NORTH WILDWOOD, PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION
A photography hot spot with a nearby Milky Way location
EDITORIAL UPDATE: January, 2026
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NORTH WILDWOOD – WHERE TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY NEAR ME
During the day, you can see dynamic colors, moving water, and of course, people in the area and on the boardwalk. You can do long-exposure Milky Way photography at night just a short distance out of town on the beach. This is one of the few places in New Jersey where the Milky Way is visible. There is also a fishing pier, less than a ten-minute drive away, that makes for some great long-exposure, milky water effect photography and fabulous sunrise images. The bayside has ample opportunity for sunset photography.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
The best times are in the spring, early summer, and fall. Wildwood gets very busy, so it’s ideal to go off-season and mid-week to avoid the crowds.
Go during the Milky Way season to photograph it. It’s one of the few places in N.J. you can do so. See our Milky Way section for details of when you can see it.
HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH THE AREA?
Stay overnight at this location. There is a lot to photograph, plus the Milky Way. You have the boardwalk, bird locations nearby, boats, long-exposure waters (with the right ND filter), sunrise and sunset photography, pier photography, long-exposure boardwalk rides for light trails, and more.
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR SHOULD I BRING?
DSLR, tripod, wide-angle lens, zoom lens, circular polarizing filter, neutral density filters – a ten-stop if you have one.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BRING?
Organic sunscreen. (Sunscreen is a cancer-causing agent; the more it bakes into your skin, the more carcinogenic it becomes.) Don’t forget to bring your organic bug repellent and a durable pair of hiking boots for any trail or terrain. Have a waterproof backpack or rain cover to protect your equipment. Packaging a rain jacket, long pants, hat, and sunglasses is also wise to shield yourself from the elements.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Driving Directions:
From Northwest (Philadelphia):
Take the Atlantic City Expressway West and go to Exit 7 South to get on the Garden State Parkway. Go to Exit 4A South onto Route 47 South (Rio Grande Avenue).
From the South (Cape May & Cape May-Lewes Ferry):
Take the Garden State Parkway North. Go to Exit 4A, then go South on Route 47 South (Rio Grande Avenue).
From West (Delaware Memorial Bridge):
Take Route 40 East to Route 55 South. Take Route 47 South, which will lead you to Wildwood.
From the North (New York):
Take the Garden State Parkway South to Exit 4A. Go South onto Route 47 (Rio Grande Avenue).
ARE THERE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS NEARBY?
Several Beach towns are nearby, and during Milky Way season, take advantage of the East Point Lighthouse being just a short trip away! It’s one of the best locations in New Jersey to photograph the Milky Way. Right next door, Avalon is also a top Milky Way location for N.J.
East Point Lighthouse – Milky Way location
Avalon Beach Milky Way – Milky Way location
Cape May – Milky Way location
The fishing pier in Ocean City
HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?
The summer after school lets out is hectic! It’s better off-season.
WHERE CAN I EAT AND STAY?
See below for all of our picks. We love the Florentine Family Motel!
We focused on the Milky Way on this trip and needed to return for one more day. The amusement park on the boardwalk offers tons of light trails and long-exposure images. If you stay at the Florentine Motel, which we highly recommend, it’s just a short walk to the boardwalk at night to get your light trails while photographing the excitement of the town. We will return to get you more night trail images of the boardwalk.
If you have your family along for the trip and they don’t want to follow you around doing photography, there are many things for them to do. There are also all kinds of festivals all season long, from the Elks Weekend, Boots on the Ground, The Firemen’s Convention, the Italian and Irish Festivals, and more.
For our bird photographers, a bird sanctuary, The Cape May Wildlife Refuge, is just a few miles away at the other end of the barrier island. The snowy owl makes a showing at this location on occasion.
