Things to Do in Cape May, New Jersey (Sorted the Way You Actually Decide)
Nobody wakes up and searches for attractions. You look at the sky, at who's in the room, at the hours left and what you'll spend. So that's how this guide is built.
Pick your filterPrices and hours verified August 2026. Call ahead — Cape May businesses change seasonally.
The short answer
The five things most first-time visitors should do: climb the Cape May Lighthouse (199 steps, $12), walk the Washington Street Mall, take an afternoon on the guarded beach between The Cove and Poverty Beach, book a dolphin or whale cruise from Miss Chris Marina (from $30), and stand at Sunset Beach at 7:00pm for the flag ceremony.
Everything below is the long answer. Cape May packs a National Historic Landmark district, a world-class bird migration corridor, seven wineries, four breweries and about 40 restaurants into a square mile and a fifteen-minute drive.
Pick your filter
Get to the beach before 10am or after 3pm and skip the middle. Shade on the Promenade runs out fast. For water without the sun, take an afternoon dolphin trip — two-hour runs start at $30. For the worst of it, go air-conditioned: the Emlen Physick Estate, or the Cape May Welcome Center, 609 Lafayette Street, where the free ‘Revolutionary Cape May’ exhibit runs through December 31, 2026. And skip the lighthouse at 2pm in August — that staircase holds heat, all 199 steps of it. Cape May at its best, and almost nobody realises it. Better birding, better light, restaurants with tables. Walk the South Cape May Meadows or the trails at Cape May Point State Park — free, and better under a moving sky. The World War II Lookout Tower on Sunset Boulevard is the cold-weather stop: $8 adults, $5 children 3–12, free for military and veterans. Sixth-floor spotting gallery, built 1942, the last freestanding one left in New Jersey.
By weather: what to do today
Hot and sunny, 85°F and up
Grey, windy or cold
Raining
The Harriet Tubman Museum, 632 Lafayette Street, runs timed entry by the hour, $15 / $10 — book rather than turn up wet. The Museum of Cape May County, the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum and the Cape May Fireman’s Museum each absorb a couple of hours. Tasting rooms are the other answer: Willow Creek Winery & Farm runs to 9pm most nights, Cape May Brewing Co. daily 11am–8pm. And a trolley tour is a dry tour. Full rainy-day guide
A perfect 70-degree day
Climb the lighthouse, walk Hughes Street to Columbia Avenue, bike to Cape May Point, finish at Sunset Beach. Late May, June and September deliver this.
By who you're with
With kids
The reliable wins: the beach, the Cape May County Park and Zoo, Tree to Tree Cape May, and MAC’s Children’s Trolley Ride — 30 minutes, ages 3 to 7, $15 / $10. Beach tags are free under 12, which quietly saves a family of four real money.
Everything to do with kidsTwo adults, no kids
Dinner at The Ebbitt Room, Union Park Dining Room or 410 Bank Street; a sunset dolphin cruise; a flight at Willow Creek; a night at Cape May Stage or the East Lynne Theater Company. Book the restaurant first — good tables go weeks out.
Romantic Cape MayMAC’s Cape May Beer Trails trolley covers four breweries plus lunch and solves the driver problem, 21 and over. Nauti Spirits Distillery has a cocktail program. East Coast Jet Boat, Jet Ski and Parasail handle the adrenaline. The Architectural Walking Tour runs an hour from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, and the Explore Cape May Self-Guided Tour Book covers 90-plus stops. Birding at the Cape May Bird Observatory is the county’s most sociable solo activity. Dogs are allowed on city beaches November through March only — service animals year-round. Willow Creek Winery has a pet-friendly patio; the Cape May Dog Park is off-leash. Higbee Beach, the traditional answer, is partly closed through December 2026. The first floor of the Emlen Physick Estate is fully accessible. MAC runs accessible trolleys on two weeks’ notice — 609-884-5404. The shuttle has wheelchair lifts and city beaches have ADA mats, but a beach tag is still required to use them.
A group of friends
Travelling solo
With a dog
With mobility needs
By how much time you have
If you only have one day in Cape May
One day covers the lighthouse, the beach, the Mall and the flag ceremony — if you park once and walk.
School lot, Lafayette at Madison, free until 11pm. Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House or Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar.
Three open-air blocks, 300 to 500 Washington Street. Pleasant early, grim at 2pm in August.
215 Lighthouse Ave, Cape May Point, parking free. Adults $12, children 3–12 $8, veterans $8, active military free. 199 steps; last climb 15 minutes before closing.
The World War II Lookout Tower is minutes away on Sunset Boulevard; the combo ticket is $18 / $12. Or walk the Cape May Point State Park trails and the South Cape May Meadows, free.
