Cape May is just 30 minutes south of Ocean City NJ, and it makes for an absolutely perfect day trip. This Victorian jewel at the southern tip of New Jersey offers wine tasting, upscale dining with full bar service, stunning architecture, and a completely different vibe from the family-focused boardwalk scene of OCNJ. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Cape May from Ocean City.
Getting There
The drive from Ocean City to Cape May takes about 30-35 minutes depending on traffic. Head south on Ocean Drive (a scenic coastal route) or take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 0. The Ocean Drive route passes through Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Avalon, and Stone Harbor—all worth stopping at another time, but today you are headed to Cape May.
Pro tip: Leave by 10am to maximize your day. Cape May parking fills up by midday in summer, especially near the pedestrian mall.
Why Cape May Is Perfect for OCNJ Visitors
Here is the secret many OCNJ visitors discover: Cape May offers everything Ocean City does not—primarily wine, cocktails, and a more adult atmosphere. Since OCNJ is a dry town with no alcohol even in restaurants, a Cape May day trip lets you enjoy a leisurely lunch with wine or happy hour cocktails before heading back to your family-friendly home base.
Cape May’s vibe is distinctly different: Victorian architecture, upscale boutiques, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants that feel more like the Hamptons than the Jersey Shore. It is a nice change of pace from boardwalk pizza.
What to Do in Cape May
Washington Street Mall
This three-block pedestrian mall is the heart of Cape May. Tree-lined streets are packed with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and cafes. You could spend hours browsing. Highlights include:
- Love the Cook: Kitchen store with everything a home chef could want
- Cape May Olive Oil: Taste flavored oils and vinegars
- Winterwood Gift and Christmas Gallery: Year-round Christmas shop
- Congress Hall shops: Upscale boutiques in the historic hotel
Wine Tasting
Cape May has become a wine destination with several tasting rooms and nearby vineyards:
Cape May Winery: The flagship winery about 10 minutes from downtown. Beautiful grounds, outdoor seating, food pairings, and live music on weekends. Their red blends and chardonnay are excellent.
Willow Creek Winery: Award-winning wines in a stunning setting with gardens and a tasting room.
Hawk Haven Vineyard: Small-batch wines with a rustic tasting room.
Natali Vineyards: Family-run winery known for their Italian-style wines.
Most tasting rooms charge $10-20 for a flight of wines. It is an easy way to spend an afternoon.
Cape May Brewery
If beer is more your style, Cape May Brewing Company has a taproom in the Rio Grande area (about 5 minutes from downtown). Their IPAs and seasonal brews are excellent, and they have food trucks on site.
Victorian Architecture
Cape May has the second-largest collection of Victorian homes in America (after San Francisco). Take a walking tour or just stroll the residential streets admiring the painted ladies—elaborate Victorian houses painted in period-appropriate colors.
The Emlen Physick Estate: A fully restored Victorian mansion with guided tours. Great for history buffs.
Trolley Tours: The MAC (Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts) runs narrated trolley tours throughout town covering history and architecture.
Beach and Promenade
Cape May’s beach is beautiful and less crowded than OCNJ. Beach tags are required in summer. The promenade runs along the beachfront, passing historic hotels like Congress Hall and The Virginia. Sunset Point at the western end offers spectacular sunset views.
Cape May Lighthouse
Climb the 199 steps of this 1859 lighthouse for panoramic views of the Atlantic, Delaware Bay, and the coastline. Located at Cape May Point State Park, which also has nature trails and bird watching.
Where to Eat
Cape May’s dining scene is a major upgrade from boardwalk fare. Reservations recommended for dinner at popular spots.
Upscale Dining
The Ebbitt Room at Virginia Hotel: Fine dining in an elegant Victorian setting. Excellent wine list. Dinner entrees $35-55.
Peter Shields Inn: Oceanfront fine dining in a stunning historic inn. Farm-to-table menu. Romantic atmosphere.
Union Park Dining Room at Hotel Macomber: Creative American cuisine with local ingredients.
Casual but Excellent
The Lobster House: A Cape May institution. Waterfront dining with fresh seafood. Their raw bar and lobster are legendary. Expect a wait in summer—put your name in and explore the dock shops.
Lucky Bones: Casual gastropub with excellent burgers, seafood, and craft beer.
George’s Place: Greek-influenced breakfast and lunch spot on the mall.
The Blue Pig Tavern: Congress Hall’s casual restaurant with a great bar scene.
Happy Hour Spots
Rusty Nail: Beach bar with live music and cocktails. Very lively in summer.
C-View Inn: Dive bar that locals love. Cash only, cheap drinks, no frills.
Congress Hall porch: Rocking chairs, cocktails, and people watching.
Sample Day Trip Itinerary
10:00am: Leave Ocean City, take Ocean Drive for scenic route
10:45am: Arrive Cape May, park near Washington Street Mall
11:00am: Explore Washington Street Mall shops
12:30pm: Lunch at Lucky Bones or George’s Place
2:00pm: Wine tasting at Cape May Winery (20 min away)
4:00pm: Return to downtown, walk the promenade
5:30pm: Happy hour at Congress Hall or The Blue Pig
7:00pm: Head back to Ocean City
Alternative afternoon: Skip wine tasting and do Cape May Point Lighthouse and beach instead.
Practical Tips
- Parking: Street parking is metered. The lots near the mall fill up fast. Arrive early or park on side streets.
- Beach tags: Required in summer if you want to hit the beach.
- Dress code: Cape May is slightly dressier than OCNJ. You will be fine in casual clothes, but this is not a flip-flop boardwalk scene.
- Traffic: Ocean Drive can back up on summer weekends. Garden State Parkway is faster but less scenic.
- Designate a driver: If wine tasting, make sure someone stays sober for the drive back.
Beyond a Day Trip
If you fall in love with Cape May (many people do), consider spending a night. Congress Hall, the Virginia Hotel, and numerous B&Bs offer a different Jersey Shore experience. Dinner at a fine restaurant, drinks at sunset, and a morning walk on a quiet beach make for a romantic getaway within your OCNJ vacation.
The Perfect Complement
Ocean City and Cape May are perfect complements. OCNJ gives you family fun, boardwalk excitement, and that classic shore town experience. Cape May offers adult sophistication, wine and cocktails, and architectural beauty. Together, they make a Jersey Shore vacation complete.
Pack a bag, gas up the car, and make the easy drive south. Cape May is waiting.