5 Reasons to Spend Thanksgiving in Cape May



Thanksgiving is almost here! Here’s to hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday and a joyful time with family and friends. The Homestead staff is especially thankful for YOU, our loyal clients. However it is that you’ve come to know of Homestead, we thank you for being a part of our family. We are a constantly evolving company, and this evolution would not be possible without our patrons and followers. So thank you for your business and your support! It’s very important to us and is never taken for granted.

We love to continuously remind our guests that Cape May is a wonderful place to be at ALL times of the year. This is especially true during the holidays. The winter wonderland that will soon take shape is quite simply an unparalleled experience, and the holiday season just isn’t complete without a visit to Cape May.

There are plenty of things about Cape May that make it a great place to be this time of year. We’ve put together a list of our top 5 reasons we think everyone should visit Cape May for Thanksgiving.

1. Cheaper Rental Rates

During the offseason, the price for accommodation drops substantially. The rental rates are roughly 50% less than they are during the prime summer weeks.

It’s also much easier to find options without needing to book months in advance. It certainly helps also that you don’t have to book a stay for the same length as you do in the summer. If you cannot stay a full week, owners will accept a 2-3-night stay during these offseason months.

Plug in your dates on our Cape May rentals page so you can check out these unbeatable rates for yourself!

2. Less Crowds

If you’ve been to the shore during summer months, you know how busy it can get. The beaches can be crowded, checkout lines are long at shops, restaurant waits can run over an hour…

That’s certainly not the case in Cape May in November. You can take relaxing walks on a quiet beach, take your time shopping around the stores without getting bumped into, and enjoy a night out to your favorite restaurant without having to make reservations or anticipate a long wait.

So if you’re one of those people that likes to take it easy and avoid the hustle and bustle during your vacation, then you’ll absolutely love it here around this time.

3. Free Parking

One of the biggest gripes among people visiting during the “in-season” months is the parking. Many places throughout town require you to pay a meter, and it can sometimes be difficult to even find one.

That is no longer the case this time of year. Meters officially stop (except behind the mall area), so parking during Thanksgiving will be free! It’s also much easier to find a spot. You don’t have to drive around and can usually just pull up and park next to the restaurants and shops!

4. Great Options for Thanksgiving Dinner

If you don’t want to cook for Thanksgiving, there are so many great restaurants in Cape May that offer dinners.  You will still find a traditional menu including turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans casserole and cranberry sauce, but you will also find fresh seafood. After all, you are in one of the best shore towns. Below you can see a few restaurants that offer a buffet or a fixed menu for Thanksgiving. We would recommend making a reservation now.

Ballroom in Congress Hall – Every year they offer a buffet dinner for Thanksgiving. The seating starts at 1:00 pm and lasts until 6:00 pm. For adults the ticket is $79 and for children (ages 4-12) is $40.

Ocean 7 at the Inn of Cape May – Ocean 7 will be offering an a la carte feast that includes a soup or salad, a choice of one of five traditional Thanksgiving entrees, a dessert, and a drink.

Union Park Dining Room – From 2:00pm until 7:00pm, Union Park will have a three course meal that includes your choice of one of appetizer, main course, and dessert. You can purchase local wines there by the bottle or choose to BYOB. Their full Thanksgiving menu can be found here.

5. Shopping on Black Friday & Small Business Saturday

By now, your email inbox AND regular mailbox have no doubt been bombarded with advertisements for Black Friday shopping. It’s true that Black Friday is an opportune time to shop for everyone on your Christmas list, and we remind you that many fantastic deals and sales will be available right here in town. Find unique gifts for everyone at the best prices of the season! The Washington Street Mall is the perfect place to begin your Cape May shopping endeavor…but we remind you that there are many other merchants around town that you may not be aware of. 

Speaking of which, the day after Black Friday is universally known as Small Business Saturday. Here in Cape May, nearly all businesses are small, family owned operations, so this day is very important to our town. Once again, local shopping destinations will be open for business with special deals.


Wondering what events will be taking place during Thanksgiving? You can find all of the upcoming events happening around Cape May on our event calendar:

📅 Cape May Event Calendar

We hope to see you in Cape May this Thanksgiving!