Dawn patrol surfing in Cape May

Cape May, New Jersey

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Cape May means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 3 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:52 AM
First Light: 6:22 AM

Day length: 11h 58m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:52 AM

First light: 6:22 AM

Sunset

6:50 PM

Last light: 7:20 PM

Data from Broadway Beach · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

6:50 PM

Day Length

11h 58m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:53 AM

Sunset

6:49 PM

Day Length

11h 55m

Wed, Sep 30

Sunrise

6:54 AM

Sunset

6:47 PM

Day Length

11h 53m

Thu, Oct 1

Sunrise

6:55 AM

Sunset

6:46 PM

Day Length

11h 50m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

6:56 AM

Sunset

6:44 PM

Day Length

11h 48m

Sat, Oct 3

Sunrise

6:57 AM

Sunset

6:42 PM

Day Length

11h 45m

Best dawn patrol spots in Cape May

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Featured Beaches(3)

Broadway Beach

Intermediate

Broadway Beach faces south — unique in NJ — making NE winds offshore here when everywhere else is blown out.

Poverty Beach

Advanced

Poverty Beach sits on Cape May's east-facing shore, producing hollow A-frames on solid E-SE swells. Advanced surfers only.

The Cove (Cape May)

Intermediate

The Cove is a rare NJ point break producing left tubes on solid south swells. One of the East Coast's best-kept secrets.

Dawn patrol access guide for Cape May

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Broadway Beach
jetty
intermediate

Broadway Beach faces south — unique in NJ — making NE winds offshore here when everywhere else is blown out.

Early access

Beach access at Broadway Avenue, Cape May.

Parking

Street parking and municipal lots in Cape May. Competitive in summer.

Poverty Beach
beach
advanced

Poverty Beach sits on Cape May's east-facing shore, producing hollow A-frames on solid E-SE swells. Advanced surfers only.

Early access

East end of Cape May. Walk from Poverty Beach parking area.

Parking

Free parking — one of the few free spots in Cape May.

The Cove (Cape May)
point
upper-intermediate

The Cove is a rare NJ point break producing left tubes on solid south swells. One of the East Coast's best-kept secrets.

Early access

South end of Cape May, near the lighthouse. Walk from Cape May Point State Park.

Parking

Cape May Point State Park parking. Limited spots.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Cape May

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Cape May

Dawn patrol in Cape May typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

Check it, surf it, log it

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened — and build the record you'll compare every next call against.

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