New Jersey to Delmarva Coastal Highway

Head south along the Atlantic from boardwalk towns to Cape May, take the ferry to Delaware, and see wild horses.

A road trip spanning the Mid-Atlantic coast. Explore boardwalks and Victorian towns in New Jersey, cross Delaware Bay by ferry, and continue to Rehoboth, Ocean City, and the wild horses of Assateague. Finally, drive through Maryland to Annapolis and end in Washington, D.C. Daily driving distances are short, and the route features a different drop-off location for your rental car. Perfect for beach lovers who want to combine coastal scenery with historic cities.

The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the most expensive and crowded; the ferry may be suspended during storm seasons.

Day by day

Day 1 · Asbury Park to Atlantic City

New York City（Asbury Park Boardwalk） → Atlantic City（Atlantic City Boardwalk、Steel Pier）

Drive from New York to Asbury Park (approx. 1.5 hours), then take the Garden State Parkway for another 1.25 hours to Atlantic City.

Stay: Along the Boardwalk

Day 2 · Lucy the Elephant to Cape May

Atlantic City（Lucy the Elephant、Ocean City Boardwalk） → Cape May（Wildwoods Doo Wop Motels、Wildwood Boardwalk）

Drive along the coast through Margate to Ocean City (approx. 40 minutes), continue to Wildwood (approx. 45 minutes), and drive another 20 minutes to Cape May.

Ocean City, New Jersey, is a dry town; alcohol is not sold on the boardwalk.

Stay: Historic District

Day 3 · Victorian Town & Lighthouse

Cape May（Cape May Historic District、Cape May Beach & Promenade、Cape May Lighthouse、Cape May Point State Park、Sunset Beach & SS Atlantus）

Walk around the town; drive about 15 minutes to Cape May Point and Sunset Beach, and return in the evening.

Stay: Historic District

Day 4 · Ferry Across Delaware Bay

Rehoboth Beach（Cape May–Lewes Ferry、Historic Lewes、Cape Henlopen State Park、Fort Miles & WWII Fire Control Towers）

Take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry (approx. 85 minutes); take short trips around Lewes and Cape Henlopen in the afternoon.

Reservations are highly recommended for vehicles on summer weekends; schedules are reduced in the off-season, so check ahead.

Stay: Lewes

Day 5 · Rehoboth to Ocean City

Rehoboth Beach（Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk & Beach、Delaware Seashore State Park & Indian River Inlet） → Ocean City, Maryland（Ocean City Boardwalk）

Drive from Lewes to Rehoboth Beach (approx. 15 minutes), then head south along Route 1 to Ocean City, Maryland (approx. 1 hour).

Stay: Downtown Boardwalk

Day 6 · Assateague & Chincoteague

Ocean City, Maryland（Assateague Island National Seashore、Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge、Chincoteague Island）

Drive from Ocean City to the north entrance of Assateague (approx. 25 minutes), drive inland to Chincoteague (approx. 1 hour), and return in the evening.

The northern and southern sections of the island are not connected by road; do not approach or feed the wild horses.

Stay: Downtown Boardwalk

Day 7 · Annapolis to Washington, D.C.

Baltimore（Annapolis Historic District、United States Naval Academy） → Washington, D.C.

Drive from Ocean City across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Annapolis (approx. 2.5 hours), then drive another hour to Washington, D.C.

Vehicles are not allowed inside the Naval Academy; adults must bring a passport or REAL ID and enter on foot through Gate 1.