The Wildwoods is known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, and most of its hotels and motels reflect the doo wop spirit. That gives Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood a nostalgic feel, whether you’re visiting in the heart of summer or for a quieter fall or holiday retreat.
One of the newest hotels in the area has been named Best New Hotel by USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards for 2025! Having visited Madison Resort in October, we can enthusiastically say we agree! It still has nostalgia, but with lots of upgrades to the former Oceanview Motel and the Royal Hawaiian properties, it gives off a modern vibe sure to impress visitors heading down the Shore any time of year.
When you drive along East Rambler Road to the intersection of Ocean Avenue, you can’t help but notice the pale pink and white building with a gorgeous tropical pool outside.
At check-in, you’ll be greeted by an antique photo booth adorned with gorgeous flowers that scream “selfie” (which you’ll be prompted to take by staff). Cute decor abounds inside the lobby (look for the Pound Puppy area!), an old-fashioned couch, a Crosley record player and a mid-century TV playing classic beach movies.
This also leads to the entrance of Vinyl restaurant, which serves a buffet breakfast.
The rooms are sleek and modern, with comfortable beds and a sitting area with beachy decor. Each room has an outdoor bistro table and chairs with a view of the property.
Each room’s separate suite area has a couch, TV, old-fashioned fridge and microwave, and lots of throwback decor.
The top floor has an area with outdoor furniture, making it ideal for sunrise or sunset views overlooking the beach. Or, sit by the pool anytime of year on the lounge chairs or under the cabanas, or at the fire pits.
The hotel is steps from the beach and across the street from D.R. Bradley’s Bike Rentals – get around town via foot, bike, car, or the shuttle offered by Madison Resorts to certain locations throughout the island.
You can also hop on the shuttle to get to Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille in Cape May, which is adjacent to their sister resort, Montreal Beach Resort.
Madison Resort Wildwood Crest took over both the Oceanview Motel and the Royal Hawaiian property after 2 years and $2 million worth of renovations. All in all, there will be 200 guest rooms, three restaurants, a regular pool and a children’s pool, poolside seating for over 100 people, two hot tubs, two fitness centers, five conference rooms with state-of-the-art audio and video technology, two rooftop event spaces, pet-friendly accommodations (in the Royal Tower), swinging hammocks, outdoor dining, and an area for beachfront weddings. This makes it Cape May County’s, and probably the Jersey Shore’s, largest beach resort.
Madison Resort Wildwood Crest is located at 7201 Ocean Ave. in Wildwood Crest. To celebrate the recognition by USA Today, Madison Resort is offering 10 percent off hotel rooms for stays through May 22; book by January 31 using promo code USATODAY via online booking at madisonresortwildwoodcrest.com or when calling 609-884-4063. Upcoming retreats are Galentines Weekend February 7-9, and Girlfriends Weekend May 16-18.
In related news, Wildwood’s Honky Tonk Saloon entertainment venue earned the No. 5 spot for Best New Attraction. Country-themed, it has a restaurant, an arcade filled with games for players of all ages, rustic decor, frequent live country music, and nightly line dancing.
Last year, the Wildwoods Beaches placed No. 1 in USA Today’s 10Best Beaches in New Jersey Readers’ Choice Awards; and the Doo Wop Experience Museum earned a spot among the Top 10 Pop Culture Museums in the country by USA Today’s 10Best.
See what the resort looks like firsthand via our Instagram page.
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Read More:
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