Introduction

Cape May sits at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, on the Cape May Peninsula, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay, roughly 62 miles south of Philadelphia. It's a small city famous for its concentration of Victorian architecture, a genuine beach resort with more year-round activity than some more remote seasonal towns. This guide covers the fundamentals: geography, its historic designation, and getting here, with dedicated guides on best time to visit, things to do, restaurants, cafes, and where to stay filling in the rest.

A Small City, A Major Historic Landmark

Cape May's population runs around 2,760, per the 2020 Census and subsequent estimates, with a notably older median age reflecting its character as a retiree and resort community. Despite its small size, the Cape May Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976, covering roughly 380 acres and more than 600 buildings dating from the 1850s through the 1920s. The National Park Service's own nomination described it as having "one of the largest collections of late 19th century frame buildings left in the United States" — worth noting that the commonly repeated claim of being "second only to San Francisco" isn't part of that original official language, so we'd treat it as a popular but unofficial comparison rather than a settled fact.

More Than a Summer-Only Town

Unlike some more remote seasonal resort towns, Cape May has real shoulder-season and even winter draw, thanks partly to its proximity to Philadelphia and the wider NYC metro area — Victorian house tours, a Christmas lights season, a fall festival, and a genuinely major birding calendar all extend visitor interest well beyond summer.

Getting Here

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, has run since 1964, carrying vehicles and passengers roughly 17 miles across the Delaware Bay to Lewes, Delaware, in about 85 minutes, year-round.

*Nearest airport:

• Cape May has no commercial airport of its own — the small Cape May Airport (WWD) is general aviation only, with no scheduled passenger service. Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), about 45 miles (roughly 45-55 minutes) away, is technically the nearest commercial option, but its service is currently thin: Spirit Airlines, ACY's longtime anchor carrier, ceased all operations in May 2026, and the airport has since been served only by Allegiant and Breeze, flying to about a dozen Florida and Carolinas leisure destinations — useful only if your home city happens to be one of those specific routes. American Airlines is also listed at ACY, but that's a motorcoach connection to Philadelphia, not an actual flight. Most visitors instead fly into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), about 90 miles (roughly 1.5-2 hours, longer with typical shore-bound traffic) away, which has by far the broadest route network and remains the more reliable default.

Practical Tips

• Cape May beaches require paid beach tags in season — budget for this as part of your trip.

• Don't assume the whole town shuts down in winter the way some remote seasonal resort towns do — Cape May has genuine off-season activity.

• See our dedicated guides for best time to visit, things to do, restaurants, cafes, and where to stay.

Sources and Verification Notes

Population and historic designation dates were checked against the U.S. Census Bureau and the original 1976 National Historic Landmark nomination document. The "second only to San Francisco" Victorian architecture claim was specifically checked against the nomination's own language and found to be a popular addition not present in the official citation.