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

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.

View articles on the Coast Guard in Cape May

Getting to Cape May

Driving to Cape May

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. View local car rental agencies.

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.

Year-Round Accommodations

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?

These locations are mapped below. The yellow pin represents the entrance to the base. Click the red icons for more information.


View Cape May Hotels Closest to Coast Guard Base in a larger map

What accommodations offer military discounts?

CapeMay.com advertisers - if you offer military discounts,
please call us at 609-898-4500 to be added to this section.

Dining, Groceries, Banks & Bikes

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.

A few year-round restaurants

  • The Pilot House on the Washington Street Mall
  • The Ugly Mug on the Washington Street Mall
  • Jackson Mountain Cafe on the Washington Street Mall
  • The Lobster House at Fisherman's Wharf
  • The Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall (always open for dinner, not always lunch off-season)
  • The C-View Inn

View all Cape May year-round restaurants

Cape May has convenience/grocery stores that are open early and late all year.

  • Wawa 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

There are also year-round restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and convenience stores, including Wal-Mart, at exit 4A off the Garden State Parkway in Rio Grande.

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. Newly placed in key locations are pedestrian crossing signs at traffic lights. Be sure to walk when the sign indicates it is safe; don't cross when the hand indicating stop is showing. Drivers at the traffic lights are not paying attention to the walk or don't walk signals; they are waiting for the lights to turn green.

Be aware of what the cars around you are doing. Drivers generally yield to pedestrians (in the cross-walks it is a New Jersey law). But to avoid congestion at busy intersections use the pedestrian crossing signals.

Banks and ATMs are situated in all of the most visited areas. Public bathrooms can be found near the Washington St. Mall and the Victorian Commons as well as along the beach and promenade.

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?

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. Information can be obtained by calling or e-mailing MAC directly or by visiting the information booth located at the end of 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 (2 miles north of Cape May Courthouse) is open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4:45 PM. 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.

And if you have children with you on your visit, 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.

Well, that’s about it. Enjoy your visit and our congrats to the newly appointed Seaman Apprentice or Seaman Fireman.