Cape May’s beaches are regularly cleaned, but if you spot litter and want to prevent it reaching the ocean, grab a bucket from one of these free beach cleanup stands! LOVE BLUE INC. installed a series of them along Cape May’s beachfront in October 2023.

Stand Locations:

• The Cove, next to the Sunset Pavilion
• Decatur Street Beach
• Stockton Place Beach
• Madison Avenue Beach
• Pittsburgh Avenue Beach

How it works:

• Open the door on the stand and take a bucket
• Fill it with beach debris
• Return to the beach station and raise the roof
• Empty trash into the can inside
• Return the bucket to the cleanup station
• LOVE BLUE asks you to snap a picture and tag them @loveblueinc on Instagram!

Sunset Beach is free to visit year-round. There is on-site parking, but the lot can be crowded during the summer.

In season, Sunset Beach is home to an evening flag ceremony. Learn more on Sunset Beach Gift Shop’s website

On your way here, you’ll pass Fire Tower 23

Reach the 244-acre Cape May Point State Park by bike, car, or foot if you don’t mind a hike down the beach. The park is home to iconic landmarks including the Cape May Lighthouse, Fire Control Tower 23, and Battery 223 (aka “the bunker”), the remains of a harbor defense battery from World War II.

The park is free to the public, an ideal location for birding, picnics, painting, photography, and nature walks. Explore ponds, coastal dunes, marshes, and forest habitat on one of the three hiking trails that range from 0.5 to 2 miles in length. Along the trails are occasional benches and birding blinds. Wear sturdy walking shoes if you’re headed down the Yellow or Blue trails, as parts of the trail will take you through wooded areas that may be muddy! The shortest, the Red Trail, is entirely on a raised footpath and wheelchair accessible. Download a detailed trail guide from the state’s website.

There’s no swimming on this beach due to underwater hazards, but surf fishing is permitted. Being a state park, smoking (including vaping) and alcohol are prohibited.

Gather with friends at picnic areas and shelters. Groups of 20 are asked to reserve facilities at least five days in advance. If you have a large group, you can reserve a picnic area with a shelter and restrooms for up to 60 people.

It’s okay to bring your pet along, with some restrictions. Pets must be leashed at all times. Because the beach is home to endangered birds, pets are not permitted on the beach from April 1–September 15. And at no point are pets permitted on the nature trails.

There are no park or entry fees, and the park has a large, paved parking lot available.

Thursdays in July and August, bring a beach chair and a blanket, and enjoy free movies on the beach this summer in Cape May. No beach tags are required since this is a nighttime event.

Keep an eye on our event calendar for movies and times.

Cape May’s promenade runs parallel to Beach Avenue and stretches for nearly two miles, taking you on a scenic walk or run past Cape May’s beaches. Though it’s sometimes referred to as a boardwalk, our promenade is actually paved (the last wooden boardwalk was destroyed in the 1962 nor’easter).

The promenade is your gateway to the beach and unparalleled views of the ocean. There are a handful of businesses along the way, including candy stores, arcades, and ice cream.

Features

• You don’t need a beach tag to access the promenade. It’s open to the public
• There are access ramps
• Public restrooms are located along the promenade approximately every half mile
• There are plenty of benches
• The promenade is lighted in the evening
• The covered Sunset Pavilion overlooks the Cove beach and is a popular location for weddings.

Policies

• Bicycles, e-bikes, and roller skates are restricted from May 16 through September 14. You can only ride or park them on the promenade from 4am to 10am in-season.
• Dogs are permitted on the promenade from September 15 through May 15, during the winter months. They must be leashed.
• Stay hydrated, but alcoholic beverages are not permitted

City Code: City of Cape May ordinance 158-9

High-quality beach umbrellas and a choice of high or low-seated beach chairs are available to rent at reasonable daily, weekly and seasonal rates. Also available to rent are our luxurious beach cabanas.

Tired of lugging your beach gear? Rent one of our beach carts or leave it at the beach in a Steger’s beach box. Surf’s up? We’ve got you covered. We have wave riders of all sorts. Featuring BZ bodyboards, surfboards and our NEW stand up paddleboard rentals. Rentals are available at 11 locations dotting Cape May’s beachfront. Call us today to reserve your spot in the sand!