Where to Stay for the Cape May Fall Festival 2026

Property One

Sunset Bay Stay Cape May

A Bayside Home Near Higbee Beach & Cape May Point

Stay on the peaceful Delaware Bay side of Cape May County, with easy access to some of the area's best-known birding destinations.

Sunset Bay Stay is a spacious three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home just a five-minute walk from a Delaware Bay beach and minutes from Cape May Point and Higbee Beach.

After an early morning in the field, come home to:

• A private heated saltwater pool, seasonally open from the second week of May through October 1
• A year-round hot tub
• Three bedrooms plus additional sleeping space
• Room for groups of up to 10
• Outdoor spaces for relaxing between outings
• A quiet bayside setting
• Easy access to Cape May's birding areas, beaches and attractions

It's an especially appealing option for families, groups of friends or birders who want more space than a traditional hotel room — and somewhere comfortable to unwind after a full day outside.

Property Two

Ocean Stay Cape May

Stay in Cape May City Near the Ocean & Washington Street Mall

Prefer to stay in Cape May City?

Ocean Stay offers a walkable Cape May experience less than a mile from both the Atlantic Ocean and Washington Street Mall, while keeping you within easy reach of Cape May Point, Higbee Beach and the area's fall birding destinations.

The two-bedroom, 1.5-bath home sleeps up to 10 and offers a convenient home base for combining birding with everything else you came to Cape May to enjoy.

Ocean Stay is also dog-friendly, making it an especially convenient choice if your Cape May trip includes a four-legged traveling companion.

Late August & September: Warblers, Songbirds & Shorebirds

Late summer into September is an exciting time for Neotropical songbird migration. Warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other songbirds move through Cape May on their journey south, while shorebird migration is still underway.

• American Redstart
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Northern Waterthrush
• Magnolia Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Eastern Wood-Pewee
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird

September can also offer opportunities for less common migrants. Connecticut Warbler, for example, is a particularly sought-after fall bird whose New Jersey records are concentrated largely from early September into early October. Shorebird possibilities during this period can include uncommon migrants such as Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper.

Late September & Early October: Peak Falcon Migration

By late September, Cape May's famous raptor migration becomes a major attraction. Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks and Ospreys can move through in impressive numbers.

Peregrine migration is particularly concentrated: roughly 90% of Cape May's seasonal Peregrine Falcons typically pass between September 26 and October 12. Early October can produce raptor flights numbering in the thousands.

Mid-October: One of Cape May's Migration Sweet Spots

The timing of the Cape May Fall Festival is no accident. By mid-October, several different migration movements overlap. Warblers and other songbirds are still moving, while sparrows, kinglets, thrushes, American Robins and Eastern Bluebirds become increasingly prominent.

Raptor migration remains strong, with falcons, accipiters, buteos and eagles possible overhead. This is also when the possibility of finding an unexpected bird begins to increase. Cape May birders often consider mid-October the beginning of the particularly exciting season for vagrants — birds that have wandered far outside their normal range. For visitors attending the Fall Festival, that overlap is part of the appeal: you're arriving during a period when several different kinds of migration can be happening at once.

Late October: Eagles, Hawks, Sparrows & Early Seabirds

Late October brings another change in the migration mix. Golden Eagles become more likely, while Red-shouldered Hawks and other buteos become increasingly prominent.

Sparrow diversity can be excellent, with possibilities ranging from common Savannah, Swamp, Field and Chipping Sparrows to less common species such as Clay-colored, Vesper, Lincoln's, Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows. Seabird movement also becomes increasingly noticeable along the coast.

November: Late Migration & the Search for Rarities

Migration doesn't end when October does. November can be one of Cape May's most intriguing birding periods.

Late-season raptors include Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and Golden Eagles, while waterbirds and seabirds become increasingly important. American Robins and other late-moving landbirds can pass through in enormous numbers. And for birders who enjoy the unexpected, mid-November is considered one of Cape May's best periods for finding vagrants and other unusual birds. Late fall can also bring irruptive northern species such as Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches, depending on the year.

There's No Single "Best" Fall Birding Weekend

Cape May's fall migration changes almost week by week.

