Driving Itinerary: To Cape May from NYC or Washington, D.C.

Driving Itinerary:
New York City—Cape May—Washington, D.C.

yellow cabs in NYC

You can fly into NYC on an open-jaw ticket, stay a few days, then rent a car and drive among a band of yellow taxis on your way out of Manhattan toward the greenery-lined New Jersey Parkway leading to Cape May.  After a refreshing stopover in this seaside village, continue on, taking the 70-minute car-ferry across the Delaware Bay (and maybe seeing a pod of frolicking dolphins, not to mention exotic East Coast seagulls with black heads) to Delaware, landing in picturesque Lewes—the oldest town in the oldest state—and on through this scenic state into slightly less scenic Maryland, and then into D.C.  Or you can visit Cape May as a side trip from either big city.  

Cape May-Lewes Ferry, passengers on deck

●Cape May-Lewes Ferry  

(800) 64-FERRY.  Reserve at least 1 day in advance. 

●Lewes, Delaware  

The original town name was Zwaanendael, meaning “valley of the swans” in Dutch.  The first town in the first state, it was settled by the Dutch in 1631.  A round-trip ferry package from Cape May includes shuttle service and a walking tour. 



More information about Cape May.

More things to do in Cape May.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers