Tiny Weekends
Houses on Beach Avenue in Cape May (city), New Jersey. Photo taken from the sea. In Cape May Historic District listed as a National Historic Landmark district.
Photo: Smallbones (Wikimedia Commons)
Other Worth the Drive

Cape May

Washington Street Mall, Cape May, NJ 08204

Hours

Hours not posted

Cost
Free
Indoor / outdoor
Indoor & outdoor
Typical visit
3 hr
Stroller friendlyBathroomsChanging tableShadeFood on siteParking usually fine

Victorian beach town. Lighthouse climb (ages 3+ can try), trolley tour, birding at the Point, Cape May Zoo (free, excellent). Washington Street Mall is walkable with food. 90 min from Wilmington via ferry or bridge.

Family Logistics

Free admissionStroller friendlyBathroomsChanging tableFood on siteShadedWorth the drive

Admission

Free admission

Free to walk around the pedestrian mall.

Hours

The mall itself is public space, open 24/7. Individual business hours vary, typically mid-morning until past sunset in summer, with reduced hours or closures on some weekdays in the offseason.

Seasonal hours

The mall is bustling in summer with extended business hours and outdoor dining. In the offseason, many businesses remain open but may have reduced hours or be closed on some weekdays. Metered parking is seasonal. The mall hosts various seasonal events, including Oktoberfest, a Halloween parade, and Christmas festivities with holiday lights and special shopping events.

Parking

Metered street parking is available on surrounding streets like Carpenters Lane, Lyle Lane, and Mansion Street. Larger municipal parking lots are located on Jackson Street and at the Welcome Center off Lafayette Street. Parking is paid seasonally (April 1-Dec 31 or May 1-Oct 31, depending on location). Payment can be made via ParkMobile app, QR code, kiosks, or phone. Free parking can be found on some side streets further away, and at the Cape May Elementary School lot when school is not in session, with a free Jitney shuttle service available.

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