The Cape May Shoreline Ride

printed 6/08
Bicycle & Pedestrian
Program Coordinator
New Jersey Department
of Transportation
1035 Parkway Avenue
P.O. BOX 600
Trenton, NJ 08625
www.njdot.nj.gov/commuter/bike
For more information please contact:
Share the road/trail.
Be aware of and respect the rights and safety of other
road and trail users, especially children, pedestrians,
and joggers.
Use signals.
Show your intention clearly when turning and
changing lanes.
Obey safety laws.
Obey all rules of the road! Keep right; ride with traffic,
not against it. Obey all traffic signs and signals. In New
Jersey, a bicyclist has the same rights and responsibilities
as a motor vehicle driver.
Plan ahead
Read the route directions before beginning the ride.
Be aware of traffic patterns.
Plan trips to avoid peak traffic hours. This route generally
utilizes low traffic volume roads. However, be careful
if you bicycle during peak commuter traffic.
New Jersey
Department of
Transportation
Your comments will be useful in updating or revising the
route. E-mail comments to [email protected]
Road conditions continually change: pavements
deteriorate, roads are resurfaced, more development
leads to increased traffic. Conditions listed in this
route were effective at this printing.
Be aware of road conditions.
Users should take the route as they find it. NJDOT
does not guarantee that it is completely free from
conditions that may be a hazard to bicycle traffic. In
preparing this route, every attempt has been made to
select roads that can provide a quality bicycle touring
experience. However, some route segments may
have adverse conditions.
A Tour Guide for Cyclists
General Tips
The Cape May
Shoreline Ride
For a tour that gives the rider a generous sampling of
the sites, vistas and ambience of the bayside and
seaside of New Jersey’s southern-most county, head to
Cape May. There are lighthouses, Victorian architecture,
bays, beaches, barrier island shore communities,
wetlands, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, boardwalks and
bird watching.
The terrain is flat with the highest elevation 60 feet
above sea level; the ride is considered moderately easy.
Windy conditions could increase the challenge level as
there is little cover along the route. If this is a problem,
take opportunities to short circuit and detour from
this route.
Begin and end your tour at the parking lot of the Cape
May Lighthouse, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the
Delaware Bay at the southern tip of the Cape May
Peninsula. Early in the ride, a slight detour westward
along Sunset Boulevard will take you to Sunset Beach,
where lucky beachcombers may find Cape May
“diamonds”, translucent quartz pebbles that wash up
on the beach.
The Cape May
Shoreline Ride
The Cape May
Shoreline Ride
Ferry. Riders have the option at this point to take an
80-minute ferry ride across the bay to Lewes,
Delaware. The Delaware River and Bridge Authority
(DRBA) provides scheduling and fare information on
their Web site http://www.capemaylewesferry.com
or call 1.800.64.FERRY.
Back in New Jersey, leave the ferry exit area and
continue north along the bay side of the peninsula.
About halfway up the peninsula, the route swings east
toward the Atlantic Ocean, then it passes through Cape
May Court House, the county seat, through Back Bay
wetlands and crosses the Great Sound Inlet to Stone
Harbor. A detour to Route 9 North will lead you to the
Cape May County Park and Zoo.
The route turns south on a section of Ocean Drive, a
series of local roads and toll bridges, free to cyclists
and pedestrians, along the barrier islands that connect
Cape May with Atlantic City.
Crossing the Stone Harbor Bridge and the Grassy
Sound Bridge, continue on to Hereford Inlet Lighthouse,
through the Wildwoods and again cross the canal
before riding through Cape May City. After leaving
the nation’s oldest seashore resort, a National
Historic Landmark city replete with well maintained
Victorian-era homes, the route ends at the starting point.
