How do Cape May’s digital beach tags work?

On Tuesday, June 25, Cape May’s Department of Tourism unveiled a new digital beach tag service that allows beachgoers to buy tags online. Previously, people had to purchase beach tags on the boardwalk using cash or check before entering beaches, and then display the physical tag on their persons or belongings. Now, all someone needs is a cell phone.

But, don’t worry, physical tags aren’t going anywhere.

“The city knows that a beach tag is a part of the Jersey Shore ‘beach experience,’” said Cape May’s director of tourism, Kacie Rattigan. “We appreciate the beach tag collectors who have shared their collections with us over the years and do not plan to disrupt that piece of nostalgia.”

The digital service just gives people more options, she said. Additionally, the new service allows people to buy tags online and pick up a physical one at the beach if pulling out a cell phone each time is cumbersome.

Neighboring beach towns like Margate, Sea Isle City, and Ventnor City, among others, have all ventured into digital beach tags recently through a partnership with mobile phone app MyBeachMobile.

In Cape May, beach tags help fund lifeguards, beach taggers, trash and recycling pick up, beach maintenance, and beach replenishment. The beach tag funds are solely used for these beach-related activities and are separate from the municipal budget.

Cape May charges for beach access from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend each year. Daily beach tags are $10, three-day beach tags are $20, weekly passes are $25, and season passes are $40. Any beachgoer under the age of 12 doesn’t need a beach tag. Veterans and active military service members can pick up beach tags for free.

How to buy digital beach tags in Cape May

Daily passes are the only beach tag available to be used on a mobile device, while multiday beach tags are only available for pickup on the boardwalk “Promenade” and can’t be displayed digitally via a mobile device. While the digital daily pass may be convenient for some, it is more cost effective to buy multiday passes and pick up tags in-person.

Pick up beach tags at the Cape May beach tag headquarters at 704 Beach Ave., Cape May, NJ, 08204 or at any of the beach tag kiosks along the Promenade at Madison Avenue, Howard Street, Gurney Street, and Broadway.

Visit cape-may.jerseycapetickets.com to buy a digital daily beach tag or multiday passes for pickup. Once purchased, click “View Receipt” and a digital daily beach tag will be scannable from a mobile device. Screenshot or keep the receipt tab open throughout the day to gain access to the beach. For multiday passes, bring the digital receipt to a kiosk for tag pickup.

When arriving at the beach with a digital beach tag, show the QR code viewable on the digital receipt to a beach tagger. Be prepared to show identification if prompted.