Information for Coast Guard Families

Cape May is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center. CapeMay.com often receives inquiries from Coast Guard families regarding how to get here, where to stay, where to eat and what to do. So – here’s the scoop.

For more details on the US Coast Guard Training Center be sure to visit http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/ and http://www.uscgbootcamp.com

Enjoy your visit, and our congrats to the newly appointed Seaman Apprentice or Seaman Fireman!

Coast Guard Graduation

Every Friday is graduation day in Cape May for recruits at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center. Attendees are expected to be at the base at 9:30 AM. There will be a brief orientation. Graduation takes place promptly at 11 AM and is a formal military ceremony. Graduation Schedule

Coast Guard Graduation Videos

You can order a video of your recruit's graduation through VTS Video Taping.

Getting to Cape May / Directions to the Coast Guard Base

Most people drive to Cape May. Cape May is an island, accessible by one of two main bridges that cross the canal waterway linking the Delaware Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge nearest the base is found at mile-marker zero (the end) of the Garden State Parkway. The road straight ahead at that point crosses the canal and becomes Lafayette Street on the other side of Schellenger's Landing. The base is located at Pennsylvania Avenue, off Pittsburgh Avenue.

From the Garden State Parkway

Drive to the end of the Garden State Parkway, which becomes Route 109 S. Continue over the large bridge (over the canal) and a second smaller bridge. Keep left; when the road divides, turn left onto Sidney Avenue. At the stop sign, make another left onto Washington Street. Immediately get into the right-hand lane, making the right-hand turn past the C-View Inn where the road divides. The road is now Texas Avenue. Stay on Texas Avenue as it curves right and becomes Pittsburgh Avenue. Take Pittsburgh Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue and make a left. Continue to the Training Center's main gate.

If coming up from the south, you may want to take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry which leaves from Lewes, Delaware and docks in North Cape May. Follow 109 (toward Cape May). Turn right at the third traffic light onto Route 626 (Seashore Road) and drive straight across into West Cape May. This road becomes Broadway and terminates at the Ocean in Cape May City. You are now on Beach Avenue. Turn left. Stay on Beach Ave. until you come to Pittsburgh at the other end of the avenue. Turn left. Stay on Pittsburgh until you come to Pennsylvania Avenue. Turn right. Follow to the Training Center's main gate.

By Airplane

If you are flying into the area, the nearest commercial airport is in Atlantic City (ACY), about 50 minutes from Cape May. The nearest large airport is Philadelphia International (PHL), under 2 hours away.

Trains/Buses

Trains do not run from major cities to Cape May, but buses do. Click here for the NJ Transit Station schedule.

Car Rentals

Car rental reservations should be made at the airport for pickup at the time of your arrival.

Cape May Accommodations

Now you’re here and you need a place to stay. One thing you should be mindful of – there’s a huge difference between Cape May "in season," basically May through October when all the hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants are open and fully operational, and Cape May "off season," when the choices in all categories become far more limited.

Most accommodations have minimum stay requirements and strict cancellation policies. Call to reserve your accommodations ahead of time. Specify if you will be a late arrival. You may be surprised how many people neglect this process and end up disappointed. The largest motor inns are along Beach Avenue. The other main streets that are parallel with the beach include Lafayette, Washington and Columbia. The higher numbers are nearest to the Coast Guard Training Center. The lower numbers are in the historic district.

What accommodations offer military discounts and/or one-night stays?

  • Angel of the Sea - Offers discounts to Coast Guard personnel, employees and family members. Special rates range between $65 and $150 depending on the time of year. We do single nights and break minimums in the summer. As the families often need to leave early we offer fruit, cereal, coffee etc. before breakfast and a room for them to change in after checkout.
  • Antoinette's - Offers a special rate for Coast Guard families. Winter months is $69 per night, and spring and fall is $99 per night for 2. During July and August we only take longer stays. We also do one nights from January to pre memorial day weekend and after Labor Day. If they need a ride to and from the base we are happy to accommodate them.
  • The Carroll Villa Hotel - Offers a Thursday Night Graduation Special discounted room. The rate varies depending upon the time of year and is posted on our web site. The Mad Batter Restaurant offers 15% off food.
  • The Dormer House - Offers a 20% discount for Coast Guard families
  • Harvard Apartments - Offers military discounts
  • Henry Sawyer Inn - Offers discounts and one-night stays to Coast Guard families.  The discounts vary by season.
  • Hotel Macomber - Offers one night Thurs stays for graduations
  • John F. Craig House - Offers one-night only Coast Guard specials - @ $125 except July, August and September @ $185, schedule permitting. Full breakfast and afternoon refreshments included.
  • Luther Ogden Inn - Offers discounts to Coast Guard families and one-night stays.
  • Madison Avenue Beach Club - Offers discounts to Coast Guard families and one-night stays, when available.
  • Mainstay Inn - Offers discounts for Coast Guard Families and one-night stays.
  • The Mission Inn - Offers military discounts to graduates, family & friends. One-night stays when available. And we also offer a wonderful bagged 3 course breakfast to travel for those that need to be on the road prior to our breakfast hours.
  • The Mooring B&B - Offers military discounts. THURSDAY NIGHT ONLY OFFERED APR-MAY-JUN-SEP-OCT; 2 or 3 night minimum required Jul & Aug (3 nights if one of the nights is Saturday)
  • The Periwinkle Inn - For Coast Guard we offer 10% off of whole stay, at any time. If family is coming in for a child graduating the C.G. we give them the discount too, as long as they mention it ahead of time.
  • Poor Richards Inn - Offers military discounts and one-night stays for Coast Guard families.
  • The Primrose Inn - Offers a 10% military discount, one-night stays, and will drive to graduations or pick up from Ferry.
  • The Queen Victoria B&B - Offers per-diem rates (government employee rates) to families coming in for Coast Guard graduations. We also have some great mid-week specials that run through April for stays of 2 nights or more. The most popular is the "222", which is two nights for $222.
  • Southern Mansion - Offers military discounts and one-night stays during the week.
  • Summer Station - Offers deep discounts and one-night stays
  • Thomas Webster House - Offers military discounts.
  • Victorian Lace Inn - Offers a 15% discount and one-night stays, excluding Saturday. If they book a Saturday it must be 2 nights and they still get the discount.

