Cape May–Lewes Ferry: Every Boat on Your Day

The Cape May–Lewes Ferry crosses Delaware Bay between Cape May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware, all year, in 85 minutes. From October 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027 most days have 4 boats each way, the first at 7:00 AM from Cape May and the last back at 7:45 PM from Lewes. In winter a car costs $24–$28 one way plus $9 for its driver, and $7 a crossing in fuel surcharge to December 31, 2026. Pick a side and a day to see every boat.

How to use it

Choose the side you leave from, the day you go and how you travel: with a car, on a motorcycle or on foot. The answer gives the last boat back that day; under it, every boat from your side and from the other, when each one gets in and the last one back in red. It counts the hours a day trip gives you on the other side, over on the first boat and back on the last, and what the crossing costs that day for one adult, the fare season and the fuel surcharge included. The rules box quotes what the ferry asks: the reservation, check-in, standby and fees for a vehicle; the screening, buses and bags on foot. The link under the answer keeps your side, day and way of travel.

The boats come from the ferry's own schedule page, read day by day from both sides. Every boat on it takes the 85 minutes its fares page names (just an 85-minute mini-cruise with views, fresh air, and room to relax.), and the boats from Lewes leave 1 hour 45 minutes after the matching boats from Cape May, as on its printed sheet; through October 31 each day was also held to the sheet's colour for that date. Past March 31, 2027 the planner says the boats are not posted yet: Please note, the seasonal sailing schedules are determined shortly before the beginning of the season. It will be posted here as soon as it is finalized.

First and last boat, fall and winter 2026–27

The first boat – the last boat (in brackets, the boats that day) from each side, from the ferry's own schedule. A dash: its page lists no boat from that side that day.

Three days list boats from one side only: Sunday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 24, 2026 (none from Cape May) and Wednesday, January 27, 2027 (none from Lewes). A boat that crosses has to come back, so call before you count on those days: Call 1-800-64Ferry (1-800-643-3779) to confirm our daily sailing schedule.

The four timetables

Every day from October 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027 runs one of these sets of boats, each boat 1 hour 25 minutes across.

• 7 boats each way: October 24, 25 and 31, November 25, 27 and 28, December 26 and 27, 2026; March 27 and 28, 2027.
• 6 boats each way: November 2, 6, 7, 8 and 29, December 18, 19 and 20, 2026; March 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 and 29, 2027.
• 3 boats each way: November 26 and December 25, 2026.

All the other days run the 4 boats. In summer the line runs up to 10 boats each way; its 2027 summer schedule is not out yet.

Fares

One way / round trip, as the ferry's fares page prints them for its two seasons; a vehicle has a base price and a max price, and the price you get shows when you book. For your convenience, we have separated the vehicle and driver fares. Please make sure to include the driver in your total passenger count.

Weekends and holidays cost the same as weekdays in both seasons. On top: Reservations for travel on or after October 12 will include a $7 fuel surcharge per crossing ($14 round trip). The fuel surcharge is expected to remain in effect through December 31, 2026 and may change based on fuel costs. Published fares do not include any applicable fuel surcharge. Children under 14 must be accompanied by full fare passenger.

Reservations, check-in and standby

With a vehicle: Reservations are strongly recommended for all travel, but not required. Its booking terms are stricter: Any customer that arrives on site without a reservation and wishes to book the next available departure will be assessed a $5 handling fee. Check-in begins one (1) hour prior to departure. If check-in occurs within the thirty (30) minutes before the ticketed and scheduled departure, the reservation may be forfeited and will be subject to the “No Show Policy” fees and/or rules. We recommend arriving 45 minutes to one hour before your scheduled departure time.

No reservation? While we always do our best to accommodate walk-ins, space is not guaranteed, especially for larger vehicles. Sold on a “first-come, first-served” basis at the Toll Booth only (cannot be booked in advance). Only available for vehicles less than 20 feet in total length. If you do not get on your desired departure(s), you can return to the tollbooth at any time for a full refund, with no fees. Changing your plans: There is no fee to modify an existing reservation, provided that the modification is made before the currently scheduled departure time. Cancellations incur a fee of $8.00 per vehicle for each crossing, provided they are canceled at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. A “No Show” results in a fee of $26.00 and the cancellation of the missed crossing.

On foot: No, reservations are not required for walk-on or foot passengers taking the Cape May – Lewes Ferry, but we highly recommend making one. Screening opens 45 minutes before departure and closes 30 minutes before. To board, you must complete screening within this time window. Photo ID required for drivers and foot passengers over 14.

Getting to and from the boat on foot

In Lewes: The DART Route 204 bus offers pickup and drop-off directly at the terminal entrance. Buses run every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., connecting you to downtown Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and surrounding areas. In Cape May: From mid-May through September, a seasonal shuttle provides easy access between the Cape May terminal and local attractions, hotels, and beaches. Parking at the Ferry Terminals is always free of charge. Yes, you can leave your car in the ferry parking lot overnight. Registration of the vehicle is required for overnight parking. Passengers are welcome to bring a maximum of 2 carry-on bags. Yes, leashed dogs and crated pets are welcome on board. Pets permitted on outside ferry decks only.

Worked examples

A Saturday over Thanksgiving weekend, with the car. Cape May to Lewes, Saturday, November 28: the last boat back leaves Lewes at 7:45 PM. Over from Cape May: 7:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM, each 1 h 25 min; the last at 6:00 PM. Back from Lewes: 8:45 AM, 11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 2:45 PM, 4:15 PM, 6:15 PM and 7:45 PM. A day trip: in Lewes at 8:25 AM on the first boat, out at 7:45 PM on the last, 11 h 20 min in Lewes. A car and its driver: $40 to $44 one way, $76 to $83 round trip, the $7 fuel surcharge a crossing included.

