Exit Zero: Why Cape May Is the Last Exit on the Garden State Parkway

Cape May Daily News

March 10, 2026

7 min read

Every summer, millions of New Jerseyans and visitors from across the Northeast pile onto the Garden State Parkway and head south. They pass exit after exit — 127, 63, 25, 9 — until the numbers run out entirely. The last exit is Exit Zero, and it leads to one of America's most beloved seaside towns: Cape May, New Jersey.

That green highway sign — EXIT 0 with a white arrow pointing the way — has become more than a piece of roadside infrastructure. It is a symbol, a state of mind, and for many travelers, the moment they know the vacation has truly begun.

The Road That Built the Jersey Shore

The Garden State Parkway was born out of post-World War II ambition. Construction began in 1946, and the parkway opened in stages throughout the early 1950s. The Cape May County section — the final stretch running south from Wildwood to the terminus at Route 109 — opened in 1954, completing the 172-mile corridor that now connects the Hudson Valley to the southern tip of New Jersey.

The parkway was designed with a specific purpose: to give New Jersey's growing suburban population fast, direct access to the Jersey Shore resort towns. Before the parkway, reaching Cape May from North Jersey meant navigating a patchwork of local roads and two-lane state routes, a journey that could take the better part of a day. The parkway cut that journey to under two hours and transformed Cape May from a regional destination into a destination for the entire Eastern Seaboard.

The numbering system runs from north to south, with exits numbered roughly by their distance in miles from the New York state line. Exit 172 is near the Raritan Bay. Exit 0 — the last exit, the end of the road — is Cape May.

The Garden State Parkway approaching Exit Zero, where the road meets Route 109 in Cape May

What Happens at Exit Zero

Take Exit 0 southbound and you merge onto Route 109, a short connector road that crosses the Cape May Canal via the Cape May Bridge and deposits you directly into the heart of Cape May City. Within minutes of leaving the parkway, you are on Beach Avenue, with the Atlantic Ocean stretching to the horizon and Victorian gingerbread houses lining the streets on your left.

The exit itself sits in Lower Township, just north of the canal. It is a modest intersection — traffic lights, a yield sign, a few gas stations — that gives little indication of the extraordinary town that lies just across the water. But that green EXIT 0 sign, standing at the side of the road against a blue summer sky, has been photographed tens of thousands of times. It is one of the most recognizable highway signs in New Jersey.

Exit Zero as a Cultural Icon

The name "Exit Zero" has taken on a life well beyond the highway sign. In 2003, journalist and editor Jack Wright launched a weekly magazine in Cape May called *Exit Zero* — a "cheeky take," as Wright put it, on Cape May's placement at the end of the 172-exit parkway. The mission was to promote Cape May with a fresh, relevant voice, and the publication quickly became essential reading for anyone who loved the town.

Over the following two decades, Exit Zero expanded from a black-and-white weekly into a publishing house, a retail brand, a restaurant group, and a cultural institution. The Exit Zero Filling Station on Sunset Boulevard was named one of the 30 best new restaurants in New Jersey by *New Jersey Monthly* magazine. The company's local history book, *The First Resort*, sold over 13,000 copies. The name Exit Zero, which began as a clever reference to a highway exit, became synonymous with Cape May's identity itself.

The Exit Zero Jazz Festival — held annually each May in Cape May — has grown into one of the premier jazz events on the East Coast, drawing headliners to the 800-seat Cape May Convention Center and filling the town's Victorian streets with music for an entire weekend. The festival is a direct expression of the Exit Zero ethos: Cape May is not just a beach town, it is a place with culture, history, and a creative community worth celebrating.

The Last Exit and What It Means

For many travelers, Exit Zero carries a weight that goes beyond geography. The Garden State Parkway is, in a very real sense, the spine of the Jersey Shore. It connects the industrial north of the state to the resort south, carrying families on vacation, workers commuting to shore towns, and retirees heading to their second homes. To reach Exit Zero is to have traveled the full length of that corridor — to have arrived at the very end of the road.

There is something philosophically satisfying about a place called Exit Zero. In a culture that tends to measure progress by accumulation — more miles, more exits, more destinations — Cape May offers the opposite: the end of the counting, the place where the numbers stop. You cannot go further south on the parkway. You have arrived.

For Cape May regulars, the sight of that EXIT 0 sign is a Pavlovian trigger. The windows come down. The radio goes up. The shoulders drop. The vacation has started.

Getting to Cape May via Exit Zero

From the Garden State Parkway southbound, take Exit 0 and turn right (north) onto Route 109. Cross the Cape May Canal bridge and continue straight into Cape May City. Beach Avenue and the main downtown area are approximately 1.5 miles from the exit ramp.