Buy a daily tag ($10, ages 12+) and take Broadway, Grant Street or Congress Street — shortest walk from the car.
Stop driving. 4:00pm to 10:00pm, no charge.
502 Sunset Boulevard, no tag required. The SS Atlantus hull sits offshore; hunt Cape May diamonds while you wait.
Always 7:00pm, always free. July and August, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; June, Saturdays only. The flags are donated veterans’ casket flags.
Booked in advance.
Park and eat.
Washington Street Mall.
The lighthouse.
The tower or the trails.
Lunch, then the beach.
The free shuttle starts.
Sunset Beach.
The flag-lowering ceremony.
Dinner
If you have a weekend
Park once, eat. Willow Creek Winery & Farm serves to 9pm — reserve.
Beach or boat. A three-hour whale and dolphin trip with Cape May Whale Watcher runs from $40; the Whale Watch & Research Center runs its three-hour trip from $50, 15% off online with code WEB15.
The Emlen Physick Estate or MAC’s Historic District Trolley Tour, both $20 / $15.
Flag ceremony at 7:00pm, dinner, then Cape May Stage or the Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour.
Run the lighthouse plan in reverse to dodge the crowd, then brunch — Cape May Winery & Vineyard, 711 Townbank Road, serves 10:30am–2pm through Labor Day.
If you have a week
Days one to three: the weekend above, unhurried.
The Cape May–Lewes Ferry leaves 1200 Lincoln Blvd, about 85 minutes across. Peak-season Monday-to-Thursday round trip: adults $20, seniors 62+ $16, children 6–13 $5, under 6 free. Walk on and spend the day in Lewes.
New Jersey’s fourth AVA since 2018, with seven members: Cape May Winery & Vineyard, Willow Creek Winery & Farm, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Jessie Creek Winery, Turdo Vineyards & Winery, Natali Vineyards and G&W Winery. Pick three, get a driver.
Historic Cold Spring Village, the Harriet Tubman Museum (book ahead), then the Cape May Bird Observatory hawk watch.
The Wildwoods Boardwalk, the Wetlands Institute, or the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
Cross the bay.
Wine trail.
History and birds.
North.
By budget
Free things to do in Cape May
Eighteen of them, and none are ‘window shopping.’
- The Sunset Beach flag-lowering ceremony, 502 Sunset Boulevard, 7:00pm.
- Revolutionary Cape May, Welcome Center, 609 Lafayette Street, through December 31, 2026.
- The Cape May Free Shuttle, 4:00pm–10:00pm, wheelchair lifts, ESAs welcome.
- Cape May Point State Park — trails, dunes, hawk watch, free parking.
- South Cape May Meadows, The Nature Conservancy’s preserve.
- The beach after Labor Day — from September 8, no tag, water near 72°F, no guards.
- Lower Township beaches — North Cape May, Villas, Sunset Beach.
- Beach tags for children 11 and under.
- Free seasonal tags for veterans and active-duty military, picked up in person.
- The Washington Street Mall and the Promenade.
- Rotary Park Free Music in the Park, June 19 to September 6.
- The West Cape May Farm Market, Tuesdays June 23 to August 25.
- MAC’s Harvest Brew Fest, September 19 — free to attend; you pay for what you drink.
- The Vintage Base Ball Game, 1864 rules, October 10 at the lighthouse.
- The West Cape May Tree Lighting (Dec 4) and Christmas Parade (Dec 5).
- The grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate — you pay for the house, not the lawn.
- Cox Hall Creek WMA and Garrett Family Preserve.
- Free parking — the school lot, West Cape May, city meters January to March.
Under $20
| Activity | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| Daily beach tag (ages 12+) | $10 | Free under 12 |
| World War II Lookout Tower | $8 | $5 (3–12) |
| Cape May Lighthouse | $12 | $8 (3–12) |
| Lighthouse + Tower combo | $18 | $12 |
| Harriet Tubman Museum | $15 | $10 (10 and under) |
| MAC Children’s Trolley Ride (30 min) | $15 | $10 |
| Ferry walk-on round trip (peak Mon–Thu) | $20 | $5 (6–13) |
Worth the splurge
MAC trolley tours, $20 adults and $15 children across the standard lineup — Ghosts of Cape May, Mansions by the Sea, Historic District. The Haunted Tales of the Cape combo is $30 / $20. Full comparison on our tours page.
Emlen Physick Estate, $20 / $15. Members save 25%.
Whale and dolphin watching, from $30, rising to $40 and $50 for three-hour trips.
Dinner at a destination kitchen — 410 Bank Street, Washington Inn, The Ebbitt Room, Union Park, Peter Shields Inn. Many are BYOB.
