Cape May-Lewes Ferry

Year Round Car And Passenger Ferry Across The Mouth Of Delaware Bay Between Lewes, Delaware, And North Cape May, New Jersey, Operated By The Delaware River And Bay Authority Since 1964 · Lewes, Delaware

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry carries cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and people on foot about 17 miles across the mouth of Delaware Bay, from a terminal beside Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes to North Cape May at the southern tip of New Jersey. The Delaware River and Bay Authority has run it since 1964, and the crossing takes roughly 85 to 90 minutes. It is a working link - US Route 9 continues across the bay on it, and it saves a long drive around by the Delaware Memorial Bridge - but many people ride it simply for the trip. The boats have indoor lounges, food and a bar, and open outer decks where you watch Lewes and the Cape Henlopen dunes fall away, pass the Harbor of Refuge and Delaware Breakwater lighthouses on their stone walls, and head across open water toward the Cape May lighthouse. Dolphins are often seen in summer and whales occasionally in the colder months. Boats sail all year, roughly every one to two hours in 2026, with fewer sailings in winter. In summer, vehicle reservations are strongly advised and seasonal shuttles meet the boats on both sides.

43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, Delaware, 19958, United States

The ferry runs year round, but the timetable changes with the season, so check the schedule for your exact date - confirm. In 2026 boats have left roughly every one to two hours in the busy months, with the first departures in the morning and the last in the evening, and noticeably fewer sailings in winter, when a missed boat can mean a wait of several hours. Vehicles must check in a set time before departure, often around 30 minutes, and a late arrival can lose a reserved space - confirm the cut-off. Summer weekends and holiday weekends often sell out for cars. Wind, fog, storms and mechanical problems can delay or cancel sailings with little notice. The seasonal shuttles to Lewes and Rehoboth on the Delaware side and to Cape May on the New Jersey side run on weekends from about Memorial Day and daily from mid-June to Labor Day (7 September in 2026) - confirm. Sunset and themed cruises run only on scheduled dates. Terminal food service and shops keep shorter hours off-season - confirm.

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