Parking & Getting Around

Parking in Cape May

During the summer, finding parking places in Cape May can be a challenge. There's heavy traffic in the center of town and limited spaces available. The majority of parking spaces in this area are metered. The good news is that no matter where you park in Cape May, you're probably not more than a 20-minute walk to the center of town.

• When are the parking meters active?

  Parking meters activate city-wide on April 1st.

  • Meters on the Washington Street Mall and surrounding areas (Carpenter's Lane, Lyle Lane, Mansion Street, and the ones at the Welcome Center) are in effect through December 31st.
  • All other parking meters in Cape May City will be active through October 31st.
  • Parking meters in Cape May City are off from January 1st through March 31st.

• How much do parking meters cost? Do I need quarters? Do I need a credit card?

  2024 update: Not all standalone meters accept quarters. Beginning in 2024, certain meters only accept digital payments through the Parkmobile app (see below for the list). Multi-meters accept credit/debit cards and work with the Parkmobile app. There is a five-minute grace period on meters.

  To the best of our knowledge, from 10am to 10pm, Cape May parking meters cost $1.50 per hour (25 cents for every 10 minutes) except for the exceptions below.

  The following streets cost $2.00 an hour:

  • Carpenters Lane (uses Parkmobile)
  • Congress Place
  • Congress Street
  • Decatur Street
  • Jackson Street parking lot (uses Parkmobile)
  • Jackson Street
  • Lyle Lane (uses Parkmobile)
  • Mansion Street (uses Parkmobile)
  • Ocean Street
  • Perry Street
  • South Lafayette Street
  • 600 block of Washington Street
  • 500 block of Hughes Street
  • 500 block of Columbia Street

  Metered Parking 10am to 5pm ($1.50 an hour)

  • Meters east of Philadelphia Avenue on Beach Avenue

  Metered Parking 10am to 6pm ($1.50 an hour)

  • 1st Avenue
  • 2nd Avenue
  • Broadway
  • Grant Street
  • Mt. Vernon Avenue
  • Patterson Avenue

• Where can I park for free?

  During the summer months, free parking is offered in the Cape May Elementary School lot on Lafayette Street (at the Madison Street intersection). When school is in session, free parking is available Saturday and Sunday only. Parking is free until 11pm. Overnight parking in the school lot is not permitted.

  There are also free parking spaces on many side streets throughout town. These typically fill up early in the morning, but if you don't mind driving around, you can find occasional spaces open during the day.

  All parking is free in West Cape May. If you don't mind a short walk, you can park on any of the shady side streets and save some money.

• What about parking lots and flat-rate parking?

  Parking is available in the lot at Washington Commons, where Acme grocery store is located, for an hourly rate. The Washington Commons lot closes at 11pm and is not intended for overnight parking. During the winter months, this parking lot does not charge.

  Parking in the Bank Street Lot is by permit only in-season (dates are posted on the sign). Don't risk it without a pass. You'll get a ticket.

  In the evenings, several businesses offer parking spaces for a flat fee (usually between $7 and $10). While this isn't necessarily more economical, it can be less of a headache.

• Will I be able to park at my accommodation?

  Due to the historic nature of the town, not all Cape May accommodations are able to offer on-site parking (cars weren't around when some of them were built). Always ask your accommodation about parking. Many have parking permits for lots around Cape May or they may offer valet parking. In some cases, you're on your own and must find parking for the duration of your stay. In this case, we recommend finding a free spot early in the morning, parking your car, and only moving it if absolutely necessary. Parking in West Cape May is a great option if you don't mind a short walk!

• Is there free accessible parking? (Yes)

  There are accessible parking spaces available throughout Cape May. The use of these spaces is restricted to persons with a disability who properly display a wheelchair symbol license plate, disability placard, or parking permit issued by the State of New Jersey, any other state/district/territory of the United States, or Canada. The person must be the driver OR passenger of the vehicle. [NJ.S.A. 39:4­ 205]

  In Cape May City, persons with a disability with proper signage on their vehicles are exempt from parking meter fees. Here's the information straight out of the city code:

  Cape May City Code
  Chapter 7 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  7-51.6 Exemptions from parking meter fees.

  Handicapped persons shall mean a person as defined in N.J.S.A. 39:4-204. Handicapped persons properly displaying a special license plate or placard or parking permit issued by the State of New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 39:4-205 or any other state, district or territory of the United States, or by Canada in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:4-207.5 shall not be required to pay parking meter fees.

  A. Display of placard or wheelchair symbol license plate. The windshield placard must be clearly visible through the front windshield of the vehicle. The wheelchair symbol license plate must be attached to the rear and front (rear only for states or districts which only issue one (1) license plate) of the vehicle for which the same are issued in a manner that they can be clearly and plainly seen.

  B. Limits of applicability. Exemption from parking meter fees shall only apply to a vehicle properly displaying a placard and/or wheelchair license plate when the handicapped person to whom the same is issued is the driver or passenger.

  C. Time Limit. Any vehicle properly displaying a placard and/or wheelchair license plate may only remain parked in one (1) location for up to twenty-four (24) hours. Any vehicle remaining in one (1) location in excess of twenty-four (24) hours is subject to penalties.

  You can't leave the car at the meter for your whole vacation. Any vehicle properly displaying a placard and/or wheelchair license plate may only remain parked in one location for up to 24 hours. Any vehicle remaining in one location in excess of 24 hours is subject to penalties (N.1.S.A. 39:4-207.5).

  Parking in accessible spaces without special vehicle identification is prohibited by the state. You will be fined.

• Where can I park my RV/camper in Cape May?

  We asked the Cape May City Police if it's legal to park a recreational vehicle (RV) or a camper within Cape May City limits. Here is the city policy on parking an RV in Cape May:

  • RVs are not allowed on Beach Avenue or near the Washington Street Mall
  • RVs may be parked 2 or more blocks from the beach in a residential area as long as they are legally parked
  • Absolutely no camping (sleeping, eating, watching TV) is permitted in a parked RV within Cape May City

  If you plan to be in Cape May for the weekend with your camper or RV, we recommend reserving a space at a local campground.

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  Wondering where you can park a charter bus? See our Group Tours page.

• Where can I charge an electric vehicle in Cape May?

  ChargePoint stations are available at the Cape May Welcome Center and City Hall, and there are FLO chargers at the West Cape May Municipal Complex at 732 Broadway. Please use the apps/websites for those services to determine exact location, parking cost, availability, electricity cost, plug types, compatibility, etc.

  Congress Hall (Tesla) and La Mer (ChargePoint) offer on-site charging stations for guests. If you are staying with either accommodation, please ask them for more information.

  The shopping plaza at 11 Court House South Dennis Road (ACME) in Cape May Court House also has 12 Tesla supercharging stations that are available 24/7. They are walking distance to the grocery store, pharmacy, and several restaurants.