Cape May, Wildwoods Nominated for “Best Beach” in New Jersey

USA Today announced that the Cape May and Wildwoods beaches are in the running for the title of “Best Beach in New Jersey” in the newspaper’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards Contest 2025.

Wildwoods’ beaches won the Best Beach in New Jersey award in 2024 and hope to repeat by placing No. 1 in the USA Today rankings again this year. 

Voting is underway at vote online. Voting is allowed once a day, every day, until the voting period ends on Monday, May 19, at 11:59 a.m.

The Top 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 28. The Cape May County resort towns of Avalon, Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Stone Harbor are also in the running for Best Beach in New Jersey. 

The Wildwoods beaches stretch for five miles across the shores of North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. Unlike most New Jersey beach destinations, the Wildwoods’ beaches are free and require no beach tags

“Families have come back to the Wildwoods’ beaches for generations, and it’s our hope that this nomination inspires new visitors to make memories here,” Louis M. Belasco, executive director of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, said in a news release.

Throughout the season, the Wildwoods’ beaches host many events, including the Barefoot Country Music Festival June 19-22, and the “Thunder Over the Waves” airshow September 5-6.

Among other events on the beaches, there will also be championship soccer, lacrosse, baseball, beach volleyball, beach field hockey tournaments, the National Marbles Championships, The Race of Gentleman Vintage Car and Motorcycle Beach Drag Races, Monster Truck Races, Motocross Races, sand sculpting festivals, headline concerts, the Wildwoods International Kite Festival and the Ultimate Beach Frisbee Championship. 

The Wildwoods’ Boardwalk was voted the “Best Boardwalk” in the country in a recent USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Contest.

    Cabanas line the Cape May beach. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)