Driving from NJ - Cape May Ferry?

[KikiNJ]

Anyone ever take the ferry from Cape May to Delaware, then work your way down on 13, eventually working your way to I95? My father is insisting that if you catch the ferry right before it leaves it saves time, rather than going thru Baltimore, DC and Richmond, but I really don't see how. Just curious if anyone has ever tried it.

 

[mumeof3]

nope sorry,we have always jumped on either 95 or we have done the Chesapeake bridge/tunnel but again I am close to Philly but on the NJ side.

 

[la79al]

I would think til you sit in line for the ferry, assuming it is running on time and you make your reservation (which you have to be 30 minutes plus for), then sit 80 minutes across the water it would not save time. We just did the ferry DE to NJ for vacation last week and it was a MESS.

 

[maxaroni]

mumeof3....we are in NJ, close to Philly as well....Howdy

OP...I wouldn't recommend the ferry, even if you time it right, IMO, rt 13 is slow. We've gone that way when we've gone to the Outer Banks and it can be a very slow ride, even early on a saturday morning. We drove last year and took I-95 down and left early and sailed on down. Now, it was a saturday morning, so no rush hour traffic.

 

[pixiechick]

If you are in extreme SJ, Cape May, N. Cape May, the time is about the same as driving north and going over the Del. Memorial. The advantage is not having to actually drive for the 70 minutes or so. If you are closer to Philly or further north, 95 is much faster.

 

[jcodespoti]

Its a great trip though..If you hit it right. If you go off-peak its not bad.

 

[CleveRocks]

If you are in extreme SJ, Cape May, N. Cape May, the time is about the same as driving north and going over the Del. Memorial. The advantage is not having to actually drive for the 70 minutes or so. If you are closer to Philly or further north, 95 is much faster.

I agree. I live right next to Atlantic City. I've taken the ferry only once and loved it. If you're not in high season and not on a weekend, the ferry won't be crowded and neither will the roads in Delaware.

I don't really think it saves time, but as THE driver, I LOVED the idea of having the time on the ferry to do whatever rather than concentrate on the road. You could always try it and if you don't like it, drive the long way on the way home -- in other words, don't make a reservation for your return trip just yet. And about reservations -- if you're not in high season, don't get too worried about missing the boat (pun VERY intended!). I took the ferry on the way home from the Maryland Eastern shore on a Sunday in early June, and it was crowded but I had no trouble making a reservation the same morning.

From Cape May, the driving alternatives are taking the parkway north to the A.C. Expressway, which is maddeningly out of the way, or taking 47 until you get to 55, which is no bargain in terms of speedy traffic (in other words, it's no better than the roadways across Delaware).

 

[DonnaL]

We've driven 13 for years on our way to OBX and on weekends it can get very congested, especially before the turnoff to Ocean City. After that it seems to open up a little. But, where would you pick up 95 again?
If you go down 13 all the way, you've got to cross the CBB/Tunnel and then go into Norfolk and 64 (which can be a mess sometimes...on the way to OBX we're only on it for maybe 15 miles and it's always congested) and I think you'd have to cut across somehow to get back to 95. I would think you'd be best to stick with 95 all the way.......just try to travel at non peak times.

 

[KikiNJ]

Thanks for the opinions! I'm actually coming from Union County, so I think that I will skip the ferry option. Sounds like it could be a fun experience to do the ferry, but not when you're trying to get to Disney as fast as you can! We're actually planning on leaving after dinner and driving just past DC, then finishing the second day, so traffic shouldn't be too bad (I hope).

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks for the opinions! I'm actually coming from Union County, so I think that I will skip the ferry option. Sounds like it could be a fun experience to do the ferry, but not when you're trying to get to Disney as fast as you can! We're actually planning on leaving after dinner and driving just past DC, then finishing the second day, so traffic shouldn't be too bad (I hope).

Oh, I was under the impression from your OP that you were STARTING your trip in the Cape May area.

For heaven's sake, you should avoid the ferry and just jump on 95 and enjoy the drive. I mean, I understand you asking the question and all, but now that you have the facts and opinions, don't bother driving to Cape May unless, of course, you want to leave some of your money down here in Atlantic City along the way!

 

[dvc guy]

Taking the ferry saves no time and it is expensive. You will need to be at the ferry at least 30 minutes prior, then you have to unlead a the other end.

We drive from NYC to Delware every year, and we have given up on the ferry, way to much stress to have to plan a 3 hour drive , and get to the ferry in time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Taking the ferry saves no time and it is expensive. You will need to be at the ferry at least 30 minutes prior, then you have to unlead a the other end.

We drive from NYC to Delware every year, and we have given up on the ferry, way to much stress to have to plan a 3 hour drive , and get to the ferry in time.

I agree. We used it last summer to go to Rehoboth Beach and yes, it was nice to get a break from driving but the boat was loading when we arrived and took all cars including the one in front of ours but stopped there.
We had to wait another hour for the next ferry. All together: 2 hrs drive to Cape May, 1 hr. wait for ferry, 20 mins to board all vehicles, 80 min. ferry ride. That's almost 5 hours. Do this when you just want to ride the ferry and you have no hurry to get anywhere.