About 20 to 25 minutes’ drive south of Wildwood, Cape May Lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay from 199 steps up. It’s one of the best day trips you can take from your Wildwood hotel.
What to Know
The lighthouse is located in Cape May Point State Park. Climb the 199 steps for views over the ocean, the bay and the Point. Climbing hours change with the season, so check the Cape May MAC schedule before you go. The state park around it has walking trails and a visitor center.
Combine It With
- Sunset Beach — About a mile west of the lighthouse, at the end of Sunset Boulevard. Known for its sunsets over the bay; the evening flag-lowering ceremony runs in the summer season.
- Cape May town — Victorian homes, the Washington Street Mall and restaurants; whale and dolphin watching boats run in season
- Cape May County Park & Zoo — Free admission (donations welcome) and good for kids. It is in Cape May Court House, north of Wildwood, so make it a separate stop rather than part of the lighthouse trip
Stay in Wildwood, Day Trip to Cape May
Staying in Wildwood keeps the beaches free and the Boardwalk close, and Cape May is a 20-minute drive whenever you want it. From mid-October through April, Coastal Sands Inn is the Coastal Collection hotel that is open; the other four reopen in April.
Want to keep going past Cape May? Take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to Delaware for a two-state day trip.
Coming back in December? Cape May’s Christmas Candlelight House Tours run three Saturday nights.
The whale boats leave from marinas a short drive from the lighthouse; see why humpbacks now feed off the Jersey Shore.
Where to stay in Wildwood
Planning a Wildwood trip? Coastal Collection runs five locally owned hotels a few blocks from the beach and the Boardwalk: Coastal Sands Inn, Beachside Resort, Sunset Beach Hotel, Sunrise Inn and Paradise Inn. Compare them on the hotels in Wildwood page and book directly with the hotel.