Without the detour, the route heads north, crosses the
Cape May Canal, then passes the entrance to the
Delaware River and Bay Authority’s Cape May-Lewes
The Cape May
Shoreline Ride
0.2
Left on Lincoln Ave (left turn only lane)
Look for the blue palm trees
Route Directions/Remarks
33.5
0.1
Right on Ocean Ave Numerous bike
rentals, services, motels convention
center/public restrooms on left
35.4
1.9
Right at stop sign on Farragut Rd
35.5
0.1
Left at traffic light on Atlantic Ave
36.4
0.9
Right on Rochester Ave
Facing Sea Pointe Gated Community
0.8
Left at long left turn on Sidney Ave then
Quick Left at stop sign on Washington Ave
40.6
0.1
Right on Texas Ave Changes to
Pittsburgh Ave Follow USCGS/ Beaches
sign and bike lanes
41.7
1.1
Right at stop sign on CR 604W/Beach Dr
43.4
1.7
Right on CR 626/Broadway
43.7
0.4
Left at traffic light on CR 606/Sunset Blvd
7.5
2.3
Right at stop sign on Beach Dr
Name changes to Shore Dr
45.5
1.8
Left on CR 629/Lighthouse Rd
9.0
1.5
Right at stop sign on Pinewood Rd
46.3
0.8
Left into Cape May Point State Park
0.1
Arrive at starting point
46.4
11.2
0.6
Left at stop sign on CR 603/Bayshore Rd
14.1
2.9
Bear Right at Y-intersection on Millman
Blvd Bike Lane
The State of New Jersey has published
this map to aid the cyclist and takes no
responsibility for user’s safety or fitness of
the suggested routes. Ride carefully.
This map illustrates the route and should
be used for general wayfinding purposes.
Straight at traffic light on CR 612/
Hand Ave
21.4
0.1
Right at stop sign on Mechanic St
21.8
0.4
Left at traffic light on SR 9N
Heavy traffic
26.2
3.9
30.3
0.6
Use jughandle for Anglesea Ct (see sign
for Bike Route) Cross SR 147
0.2
Bear Right on West Anglesea Dr
31.2
0.6
Straight on West Spruce Ave
Follow curve onto Central Ave
Pass Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
Left on 1st Ave
Right on Surf Ave - Bike Lane
32.8
1.1
Right at T-intersection on 26th Ave then
Quick Left on Ocean Ave
33.1
33.2
0.3
0.1
Right at stop sign (T-intersection ) on
Wildwood Ave
Left at traffic light on Atlantic Ave
3r
d
C
RE
AT
G
Rd
Seashore Rd
621
HIGBEE BEACH
WMA
607
9
109
W EST CAPE MAY BOROUGH
ns St
Sun
Steve
e
Av
8
26th St
Wildwood Ave
Lincoln Ave
Bike Route
Parking
Cultural site
Scenic view
Campground
Information
629
Bou
leva
rd
606
CAPE MAY POINT BOROUGH
1 Broadway
CAPE MAY POINT
STATE PARK
RIDE
BEGINS/
ENDS
Washington Ave
12
Texas Ave
622
CAPE MAY CITY
r
hD
Beac
604
626
CAPE MAY
BEACH
Wildlife Mgmt Area
11
CAPE MAY
NWR
US COAST GUARD
TRAINING CENTER
Many
Services
0
Rochester Ave
1 Cape May Lighthouse
2 Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
& Observatory
3 Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal
4 Cape May Park & Zoo
US COAST GUARD
RESERVATION
1/2
Farragut Rd
FIVE MILE BEACH
LOWER TW P
10
Sidney Ave
set
Pa
ve
cA
cifi
5 Wetlands Institute
Ave
0.2
626
LOWER TW P
2
Many
Services
Hiking trail
CAPE MAY CANAL
Rd
gland
New En
641
Lighthouse Ave
ve
WILDWOOD CREST BOROUG H
rgh
31.7
9
SUNSET
BEACH
tA
O
sb u
0.4
an
ce
CAPE ISLAND
COASTAL WETLANDS
WMA
Pitt
31.5
W ILDWOOD CITY
ore Rd
30.5
Atlantic Ave
Baysh
Left at traffic light on SR 147
LOWER TW P
CR 647
HISTORIC COLD
SPRING VILLAGE
3
W. Spruce Ave
Central Ave
7
NORTH WILDWOOD CITY
626
W EST WILDWOOD BOROUGH
Right at traffic light on CR 619S/3rd Ave
Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary on left
Cross bridge over Great Channel
Cross toll bridge (no toll for bicyclists)
Use caution on bridges
3.5
CAPE MAY
COUNTY AIRPORT
Pinewood Rd
Right at traffic light on CR 657/Stone
Harbor Blvd Hospital on corner, fast food
Straight at traffic light across GSP use caution
29.7
W. Anglesea Ct
r
0.5
W. Anglesea Dr
65
4
47
Beach D
22.3
147
CR 639
1.7
619
SEVEN
MILE BEACH
1s
Dr
21.3
Map by The RBA Group, Inc.
