Cape May Beach
Cape May, NJ
Cape May's beach sits below one of the best preserved Victorian downtowns in the country, close enough to walk from a bed and breakfast porch to the sand in a few minutes. Dogs are shut out entirely during the summer season here, more strictly than most neighboring towns, though the off season more than makes up for it with a long stretch from mid September through mid May.
The historic downtown gives it a character no other Jersey Shore beach town can copy, though the strict summer dog ban and metered beachfront parking are real friction points for visitors.
How we score beachesPark a few blocks back on a residential side street rather than fighting for a metered spot right on the beachfront. It's a short walk, and it's free.
Metered parking lines the beachfront, with free parking available a few blocks inland on residential side streets.
Flat streets lead to the sand at regular access points, with no boardwalk to cross at most entrances.
Dogs aren't allowed on Cape May City beaches during the summer months. From mid September through mid May, leashed dogs are welcome on the beach and promenade.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, consistent with the rest of the peninsula. The Victorian downtown makes the off season, when the beach itself is quieter, worth the trip on its own.
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