On the water
Two operators run out of Cape May proper. Cape May Whale Watcher sails a 600-passenger boat from Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, March through December — sunset dolphin and dinner cruises from $30 (2 hours), whale and dolphin trips from $40 (3 hours). It’s the only local operator publishing a marine mammal guarantee: no sighting, free pass, never expires.
Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center leaves South Jersey Marina, 1231 Route 109 — dolphin and bird watch $40+, whale, dolphin and bird $50+, plus six-hour mini-pelagics with the Bird Observatory. Promo code WEB15 takes 15% off online.
One correction: Thunder Cat Dolphin Watch is based in Wildwood Crest, not Cape May. Nearly every guide files it here. Good ~75-minute trip — $40 adults, $32 children 3–12 — but budget the drive.
Beyond the big boats: Salt Marsh Safari on the Skimmer, Birding By Boat on the Osprey, and Tiny Cruise Line. Full whale and dolphin guide
History you can walk into
The Cape May Historic District has been a National Historic Landmark since 1976, which is why the town looks like this instead of a motel strip. The best building to go inside is the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street — 18 rooms, 1879, by Frank Furness.
The part most guides skip: the Harriet Tubman Museum, 632 Lafayette Street, in the historic Howell House parsonage of the Macedonia Baptist Church. Timed entry, $15 / $10, small slots. Summer hours are Wednesday to Saturday 11am–3pm and Sunday 2–3pm; closed all January.
MAC runs two trolley tours here nobody else offers: Underground Railroad, with the Center for Community Arts, and Black Legacy in Historic Cape May, also sold as a combo with the Tubman Museum.
Also worth the drive: Historic Cold Spring Village, the Museum of Cape May County, The Colonial House, and the World War II Lookout Tower — Fire Control Tower No. 23, with a Wall of Honor carrying 160-plus veterans’ photos.
Wine, beer and spirits
Start with the geography, because it decides your afternoon: none of the breweries are in Cape May City. They’re in Lower Township, Middle Township and Rio Grande. You need a car, a rideshare, or MAC’s Cape May Beer Trails trolley — four breweries plus lunch, 21 and over.
Cape May Brewing Co., 1250 Hornet Road, Rio Grande, sits in the airport complex — daily 11am to 8pm. The retail shop inside is the Brewtique, and this is the company’s only operated tasting room.
Cold Spring Brewery, 733 Seashore Road, is New Jersey’s first non-profit brewery. Behr Brewing is at 513 Seashore Road, the blue building off Route 9. Gusto Brewing Co., 3860 Bayshore Road, is missing from CapeMay.com’s directory entirely. Nauti Spirits Distillery is a farm distillery.
On wine, the trail has seven members, not the four or five listed elsewhere. Willow Creek Winery & Farm, 168 Stevens Street, is the only Napa-style operation on Cape Island — open to 9pm, last seating 7:30. Turdo Vineyards & Winery runs six days, noon to 5pm, closed Wednesdays, but the property is actively for sale — call first.
Birds, dunes and back roads
Cape May Point is a migration funnel — birds moving south down the peninsula hit the bay and stack up. That’s why birders fly in from other continents, and why Cape May Bird Observatory and New Jersey Audubon are here.
The free walking is excellent. Cape May Point State Park has trails, dunes and the hawk watch platform, parking free. South Cape May Meadows, run by The Nature Conservancy, is a short flat loop and extraordinarily productive. Cox Hall Creek WMA, the Garrett Family Preserve and Bennet Bogs are quieter. The Nature Center of Cape May and the Wetlands Institute are the hybrids, and MAC runs a Natural Habitats trolley with the Bird Observatory.
There’s also a new walking path called the Cape May Nature Trails.
Shopping without the outlet mall
The districts are all walkable from each other: the Washington Street Mall (300–500 Washington Street), the City Centre Mall, the Mini Mall, Carpenters Square Mall, Washington Commons, Liberty Way and West End Garage.
2026 brought real turnover. Vagabond’s opened a second location, Buoy Coffee took the Out There Coffee space, and Cape May Pickle Company, Cape May Snack Emporium, Designer Bag Depot and Queen May Jewelry are new on the Mall. In Washington Commons: Ardens Kids, Seaglass Home, Cape Mayniac and Ainsley Rose Boutique. Casales, open since 1957, has closed, along with the Toy Shop of Cape May and Sea Bags. If a guide still lists those, it hasn’t been updated this year.