9
Av
e
Bay
Right at stop sign on CR 612/
Dias Creek Rd
wo
od
Dr
1.5
ild
CR
Clubhouse Dr
19.6
Miles Total
Shore
Right on CR 643/Springers Mill Rd
603
FISHING CREEK PARK
W
5
18
STONE HARBOR BO R O U GH
Many
Services
6
y Bike Route
2.9
vd
Millman Bl
SUNRAY
BEACH
3
60
18.1
r6
CR
Left at traffic light on SR 47
High Point to Cape May Route
MIDDLE TW P
C
e
Right at stop sign on Wildwood Ave
1.1
CAPE MAY
NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE
e Ma
1.5
15.2
47
Cap
10.6
vd
o
int t
h Po
Hig
Left at stop sign on Bay Dr
Clubhouse Dr on right
AVALON BO R O U G H
Bl
HA
NN
EL
Left at traffic light on SR 9 (towards
Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal)
Straight on SR 9 - pass Ferry entrance
0.1
bo
r
C
R
0.7
9.1
Ha
r
657
CAPE MAY
NWR
5.2
46.4
CAPE MAY
COASTAL WETLANDS
WMA
on
e
S
O urf
ce A
an ve
A
ve
1.0
Left at fork. Left on CR 626
Cross bridge over canal - Bike Lane
40.5
St
Av
e
Right at stop sign on CR 641E/New
England Rd Follow along the edge of
Cape May Canal Name changes to
Seashore Rd
Left at traffic light on SR 109S
9
an
1.5
3.1
643
ce
3.5
39.7
Mill R
d
O
Left at stop sign on CR 607/
Bayshore Rd
Left at stop sign on Pacific Ave
Changes to CR 621/Ocean Drive
Cross toll bridge (No toll for bicyclists)
e
0.6
0.2
St
Av
2.0
36.6
nic
Dias Creek Rd
612
ic
Left on Stevens St Across from Sea
Grove Ave - Farm Market
Cr
612
62
0
0.5
ha
S
657
nt
1.4
nd
Av Me
c
e
la
Right at T-intersection on CR 606/Sunset
Blvd Bike Lane
rs
ge
in
0.8
4
65
8
Ha
pr
0.9
Cr
ay
Right on Lighthouse Ave Pass Cape
May Bird Observatory on left
At
0.1
Sta
te P
a rk w
0.1
Ga
rde
n
Start from parking lot of Cape May Point
State Park Ride to park entrance
or
0.0
Av
e
33.4
0.0
4.5
Route Directions/Remarks
Ba
ys
h
Cumulative Point to
Mileage
Point
Cumulative Point to
Mileage
Point
High Point to
te
Cape May Bike Rou
This route begins and ends at the parking
lot of the Cape May Lighthouse, where the
Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay at
the southern tip of the Cape May Peninsula.
The Cape May Shoreline Ride
1 Mile
Ferry terminal
Gas station
Bike trail
Marina
Restaurant
6 Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary
Bike shop
7 Hereford Inlet Lighthouse & Gardens
Pub/inn
8 Wildwood Convention Center
Hospital
9 Cape May Whale & Dolphin Watcher
10 Cape May Nature Center
Grocery store
11 Cape May Convention Hall
Traffic Light
12 Sunset Pavillion
Stop Sign