September favors migrating warblers, other songbirds and lingering shorebird movement.

Late September through mid-October brings some of the most spectacular raptor migration.

Mid-October offers an extraordinary mix of songbirds, sparrows, raptors and the growing possibility of rarities.

Late October and November bring later hawks and eagles, seabirds, waterbirds and some of the season's most intriguing vagrants.

That changing cast is part of Cape May's appeal: a September birding trip can feel completely different from a visit in mid-October or November. And because migration doesn't follow a festival schedule, staying for several days gives you more opportunities to experience Cape May under different weather and migration conditions.

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area

West End of New England Road, Cape May, NJ 08204

One of Cape May's best-known migration locations and home to the Morning Flight observation area. Higbee is particularly notable during fall songbird migration, with varied dune, forest, scrub and field habitat attracting migrants moving through the peninsula.

2026 visitor note: Portions of Higbee Beach WMA are undergoing restoration and are expected to remain closed through approximately December 2026. Birders should check current NJDEP access information and posted signs before visiting.

Cape May Point & Lake Lily

East Lake Drive at Lake Lily, Cape May Point, NJ 08212

Cape May Point itself is a destination for birders. Its compact geography puts Lake Lily, coastal habitat, the Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May Point State Park and several migration-viewing areas within a small area. During fall migration, Cape May Point becomes one of the most recognizable centers of Cape May's birding activity.

Cape May Point State Park

303 County Highway 629, Cape May, NJ 08204

A classic Cape May birding destination where visitors can combine birding with views of the Cape May Lighthouse and surrounding coastal habitat. The park includes ponds, meadows, dunes, forest and shoreline habitat and is particularly well known for fall raptor migration and the Cape May Hawk Watch.

South Cape May Meadows

692 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May, NJ 08204

Wetland, beach and coastal habitat make The Nature Conservancy's South Cape May Meadows another popular stop for birders visiting Cape May. The preserve's combination of freshwater wetlands, dunes, protected beach and viewing areas can produce wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors and other migrants.

Cape May Bird Observatory — Northwood Center

701 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ 08212

New Jersey Audubon's Cape May Bird Observatory offers birding programs, walks, educational opportunities and local birding information throughout migration season. The Northwood Center sits beside Lake Lily in Cape May Point, making it an easy stop to combine with Cape May Point State Park and other nearby birding locations.

When is the Cape May Fall Festival in 2026?

The 2026 Cape May Fall Festival is scheduled for October 15–18, 2026.

Where should I stay for the Cape May Fall Festival?

Cape May City puts you close to restaurants, shopping and the Atlantic Ocean, while the Delaware Bay side offers a quieter residential setting with convenient access to Cape May Point and Higbee Beach. Our two vacation rentals let you choose between those two experiences.

How close are the properties to Cape May's major birding locations?

From Ocean Stay Cape May, many of the southern Cape May birding destinations on this page are approximately 7–10 minutes away by car. From Sunset Bay Stay Cape May, most are approximately 15–20 minutes away by car. Actual travel times can vary with traffic, construction and seasonal conditions.

When is fall bird migration in Cape May?

Fall migration begins well before the Cape May Fall Festival and continues well after it. Late August and September bring migrating warblers, songbirds and shorebirds. Late September through mid-October is an important period for raptor migration. Mid-October brings an especially diverse mix of migrants, while late October and November bring later hawks and eagles, waterbirds, seabirds and opportunities for unusual vagrants.

What birds can I see during fall migration in Cape May?

It depends heavily on when you visit and on weather conditions. Fall possibilities include migrating warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, kinglets, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Ospreys, Red-shouldered Hawks and Golden Eagles, along with shorebirds, waterfowl and seabirds. Cape May is also known for attracting unusual vagrants during fall migration, particularly later in the season.

Is Higbee Beach good for fall birding?

Yes. Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area is one of Cape May's notable fall migration locations and is associated with the Cape May Bird Observatory's Morning Flight project. Visitors traveling in 2026 should be aware that portions of Higbee Beach WMA are undergoing restoration and are expected to remain closed through approximately December 2026. Check current NJDEP access information and posted signs before visiting.