Parking in Cape May is available at several municipal lots along Beach Avenue and near the Washington Street Mall. During peak summer weekends, arrive before 10 a.m. to secure a spot. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal is also accessible from Exit 0 — turn left onto Route 109 and follow the signs for an alternative route that avoids the bridge traffic.

For first-time visitors, the Cape May Family Guide is the best starting point for planning your trip. And once you've arrived, the Washington Street Mall — Cape May's pedestrian shopping and dining district — is just minutes from the Exit 0 ramp.

What to See and Do Near Exit Zero

The Exit 0 area along Route 109 is far more than a simple interchange. In the mile or two between the parkway terminus and the Cape May Canal bridge, and in the neighborhoods just off the exit ramp, you will find a cluster of businesses and attractions that are worth knowing about — whether you are arriving for the first time or heading home after a long weekend.

The Lobster House — One of the most famous seafood restaurants in New Jersey, The Lobster House sits right on the water at Schellengers Landing, just off Route 109. The dockside take-out counter, the raw bar schooner moored alongside, and the full-service dining room have been feeding Cape May visitors since 1954 — the same year the parkway reached Exit 0. The Lobster House is the first landmark many regulars look for after taking the exit. Address: 906 Schellengers Landing Road, Cape May.

Cape May Whale Watcher — Departing from South Jersey Marina at 1231 Route 109, the Cape May Whale Watcher runs daily whale and dolphin watching cruises from spring through fall. Bottlenose dolphins are spotted on virtually every trip; humpback and fin whales are common in summer. The marina is less than a mile from the Exit 0 ramp, making it an easy first stop before crossing the canal into Cape May City.

Utsch's Marina — A working marina at 1121 Route 109 with boat slips, a boat ramp, and fishing charter departures. Utsch's has been a fixture of the Cape May waterfront for decades and is the departure point for several of the area's most popular offshore fishing charters. If you are arriving by boat rather than by parkway, Utsch's is your Exit Zero.

Sea Gear Marine Supply — Located at 1144 Route 109, Sea Gear is the go-to marine supply store for boaters arriving in Cape May. Bait, tackle, fishing licenses, marine hardware, and a full selection of safety equipment are all available here. Open year-round.

Cape May Brewing Company — Tucked inside the Cape May County Airport complex at 1250 Hornet Road — just minutes from Exit 0 — Cape May Brewing Company is one of New Jersey's most celebrated craft breweries. The tasting room and beer garden are open most afternoons, and the brewery's flagship Cape May IPA and Coastal Evacuation double IPA are available on tap and to go. Tours of the brewing facility run on weekends.

Gusto Brewing Co. — Billing itself as New Jersey's southernmost brewery, Gusto operates a small taproom at 3860 Bayshore Road in North Cape May, just off the Exit 0 corridor. The brewery keeps a rotating selection of small-batch ales and lagers, with a philosophy of keeping things local, seasonal, and unpretentious. A good stop for a pint before or after the beach.

Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum — Located at 500 Forrestal Road inside the Cape May County Airport, the NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum occupies a massive original World War II hangar and displays over 26 aircraft alongside exhibits on military aviation history. The museum is one of the most underrated attractions in the Cape May area and is particularly popular with families. Open daily in summer; check the website for seasonal hours.

Cape May Antique Center — At 1228 Route 109, the Cape May Antique Center is a multi-dealer antique mall with a wide selection of vintage furniture, jewelry, art, and collectibles. It is a reliable first or last stop for visitors who like to browse — close enough to the exit that you can pull in without adding time to your trip.

Joe Canal's Discount Liquor — A Cape May institution at 918 Route 109, Joe Canal's is the largest liquor store in the area and a popular stop for visitors stocking up for a beach house rental or a BYOB dinner. The selection of New Jersey wines and craft beers is particularly strong.

Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal — Turn left at Exit 0 rather than right and follow Route 109 south to reach the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. The ferry runs year-round across the 17-mile Delaware Bay crossing to Lewes, Delaware — a scenic alternative to driving around the bay that is especially popular with cyclists and motorcyclists. The terminal has a café, a gift shop, and ample parking.

Exit Zero Merchandise and Souvenirs

The Exit Zero brand has become one of Cape May's most recognizable souvenirs. The Exit Zero Company sells branded apparel, stickers, and accessories at its Washington Street Mall location and online. An "I Take Exit 0" oval sticker on the back of a car is a common sight throughout New Jersey — a quiet signal that the driver knows where the best exit on the parkway leads.

For visitors who want a piece of Cape May to take home, an Exit Zero sticker or t-shirt is as authentic a souvenir as a Cape May Diamond. It is a reminder that you made it to the end of the road — and that the end of the road is one of the finest places in New Jersey.

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*Ready to plan your Cape May trip? Browse our Things To Do guide, check out the best restaurants, and explore where to stay for the perfect Cape May getaway.*

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