Assateague Island to New Jersey … halfway to Maine in an RV

Assateague Island to New Jersey … half way to Maine in an RV

Written by Nancy Carter, Making My Own Lane

This week I stretched my comfort zone a little more, driving through the long Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and taking my tiny house on wheels on the Cape May Ferry from Lewes, Delaware to Cape May, New Jersey on my RV trip from Florida to Bar Harbor, Maine. 

Custis Tombs

I stayed at another Harvest Host on a farm with goats, guinea hens, and chickens. There were wild blackberries to pick as I explored the farm, and Custis Tombs in Cape Charles, Virginia was within walking distance. It is the burial place for some of the Custis family, including Martha Washington’s son from her first marriage.

You can see the footprint of where the old mansion used to be. Another off-the-beaten path Trip Finder find.

Assateague Island National Seashore

Next I spent a night at the Assateague Island National Seashore on the beach with wild horses. There aren’t any utility hookups if you stay in the beach loops, but lots of sun for solar. This was a place that I had always wanted to visit, and it didn’t disappoint.

It didn’t take a lot of effort to find the wild horses here. In fact, it was hard to avoid them. They are everywhere!

There were plenty of park rangers protecting the horses as they decided to stop in the middle of roadways, walkways, and beaches. You have to keep your distance from the horses, and sometimes wait until they decide to move before you can continue on your way.

Once in a while you run into a rogue herd of horses trying to interact with the people, but there are always park rangers not far behind them to help protect the horses, and the people.

There were also so many beautiful trails that you could bike/scooter on, especially after the park closed and only campers had access to the park.

It was a great place to scooter and the perfect place to spend a night.

And watch the sunset, and then watch the sunrise. I really got to appreciate the many large windows on my camper on this trip, and got to sleep with the windows wide open, listening to the sound of the ocean, and wake with the sunrise, right on the beach with the wild ponies.

Many of the National Seashore stops charge not only for the camping fee, but also an entrance fee to the park, which I did not have to pay because I had purchased a National Park America the Beautiful Pass for $80. This pass has more than paid for itself with the places I’ve gone, just on the east coast, including some places I didn’t expect to be able to use it.

I had to book the Assateague campsite well in advance, 4 months before, and I’ve seen some people that recommend a year in advance.

Planning trips is a big part of this life. Dreaming about where you want to go next, planning out the route, and the campsites, and the things you want to see along the way. The earlier you can commit and book, the more likely you are to get the campgrounds and sites you want.

Lewes/Cape May Ferry

Next was on to the Lewes/Cape May ferry. Another thing I had booked well in advance. The Lewes/Cape May ferry is a long boat ride from Delaware to New Jersey where you can take your car, or your house. The parking was very tight, but once I got over that my house was floating in the middle of the Delaware Bay, I did enjoy the 1 1/2 hour ride.

I left Rufus, Willie, and Katie in the RV for the ride, with the AC and the radio on, where they seemed very comfortable and not at all aware of what was going on.

I sometimes wonder what it is like for them. When I close the door and drive away and then I open the door in a completely new and unfamiliar place. They seem unaffected. Ready to just explore the new place and enjoy the experience.

Thousand Trails Campground

When I opened the door for them this time, we were in another Thousand Trails campground near Cape May, New Jersey, where we spent 7 nights.

There was lots for them to explore here, and many new dogs to meet. The internet was excellent (yeah!), but the roads and campsites were basically dirt.

Have I mentioned the constant battle to keep the dirt and dust out of the RV? I am so happy I decided to bring my full-sized Shark cordless vacuum with me, instead of just relying on a smaller hand-held vacuum.

There was a lake to swim in as well.  Growing up in New Jersey, we always swam in lakes. But since moving to Florida, we never swim in lakes because of alligators and amoebas.  

There was a nice, but crowded pool and daily food trucks.

From the back of the campground you could access a beautifully-paved bike trail that was almost 20 miles long. The campground doesn't advertise this trail, but it is a highlight of this campground, in my opinion.

There was a grocery store within walking distance from the campground.  Parking for an RV at the grocery was challenging.  Grocery stores at the Jersey shore were smaller, and basically catered to summer tourists.  By this point on my trip, I was missing the convenience and familiarity of the grocery stores back in Florida.

I was also homesick for my family and friends, and a little lonely.  But knowing I was going to be spending time with my New Jersey family and friends in just a couple of weeks kept me going.  And, my daughter was flying up to New Jersey, too!  It was a nice surprise that I was really looking forward to.

Cape May Zoo

While in South Jersey, I was able to visit the Cape May Zoo. It was a short 10-minute drive from the campground I was staying in, and I was able to park in the bus parking lot.

There are lions, bears, monkeys, leopards, bison, alpaca, giraffes, lemurs and capybaras, just to name a few.

There isn’t an admission charge, just donations, which once you visit the park and see what an amazing place it is, you will hopefully donate on the way in and again on the way out, like I did. Parking is also free.

It’s a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon.

Princeton, New Jersey

My last stop in New Jersey was in Princeton, where I was able to moochdock (stay on someone’s property without hookups) for a few days. I got to enjoy Princeton with my sister and her family, including following the path Albert Einstein walked from his house to Princeton University, listening to the bells being played live on the Princeton University campus, eating at the restaurants, and exploring this old, picturesque and historic town.

↑Click on the photo to hear some of the live bell concert ↑.

Grounds for Sculpture

I also visited Grounds for Sculpture, in Hamilton, New Jersey, where I toured the gardens and the sculptures and had a delicious lunch at Rat’s Restaurant, right on the grounds. This combined botanical garden and art exhibit proved to be an amazing place to spend the day.

I grew up in New Jersey and it always amazes me how many things there are to do that I have never done, and how many places I would love to visit there again.

Thanks for joining me as I continue my journey up the East Coast from Florida to Maine!

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