Jersey Shore, New Jersey
A five-mile barrier island of free beaches, a year-round boardwalk, mid-century motels, and amusement piers, fifteen minutes north of Cape May.
Photo: The Ferris wheel at Morey's Piers, lit at night, Smallbones, CC0
The Wildwoods are three shore towns on one five-mile island: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. Official tourism pages call the beaches free, with no beach tags required, unlike Cape May, a short drive south. The boardwalk runs about two miles, from Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest to 15th Avenue in North Wildwood.
After dark the piers light up. In the morning you can walk the boards, ride the yellow Sightseer Tram Car when it is running, or keep going north to the 1874 Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in the old village of Anglesea, where the gardens are free to walk.
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Five miles of sandy beach. Official tourism pages say they are free, with no beach tags required.
Season Open year-round. Official tourism pages say no beach tags are required. Lifeguard coverage is seasonal; confirm current patrol hours with the city or borough beach patrol (check before you go).
English cottage-style gardens around the 1874 lighthouse in the village of Anglesea, North Wildwood. Official tourism pages say the gardens are free to walk.
Season Official tourism pages say the gardens are free to walk. The gardens page describes bloom from spring to late fall (check before you go).
A sea wall walk and island bike paths. Official visitor pages list bicycling and outdoor paths among the free things to do.
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
About two miles of boards, from Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest to 15th Avenue in North Wildwood. Walking the boards is free; shops and rides keep their own hours.
Season Official tourism pages say the boards themselves are open year-round, until 1 a.m. and reopening at 5 a.m. Shops, restaurants and rides set their own hours and may be seasonal (check before you go).
Mid-century motels and neon along the island, a style the Wildwoods still celebrate. The architecture is free to look at from the street.
The Wildwood Historical Society's museum of island history. Official tourism pages say several island museums are free or ask a small optional donation; confirm current hours.
Season Confirm current hours on the official museum site before you go.
Amusement piers, a water park and a Ferris wheel on the Wildwood boardwalk. You pay on the operator's site.
Season Seasonal amusement piers. Confirm the current operating calendar on the official site (check before you go).
A museum of mid-century design, neon and motel culture. Confirm current hours before you go.
Season Confirm current hours on the official museum site before you go.
A World War II hangar museum at the old naval air station, with aircraft you can get close to. Official pages listed 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily; confirm before you go.
Season Official pages listed 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily when they were read on 12 November 2026; confirm before you go.
An 1874 carpenter-gothic lighthouse at 111 North Central Avenue in North Wildwood. The interior is seasonal; confirm current hours on the official lighthouse site.
Season The interior is seasonal. Official pages still posted older hours when they were read on 12 November 2026, so confirm current dates on the lighthouse site before you go.
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Food stands, arcades and shops along the boards. Hours follow the season.
Pacific Avenue and the motel strip, where Doo Wop signs and diners are part of the streetscape.
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
The yellow tram car runs the two-mile Wildwoods Boardwalk. Confirm hours before you go.
Season Official 2026 dates listed daily service through 7 September, then some September weekends, often from noon until the piers close. Confirm before you go.
Part of our Cape May and the Wildwoods guides.
Victorian houses, a lighthouse and a sunset over a sunken ship.
By ferry from Cape May, across Delaware Bay.
Photo: The Ferris wheel at Morey's Piers, lit at night, Smallbones, CC0
Photo: The beach and surf at North Wildwood, Dough4872, Public domain
Photo: Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and its porch, North Wildwood, WhisperToMe, CC0
Photo: Amusement piers and the island looking toward the bay, Gmishkin, CC BY-SA 3.0
