. (City of Cape May beach tags, Borough of Cape May Point beach tags)

Which Cape May beach is best for toddlers?

A city beach along the Promenade between Broadway and Madison Avenue, because the Beach Patrol guards it from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there are beachfront restrooms at Broadway and at Grant. Sunset Beach and Higbee Beach are not swimming beaches, so save them for the evening and a walk. (Cape May Beach Patrol, City of Cape May restrooms)

Are Cape May beaches guarded?

The city beaches are, from the Cove to Poverty Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cape May Point’s beaches are guarded from June 20 to September 7 in 2026. Sunset Beach has no lifeguards, and swimming is prohibited at Higbee Beach. (Cape May Beach Patrol, Cape May Point Beach Patrol, NJ Fish and Wildlife)

Where can I park for free in Cape May?

At Cape May Elementary School, Lafayette Street and Madison Avenue, daily during the summer break until 11 p.m., with no overnight parking. Everywhere else near the beach is metered from April 1. (City of Cape May parking)

Can I bring my dog to the beach in Cape May?

Leashed dogs are allowed on the Promenade from October through April. In Lower Township, which includes Sunset Beach, dogs are kept off the beaches from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (City of Cape May FAQ, Lower Township beach rules)

More Family Travel Guides for Cape May

Every fact on this page was checked against the operator’s own page on September 28, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you go.