Coast Guard Families

Cape May is home to the the fifth largest base in the U.S. Coast Guard, which serves as the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center and the only enlisted accession point.

Cape May was proclaimed a Coast Guard Community in 2015. If you travel to Cape May to attend graduation, we hope you enjoy your visit, and our congratulations to the newly appointed Seaman Apprentice or Fireman Apprentice!

Contact

U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
1 Munro Avenue
Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 898-6900

USCG Boot camp on Facebook TRACEN website

The TRACEN website is frequently down, so please try their Facebook.

Coast Guard Graduation FAQs

Here are answers to the most common questions we receive about attending Coast Guard graduation.

Getting to Cape May and 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.

The base's official address is 1 Munro Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey, 08204.

Directions 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. Leaving the ferry terminal, follow 109 (toward Cape May). Turn right at the third traffic light onto Route 626 (Seashore Road). Seashore will take you over the West Cape May Bridge and into West Cape May. This road becomes Broadway and terminates at the ocean in Cape May City. If you've reached the ocean, you are now facing Beach Avenue. Turn left. Stay on Beach Avenue until you come to Pittsburgh Avenue (1.7 miles). Turn left. Stay on Pittsburgh until you come to Pennsylvania Avenue (0.6 miles). 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 Airport (PHL), under 2 hours away. We recommend renting a car at either airport to use for local transportation.

Read more on Getting to Cape May

By Train or Bus

Trains do not run from major cities to Cape May, but buses do. Visit NJTransit.com for schedules and fees (opens in a new window)

Read more on Getting to Cape May

Where to stay in Cape May for Coast Guard Graduation

We know that Coast Guard families have different needs than people here on vacation, so we've put together this guide to make your planning easier. This section includes:

  • FAQs about Cape May Accommodations
  • Cape May accommodations that offer military discounts and USCG graduation packages
  • A list of year-round accommodations
  • A list of accommodations closest to base

Accommodation FAQs

  • Is it possible to stay in Cape May for just one night? What about during the winter?

    One-night stays are hard to find from Memorial Day through Labor Day and often expensive. Most Cape May accommodations have minimum stay requirements (especially during the summer) and strict cancellation policies. Call to reserve your accommodations ahead of time and specify if you will be a late arrival.

    If you visit us in January and February, there are fewer accommodations, restaurants, and shops open, but you'll also enjoy lower rates and less traffic. Keep scrolling for a list of year-round accommodations.

  • Are there any major hotel chains in Cape May?

    Not in Cape May itself. The closest is a Red Roof Inn on Route 47 in Rio Grande, a few miles north of Cape May at exit 4 off of the Garden State Parkway. The hotel is located next to the Parkway ramp, so it may be noisy.

    If you're considering hotels outside of Cape May, please check online reviews to make sure you and your family will be comfortable staying there. We aren't familiar with them and can't tell you what they're like.

  • Can my family stay on the Coast Guard base?

    The Coast Guard does not provide lodging for friends and families of graduates. You will need to find lodging in the area (we have suggestions below).

    If you are a military member, temporary lodging is available. Unfortunately, the USGS website isn't displaying the information any longer, so please call them at (609) 898-6900 for information.

  • We forgot to pack something. What stores are nearby?

    There is a Walmart in Rio Grande, just a few miles north of Cape May. Take Exit 4 off of the Garden State Parkway. Learn more about our neighboring towns

Military discounts and USCG graduation hotel packages

Coast Guard families, if any accommodation listed below refuses you these published discounts or offers to discount less than what is listed here, please email hello@capemay.com so we can edit the offer or remove the accommodation from this list. (And accommodations, please email us your current military discounts!)

Accommodation Type Open Discount
The Bedford Inn (opens in a new window) B&B  

10% discount to Coast Guard families

Camelot Motel (opens in a new window) Hotel Year-round

During the off season, a discount is available to Coast Guard families in town for graduation.

The Carroll Villa Hotel (opens in a new window) Hotel Year-round

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.

Congress Hall (opens in a new window) Hotel Year-round

A one-night stay package for Coast Guard Graduation (an exception to our standard summer month minimum stays), with 10% off of the best available rate and 2 complimentary cups of coffee from our in-house coffee shop, Tommy's Folly.

The Dormer House (opens in a new window) B&B  

20% discount for Coast Guard families

Hotel Macomber (opens in a new window) Hotel  

One night Thursday stays for graduations

Icona Cape May (opens in a new window) Hotel  

10% discount and one-night stays for Coast Guard families

The Inn of Cape May (opens in a new window) Hotel  

15% discount for stays whenever the hotel is open (The Inn of Cape May closes at the beginning of the year). They have an on-site restaurant, Aleathea's, which offers a 10% discount on food.

La Mer Beachfront Resort (opens in a new window) Hotel Year-round

La Mer offers 25% off select room types for Coast Guard families coming for graduation.

Luther Ogden Inn (opens in a new window) B&B  

10% off for Coast Guard families

Madison Avenue Beach Club (opens in a new window) Hotel  

We offer a 10% discount for Coast Guard families

Mainstay Inn (opens in a new window) B&B  

10% discount with a 2 night minimum in season from July 1st to September 8th

Marquis de Lafayette (opens in a new window) Hotel Year-round

Marquis de Lafayette welcomes Coast Guard families visiting Cape May for graduation. Enjoy our discounted rates for extended stays from Wednesday to Friday after Labor Day and before Memorial Day.

Please use codeĀ USCG20 for a discount.

The Periwinkle Inn (opens in a new window) Hotel  

10% discount to Coast Guard families throughout the season

The Queen Victoria B&B (opens in a new window) B&B Year-round

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 (opens in a new window) B&B  

Military discounts and one-night stays during the week

Coast Guard Families

Additional Information


Year-round Cape May accommodations

Accommodations closest to the Coast Guard base

What Cape May restaurants offer military discounts?

The Ebbitt Room, Rusty Nail, Blue Pig Tavern, and Boiler Room - 15% discount on all food for those who show a valid military ID and their dining companions. This discount may not be combined with other offers and covers food only.

The Cape May Brewing Company offers $1 off pints for active-duty and retired USCG members, year round.

If your restaurant offers a standing, year-round military discount that you would like published here, please contact us.

Do you have a question about Cape May?

We try to make this the best resource for Coast Guard families visiting Cape May. If you can't find the answer to your question here, please get in touch with us so we can help (and update this section).

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