What accommodations are open year-round?

Most of these hotels and B&Bs either have a dining facility or have access to one nearby. This is very important during those winter months of January through March when the dining options are limited.

What accommodations are closest to the Coast Guard base?

View these locations on a map

Dining, Groceries, Convenience Stores

For those you coming April through December, the sky’s the limit. Just remember to make your reservations early at any of Cape May's fine restaurants. If you'll be here during the off-season, not all restaurants will be open.

Year-round restaurants in Cape May

The Lobster House at Fisherman's Wharf and The Pilot House on the Washington Street Mall are open every day, year-round.  The Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall is always open for dinner (not always lunch off-season). Others include the Ugly Mug or Jackson Mountain Cafe on the Washington Street Mall, and The C-View Inn (close to base).  View all Cape May year-round restaurants

Diners and restaurants in nearby towns of North Cape May (take Seashore Road north; turn left onto Townbank, which will take you to Bayshore Road) and Rio Grande (exit 4A off the Garden State Parkway; then turn left) are also open year-round.

Convenience and Grocery Stores in Cape May

  • Wawa, a popular convenience change, is located on Pittsburgh Ave.
  • 7-11 on Sunset at Broadway
  • Acme Grocery Store, located in Victorian Commons on Lafayette Street
  • CVS Pharmacy in West Cape May, at Park and Perry streets
  • Dellas 5 & 10 on the Washington Street Mall at Decatur Street

A larger Acme is located in North Cape May. Shop Rite is located in Rio Grande at exit 4A. From the Parkway, turn onto Route 47 toward Rio Grande and You can turn right in to the Shop Rite plaza.

Gas Stations

We'd recommend filling up before you get to Cape May. If you are coming via the Garden State Parkway, there is a Wawa in Rio Grande (exit 4A). From the Parkway exit, turn or merge onto Route 47 and continue to the intersection at Route 9. Cross the intersection. The entrance for Wawa will be on your right. If you're arriving via the Ferry, there is a gas station in North Cape May on Bayshore Road.

Riggins, at the merge of Texas and Washington Streets, is a gas station in Cape May near the base.

Big Box Stores

Wal-Mart and K-Mart are located in Rio Grande at exit 4A on the Garden State Parkway. From the Parkway exit, turn or merge onto Route 47 and continue to the intersection at Route 9. For K-Mart, turn left at Route 9 (big intersection). The entrance to K-Mart will then be on your right. For Wal-Mart, right onto Route 9 and continue to the Wal-Mart entrance on your left.

Banks

Banks and ATMs are situated in all of the most visited areas. Please ask your accommodation for the nearest bank or ATM. There are always ATM machines available at Wawa.

What to Do in Cape May

So now you’re here – you have a place to stay – you know where you’re going to eat – what are you going to do?

If you’re spending a few days or weeks in Cape May, getting around town is easier and more fun on a bicycle. You don’t need to bring your own. There are several bike rental agencies that offer daily or weekly rental periods and can even deliver the bikes to your hotel, motel or B&B. Riders need to follow traditional traffic rules and children under 13 must wear helmets (free with rentals). The best time and place to ride? On the promenade before 10AM and along Sunset Blvd. to Sunset Beach - at sunset.

The best way to see Cape May is to walk through town. Cape May is a small island with so much to see that walking is the best way to explore the town.

Of course, there’s always the beach, biking, and walking, carriage rides, miniature golf, the movies, golf, fishing, tennis – well – you get the idea. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) sponsors a number of tours of the Cape May’s many historic homes. Check their website for information or visit their information booth located by Ocean Street on the Washington Street Mall.

In addition, the island is a huge draw for migrating birds and, therefore, migrating birders. The Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point always has full schedule of events for the beginner as well as the seasoned birder.

The Nature Center of Cape May, right on Delaware Avenue near the US. Coast Guard base also offers a host of activities, especially on the weekends "in season." They also run a popular day camp Monday through Thursday June 30 and continuing until August 21.

The Cape May County Park and Zoo on Rt. 9 (take Garden State Parkway exit 11 to your left; cross the intersection to the zoo entrance) is open year-round. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the winter and 4:45 p.m. in the summer. Admission is free, and you can get there "in season" by taking the train which leaves from the Welcome Center on Lafayette Street. The train also takes you to Historic Cold Spring Village which is a 19th century, open-air, living history museum built on a 22 acre wooded site which includes 25 restored historic buildings. Costumed shopkeepers and craftsmen will guide you through your travel back in time.

If you're visiting during the summertime with children, don’t forget to take the short drive over to Wildwood, which is a town devoted to the doo-wop theme and has any number of amusement parks and water slides to entertain the whole family.

Public bathrooms ("Comfort Stations") can be found near the Washington St. Mall and the Washington Street Commons as well as along the beach and promenade.

Movie Theater

The closest movie theater is in Rio Grande, at exit 4A. From the Garden State Parkway, turn or merge onto Route 47. Cross the intersection at Route 9. On your left, look for the entrance to the K-Mart plaza. Turn left and proceed straight, then make a right at the "T" intersection for theater parking. See what's playing today