The long-runners worth your time: The Fudge Kitchen, Love the Cook, Cape May Peanut Butter Co., Cape May Olive Oil Co. and Whale’s Tale. Washington Street Mall guide
Theater, music and what's on
Cape May Stage and the East Lynne Theater Company both run full seasons — note the spelling, it’s East Lynne, and competitors get it wrong. Elaine’s Dinner Theater does dinner-and-a-show, and MAC’s Murder Mystery Dinners run at the Marquis de Lafayette and the Chalfonte, with ‘The Woeful Widows Society’ on September 16 and October 21.
In summer the music runs constantly: the Cape May Summer Concert Series (June 28–Aug 23), Rotary Park Free Music in the Park (June 19–Sept 6), Movies on the Beach (July 2–Aug 27), Dance Nights (July 1–Aug 26).
September: Whitesboro Reunion Festival (4–6) · West Cape May Tomato Festival (5) · MAC Harvest Brew Fest (19, free to attend) · Antique & Classic Automobile Show (19) · Cape May Oktoberfest (26–27). October: Victorian Weekend (9–12) · Lima Bean Festival (10) · Vintage Base Ball Game (10) · MAC Craft & Collectibles Show (11) · Lighthouse Challenge of NJ (17–18) · Autumn Exit Zero Jazz Festival (23–25). November and December: Christmas in Cape May runs November 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027, and the Christmas Candlelight House Tours, in their 52nd year, are Saturdays December 6, 13 and 20, 5:30–8:30pm — a self-guided walk through private homes, inns and churches in the Historic District. All year: ‘Revolutionary Cape May’ at the Welcome Center through December 31, 2026, free, and ‘Cape May — First and Only’ in the Carroll Gallery through November 2.
What's happening the rest of 2026
Getting around once you're here
- Park once
- Meters are $1.50/hour, 10am–10pm, five-minute grace. Premium $2.00/hour blocks include Carpenters Lane, Decatur Street, Jackson Street, Ocean Street and Perry Street. Beach Avenue east of Philadelphia Avenue runs a shorter 10am–5pm window.
- Meters activate April 1
- Most zones through October 31, free January 1 through March 31. A 2026 ordinance reportedly extended the paid season.
- Use the app where there’s no meter
- ParkMobile is required at Carpenter’s Lane, Mansion Street, Lyle Lane, the Jackson Street and Welcome Center lots, and north Beach Avenue.
- Charging an EV?
- ChargePoint sits at the Welcome Center and City Hall, guest chargers at Congress Hall and La Mer, plus 12 Tesla Superchargers at the ACME on South Dennis Road, 24/7.
- Ride the free shuttle
- 4:00pm–10:00pm. 2026: May 22–June 14 (Fri–Sun), June 19–Sept 7 (daily), Sept 11–Oct 25 (Fri–Sun), Nov 26–Dec 26 (Fri–Sun).
- Rent something smaller
- Cape Island Bike and E Bike Rentals and Beach Buggy golf carts work for the Point.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Cape May, NJ?
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse (199 steps, $12 adults), walk the three-block Washington Street Mall, spend an afternoon on the guarded beach between The Cove and Poverty Beach, take a dolphin or whale cruise from Miss Chris Marina (from $30), and watch the 7:00pm flag ceremony at Sunset Beach. All five fit into one day if you park once.
What can you do in Cape May for free?
Eighteen at least: the Sunset Beach flag ceremony at 7:00pm, the ‘Revolutionary Cape May’ exhibit at the Welcome Center through December 31, 2026, the free shuttle from 4pm to 10pm, the trails and hawk watch at Cape May Point State Park, the South Cape May Meadows, Rotary Park’s summer concerts, and every Lower Township beach.
How many days do you need in Cape May?
Two full days covers the essentials: the lighthouse and the Point on one, the Historic District and a boat trip on the other. Three lets you add the wine trail or a ferry crossing to Lewes. A week is only worth it if you’ll use the beach or you’re here for the migration.
Is there anything to do in Cape May in winter?
Yes, and it’s the cheapest time to come. Meters are off entirely from January 1 through March 31, and Christmas in Cape May runs November 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027, with the 52nd Candlelight House Tours on Saturdays December 6, 13 and 20. But many restaurants and shops close — call ahead.
What is there to do in Cape May at night?
Dinner is the main event, and the best rooms book weeks ahead in summer. Beyond that: Cape May Stage and East Lynne Theater Company, the Ghosts of Cape May trolley tour ($20 / $15), Elaine’s Dinner Theater, and the summer Movies on the Beach and Dance Nights series.
Can you do Cape May without a car?
Partly. You can arrive by NJ Transit bus or walk onto the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, and in town the Historic District, the beach, the Promenade and the Mall are all walkable, with a free shuttle from 4pm to 10pm. But the lighthouse, the wineries and every brewery sit outside the city.