NEARBY AVALON & EAST POINT LIGHTHOUSE MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s a little too light in North Wildwood, but just a short drive to Avalon Beach provides dark enough skies for Milky Way photography. There is also an image of East Point Lighthouse, which you can photograph on your second night traveling from this location. Although a little farther away, it is well worth the drive and one of the best spots in New Jersey for Milky Way photography.
STAY AT THE FLORENTINE FAMILY MOTEL
This is one of the top ten families we met in our worldly travels.
The Number One-Ranked Traveler Hotel in North Wildwood
You will love this family-owned and operated establishment. The owners live on the premises, so you’re in very caring hands. We fell in love with the entire atmosphere and didn’t want to leave. This hotel is just a short hop from the beach and boardwalk and is immaculate in every area. The deck that overlooks the pool was quiet and relaxing. The atmosphere is geared towards serenity; you will enjoy the heated pool.
People have been coming here regularly for many, many years.
The one image of the TV screen, with the number forty-five (in our gallery) at the top, displays the person who has been returning to the hotel for forty-five years. A customer returning after that many years sums up how well you are treated and how excellent this hotel is. They display a long list of return customers and the number of years they have been coming in the slideshow. If you stay here, you’ll want to return year after year, too.
The service is impeccable; it’s clear to see that the owners have put a lot of effort into perfecting every last detail. Not only do they strive to make their guests happy, but their pleasant service is also a significant contributing factor to why so many people come back year after year.
- Free wifi
- Beach and boardwalk block
- Laundry room and grills on the premises
- Heated pool
- Sundeck
- Various specials throughout the season.
- Captain kid weekend. Meet the Captain at the Florentine.
- Stay and play packages that include tickets to an amusement park and water rides.
- Great view of the fireworks, Friday nights, June – September.
- Dolphins in the pool at night. A family event geared for children.
- Various style of rooms that sleep up to ten guests.
NORTH WILDWOOD AREA INFORMATION
Entrance Fees: None
UPDATE: 2026 – We cannot find a page on fees, so they may still be free, but there was talk about that not lasting, so please check before you go this year.
North Wildwoods has FREE beaches. North Wildwood: 609.522.7500 – Transport via surf chairs at the First Aid Station at 15th Avenue.
Dogs are allowed on all beaches from October to May. Dogs are not allowed on the Boardwalk at any time. A dog park and beach are located at Glenwood Ave in Wildwood and marked with a giant fire hydrant sculpture. Hours are from 6 a.m. until dusk. A dog park is located on the east side of the beach at 24th Avenue in North Wildwood; a permit ($10) is required for your dog, and hours are 8 a.m. until dusk.
There are no fees to visit East Point Lighthouse. There are no tours inside.
WHERE TO STAY
The Florentine Family Motel
The Best Place to Stay in North Wildwood
Address: 1901 Surf Ave, North Wildwood, NJ 08260 – Phone: +16095224075 – Hours: 8:00 am-10:00 pm
This Motel offers everything you need, including a fabulous pool, immaculate rooms, and great management, at one of the best prices in the North Wildwood area. Look no further.
We highly recommend you stay here! Book Now.
WHERE TO CAMP
Add your campground here! We are from New Jersey. We will come and take pictures of your location when we’re in your area and add your information here. For now, this campground has good features and good reviews.
Thousand Trails Sea Pines RV Campground
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
WHAT IS THE WEATHER?
RESTAURANT INFOMATION
SPACE OPEN FOR ADVERTISING.
Beach Plum Farm Kitchen
Experience the beauty of Beach Plum Farm with our signature Farm-to-Table Dinner Series. Nestled on 62 acres of preserved farmland in Cape May, our dinners take place amidst rows of heirloom vegetables, wildflower meadows, or inside one of our nearby greenhouses.
THEY HAVE GOOD REVIEWS AND THIS!
They have organic produce and freshly picked garden herbs. Dine beneath a canopy of stars or inside our warmly lit hoop house, surrounded by the sights, scents, and sounds of the farm. Dinners are served family-style at long communal tables, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere where guests come together to share in the experience.
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