A Cape May Day Trip: a Solo Travel Guide

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One of the things I love most about my solo trips is that they can be whatever I want. My favorite types of solo trips are shorter, either a weekend or even a day trip. It’s easier to get away for only a few days, less expensive, and a great way to see the highlights of a place. While day trips can sometimes be challenging, like my recent trip to NYC, if you plan it well, a day trip is perfect for solo travelers. I recently took one such trip to Cape May, New Jersey. So check out what I was able to do in my Cape May Day Trip below.

Morning: Cape May-Lewes Ferry

I actually didn’t stay in Cape May when I visited, since it’s a bit pricey. I stayed in Lewes, Delaware and took the very convenient Cape May-Lewes Ferry over to Cape May. This ferry is only about an hour ride across the Delaware Bay and is $18 for an individual round trip fare during peak summer.

So I got up early the morning of my trip to Cape May and boarded the ferry. The weather was gorgeous and it was a very fun way to start my day. Once I arrived in Cape May, I took the shuttle to the downtown area, which has tons of restaurants and shops. I stopped in to McGlade’s on the Pier for a lovely beach-side breakfast before heading out to explore.

Afternoon: Cape May Point State Park

When researching what to do on my Cape May day trip, I knew that I wanted to go to the beach (DUH!), and enjoy the outdoors. I also saw some really gorgeous pictures of the Cape May Lighthouse, which I wanted to visit. So my afternoon was spent at Cape May Point State Park, which had everything I wanted. My first stop was to the lighthouse, which has 360-degree views once you climb to the top. It’s $12 to climb, but definitely worth it.

After visiting the lighthouse, I explored the Cape May Wetlands State Natural Area, which was right across the parking lot. This was not on my planned itinerary, but I am so glad I found the trail. It was a gorgeous boardwalk trail with lots of blooming flowers and amazing views of the lighthouse. After my walk, I headed to the beach to relax. It was surprisingly empty and a great spot to get my beach fix and put my feet in the sand.

Evening: Downtown Cape May

My ferry ride back to Lewes left around 7, so I had a few hours to enjoy the evening before heading back. I headed back to downtown Cape May, where there was a festival going on. I hadn’t realized this was occurring when I visited, but it added an extra level of fun and activity to the day.

I loved downtown Cape May mainly because of its pastel-colored buildings. It reminded me of Charleston or other southern towns with its charm. I walked around, did some shopping, and enjoyed the festive atmosphere before grabbing dinner at The Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar. With that, it was time to call it a day and head back to Lewes.

My ferry ride back to Lewes was the perfect way to end the trip. The sun was setting during the ride, which made for some beautiful scenery. If you’re interested in taking the ferry from Delaware like I did, check out my Lewes blog post. And let me know if you’ve visited Cape May before!

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20 Comments

Katherine Wolfe

at Reply

What a cute place! I love the colors of the buildings!

Charlene

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I am saving this for my daughter, who is trying to visit all 50 states before she graduates. The last two she needs on the east coast are NJ and DE. This is perfect!

Jordan

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Hi Charlene,
I am doing the same thing! I’m hitting the states closest to me first and working my way out. That’s awesome that she only has 2 more! I am working on a post right now for a weekend trip to Delaware!