Cape May National Wildlife Refuge protects habitat on the Cape May Peninsula in southern New Jersey, and its Two Mile Beach Unit is the closest refuge site to Wildwood. You can walk short trails, use observation platforms and look for wildlife in a coastal landscape; the refuge is free to enter and open year-round.
- Closest unit: Two Mile Beach, on USCG Entrance Road off Pacific Avenue in Wildwood Crest.
- From the hotel: From Calypso Boutique's rooms in Wildwood, the drive to Two Mile Beach takes about nine minutes.
- General access: The refuge is open seven days a week; trails and observation areas are generally open from sunrise to sunset.
- Two Mile Beach trails: The Friends organization describes routes from one-tenth of a mile to one-half mile, including two wheelchair-accessible trails.
Where to find the refuge
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge spans three divisions: Great Cedar Swamp, Delaware Bay and Two Mile Beach. For a visit from Wildwood, Two Mile Beach is the closest unit. Its entrance is on USCG Entrance Road, off Pacific Avenue in Wildwood Crest.
The refuge headquarters is at 24 Kimbles Beach Road in Cape May Court House. This is separate from the Two Mile Beach Unit, so choose your destination before setting out.
The refuge provides directions to headquarters from Garden State Parkway Exit 10: go west into Cape May Court House, turn left onto Route 9, right onto Hand Avenue, left onto Route 47, then right onto Kimbles Beach Road. The office is about one-quarter mile along the road, on the left.
Trails and wildlife viewing
Two Mile Beach combines short trails with observation platforms and a wildlife observation blind. Its trails are open year-round unless an area is temporarily closed, and two are wheelchair accessible. Across the unit, the trail lengths range from one-tenth of a mile to one-half mile.
The refuge also identifies Cedar Swamp Trail in Great Cedar Swamp; Woodcock Trail and Songbird Trail in the Delaware Bay Division; and Marsh Trail and Dune Trail at Two Mile Beach.
The Delaware Bay Division’s five-mile shoreline is a spring resting and feeding area for migrating shorebirds and wading birds. The refuge says the best wildlife-viewing opportunities occur in spring and fall.
At Two Mile Beach, give birds space, walk around flocks rather than through them, and stay out of closed areas. Leave pets at home for this unit.
Pets must be on a short, hand-held leash in the Delaware Bay and Great Cedar Swamp divisions. Disturbing, injuring, destroying or collecting plants, wildlife or other natural objects is prohibited throughout the refuge.
Access, facilities, and seasonal conditions
The refuge is fee-free and open year-round, seven days a week. Nature trails and observation areas are generally open from sunrise to sunset. Parking is available at all sites; at Two Mile Beach, follow the driveway signs to the Visitor Contact Station.
The Atlantic beachfront at Two Mile Beach closes seasonally from April 1 through September 30 to protect nesting and migrating shorebirds. Trails remain open during that beach closure, though individual areas can be temporarily closed. Keep to open routes and respect closure signs.
The Two Mile Beach Visitor Contact Station is listed as open from May through October. Hours and access can change, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Monday and Wednesday to Sunday: 9 AM–3 PM
- Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Planning the visit from Wildwood
For a short outing, head to the Two Mile Beach Unit, park by following the driveway signs, then choose an open trail or observation area.
If you’re visiting during the seasonal beachfront closure, you can still use the trails; the beach itself is closed to protect shorebirds. For details on getting around Wildwood without a car, the Wildwood transportation guide covers local travel.
The Friends organization describes the Wildwoods Bike Path as extending to the Two Mile Beach Unit and identifies a bike-friendly refuge entrance at the south end of Seaview Avenue. Cycling access may help shape the rest of your day.
For a broader birding itinerary, the refuge’s spring and fall viewing opportunities pair naturally with other regional bird habitats, including the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary.
FAQs
Is Cape May National Wildlife Refuge free?
Yes. The refuge is fee-free and open year-round, seven days a week.
Which refuge unit is closest to Wildwood?
The Two Mile Beach Unit in Wildwood Crest is the refuge site closest to Wildwood.
Can you bring a dog to Two Mile Beach?
No. Pets are prohibited at Two Mile Beach. In the Delaware Bay and Great Cedar Swamp divisions, pets must be on a short, hand-held leash.
Are the Two Mile Beach trails open during the beach closure?
Open Wednesday to Monday; closed Tuesday. Yes. The Atlantic beachfront closes seasonally from April 1 through September 30, but the trails remain open unless an area is temporarily closed.