A Saturday walk-on from Lewes. Lewes to Cape May, Saturday, October 24: the last boat back leaves Cape May at 6:00 PM. Over from Lewes: 8:45 AM, 11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 2:45 PM, 4:15 PM, 6:15 PM and 7:45 PM, each 1 h 25 min; the last at 7:45 PM. Back from Cape May: 7:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM. A day trip: in Cape May at 10:10 AM on the first boat, out at 6:00 PM on the last, 7 h 50 min in Cape May. An adult on foot: $18 one way, $34 round trip, the $7 fuel surcharge a crossing included.

Thanksgiving Day. Cape May to Lewes, Thursday, November 26: the last boat back leaves Lewes at 7:45 PM. Over from Cape May: 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM, each 1 h 25 min; the last at 6:00 PM. Back from Lewes: 8:45 AM, 12:15 PM and 7:45 PM. A day trip: in Lewes at 8:25 AM on the first boat, out at 7:45 PM on the last, 11 h 20 min in Lewes. A car and its driver: $40 to $44 one way, $76 to $83 round trip, the $7 fuel surcharge a crossing included.

A January Wednesday on a motorcycle. Cape May to Lewes, Wednesday, January 13, 2027: the last boat back leaves Lewes at 7:45 PM. Over from Cape May: 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM, each 1 h 25 min; the last at 6:00 PM. Back from Lewes: 8:45 AM, 12:15 PM, 4:15 PM and 7:45 PM. A day trip: in Lewes at 8:25 AM on the first boat, out at 7:45 PM on the last, 11 h 20 min in Lewes. A motorcycle and its rider: $29 to $32 one way, $54 to $60 round trip.

Common mistakes

• Not counting the driver. The vehicle fare is the vehicle only: For your convenience, we have separated the vehicle and driver fares. Please make sure to include the driver in your total passenger count.
• Leaving out the fuel surcharge. Reservations for travel on or after October 12 will include a $7 fuel surcharge per crossing ($14 round trip). The planner adds it to every crossing to December 31, 2026.
• Driving up late. Check-in begins one (1) hour prior to departure. If check-in occurs within the thirty (30) minutes before the ticketed and scheduled departure, the reservation may be forfeited and will be subject to the “No Show Policy” fees and/or rules.
• Driving up with no reservation. Any customer that arrives on site without a reservation and wishes to book the next available departure will be assessed a $5 handling fee. Standby is for vehicles under 20 feet only: A stand-by ticket does not guarantee a reserved space.
• Walking on at the last minute. Screening opens 45 minutes before departure and closes 30 minutes before. To board, you must complete screening within this time window.
• Counting on the summer boats in winter. From November 1 most days have 4 boats each way; the 9:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM boats from Cape May run only on the busier days above, and the Cape May shuttle runs from mid-May through September.
• Planning on November 1, November 24 or January 27 without calling. Its page lists boats from one side only those days: Call 1-800-64Ferry (1-800-643-3779) to confirm our daily sailing schedule.

Questions people ask

How long is the Cape May-Lewes ferry?

85 minutes each way: every boat on its schedule gets in 1 hour 25 minutes after it leaves, from Cape May or from Lewes. Its fares page calls it "just an 85-minute mini-cruise". Plan on checking in an hour before with a car.

How much is the Cape May-Lewes ferry?

From November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 an adult pays $9 one way and $16 round trip on foot; a car, SUV or pickup under 20 feet $24 to $28 one way and $46 to $53 round trip, plus its driver's fare. Through October 31 an adult pays $11 and $20, a car $36 to $41 and $68 to $78. Add a $7 fuel surcharge a crossing to December 31, 2026.

Are Cape May-Lewes ferry reservations required?

Not to walk on, and its arrival page says they are not required for vehicles either, but strongly recommended. Its booking terms add a $5 handling fee for a vehicle that books the next boat at the terminal, and standby (first come, first served at the toll booth) is only for vehicles under 20 feet.

What is the Cape May-Lewes ferry winter schedule?

From November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 most days have 4 boats each way: 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM from Cape May; 8:45 AM, 12:15 PM, 4:15 PM and 7:45 PM from Lewes. Busy weekends and holidays get 6 or 7, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day 3.

What time is the last Cape May ferry back from Lewes?

7:45 PM on every day it has posted this fall and winter, to March 31, 2027 (no boat from Lewes is listed on January 27, 2027). The last boat from Cape May leaves at 6:00 PM. It gets into Cape May at 9:10 PM.

Is Cape May-Lewes ferry parking free?

Yes: "Parking at the Ferry Terminals is always free of charge." You can leave your car overnight if you register it, which suits a walk-on trip to Lewes or Cape May.

Is there a Cape May-Lewes ferry discount?

Seniors 62 and over, members of the military and first responders with ID, and AAA members pay $7 one way in winter ($9 to October 31) instead of the adult $9 ($11). Children 13 and under ride free, with a full-fare passenger.

Can you bring dogs on the Cape May-Lewes ferry?

Yes, leashed dogs and crated pets are welcome on board, but its printed sheet keeps them on the outside decks: "Pets permitted on outside ferry decks only."

Read next

On the Delaware side: what Lewes Beach is known for, Lewes or Rehoboth Beach, Delaware's least crowded beach, the cleanest beach in Delaware and the best US peninsulas, Cape May among them.

Related tools: the Long Island Sound Ferries, the Block Island Ferry and the Weekend Getaway Finder.