Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business At the southern tip of New Jersey, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay, Cape May is one of the oldest seaside resorts in the United States.
Cape May began welcoming summer visitors in the late eighteenth century, and by the mid-1800s it was a fashionable retreat for families from Philadelphia and beyond. A devastating fire in 1878 destroyed much of the town, and it was rebuilt during the height of the Victorian era.
Today the town offers a rare mix: wide, clean beaches and a classic promenade, alongside walkable streets of historic inns, a strong food scene based on local seafood, and nature preserves where you can watch thousands of migrating hawks, shorebirds and monarch butterflies.
The heart of Cape May is a grid of tree-shaded streets between the beachfront and the harbor, easily explored on foot or by bicycle.
The southernmost three blocks of Washington Street form a pedestrian mall lined with gift shops, boutiques, fudge and saltwater taffy stores, cafes and restaurants. It is the social center of town, busy on summer evenings and pleasant for a stroll at any time.
The Washington Street Mall is a three-block pedestrian street of shops and restaurants in downtown Cape May. Photo: WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Beach Avenue runs along the ocean, with a paved promenade on the seaward side and grand hotels and inns across the street. Walk it at sunrise for quiet ocean views, or in the evening for arcades, ice cream and people-watching.
Congress Hall was rebuilt in brick after the Great Fire of 1878 and once hosted several sitting presidents. Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
The blocks around Hughes, Columbia, Ocean and Jackson streets hold a dense collection of Victorian cottages and villas, many now operating as bed and breakfasts, with steep gables, wide porches and elaborate trim.
On Washington Street, a short walk inland from the mall, the Emlen Physick Estate is an eighteen-room Victorian mansion now run as a house museum by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities.
The Emlen Physick Estate on Washington Street is a Victorian house museum in Cape May. Photo: Staib, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A few miles west of town, the small borough of Cape May Point and the surrounding state park mark the very tip of the peninsula, where bay and ocean meet.
Built in 1859 inside what is now Cape May Point State Park, the lighthouse is the third documented light at this spot; the sites of the first two now lie underwater because of erosion. It still operates today.
Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859, has 199 steps to its gallery and still operates as an active light. Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Surrounding the lighthouse, this state park offers short nature trails through freshwater marshes and dunes, a beach and a famous hawk watch platform where volunteers count raptors during autumn migration. Allow two hours to walk the trails.
Fire Control Tower No. 23 was built in 1942 to help aim coastal guns defending the Delaware Bay. Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons …, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Facing west across the Delaware Bay, Sunset Beach is the place to watch the sun go down over the water. Just offshore lie the broken remains of the SS Atlantus, an experimental concrete cargo ship built after the First World War and towed here in 1926 for use in a planned ferry dock that was never completed.
The wreck of the concrete ship SS Atlantus has rested off Sunset Beach since the 1920s. Photo: Rhododendrites, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Because the peninsula funnels southbound migrants toward the tip, Cape May ranks among the top birding locations in North America. In autumn you may see thousands of hawks, falcons and songbirds in a day, along with monarch butterflies resting before crossing the bay; in spring, shorebirds gather along the Delaware Bay beaches.
Cape May Point State Park is a renowned spot for watching migrating hawks and songbirds in autumn. Photo: PookieFugglestein, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
A few miles north in Lower Township, Historic Cold Spring Village is a living history museum of more than two dozen historic buildings relocated from around Cape May County.
Historic Cold Spring Village is a living history museum of buildings moved from around Cape May County. Photo: DimiTalen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Cape May Harbor, on the inland side of town, is home to one of the busiest commercial fishing ports on the East Coast. Boat trips leave from here and the nearby marinas for dolphin and whale watching, salt marsh nature cruises, sunset sails and fishing excursions.
Seafood is the centerpiece of dining in Cape May. The local fleet lands scallops, flounder and other fish, and you will find them grilled, fried, broiled or baked on menus across town.
Beyond seafood, Cape May has a reputation for fine dining in restored Victorian houses and leisurely breakfasts on porches.
Popular dishes to try in Cape May
The historic district is the classic choice, with many Victorian bed and breakfasts and inns within a short walk of the Washington Street Mall and the beach.
Beach Avenue offers oceanfront hotels and motels that work well for families who want to step straight onto the sand.
Cape May Point is a quiet residential village with rental cottages, ideal for birders and travelers who want calm evenings near Sunset Beach.
Where to stay in Cape May
Summer, from late June through Labor Day, is peak beach season, with warm water, lifeguards, every restaurant open and the largest crowds.
Most visitors drive. The Garden State Parkway ends at Cape May, about three hours from New York City and roughly two hours from Philadelphia. Atlantic City International is the closest commercial airport, about an hour north, with Philadelphia International a larger option.
Once you arrive, park your car and walk or cycle. The town is flat and compact, and bicycle rentals, including surreys for families, are widely available.
Start with a walking tour of the historic district, then browse the Washington Street Mall and have lunch nearby.
Cycle or drive to Cape May Point State Park in the morning, climb the lighthouse and walk the marsh trails.
Join a dolphin watching or salt marsh cruise from the harbor in the morning, then spend the afternoon at Historic Cold Spring Village or birding at the South Cape May Meadows.
Need a bike rental, a seafood market, a charter boat or another local service while you are at the shore?
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