Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

We had the pleasure of taking a road trip out to the Barnegat Lighthouse, located at 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006. This is something I wanted to capture in photographs for a long time. The drive would take me just over 2 hours. After entering the address into my GPS on a beautiful Saturday, I found that the trip would take me over three hours. I wasn’t going to let a little traffic hold me back.

Again, I brought my 7-year-old daughter along for the ride. (She’s been my adventure buddy throughout the summer.) I suggest bringing snacks in the car so you don’t have to stop or eat before you go. She sometimes gets car sick, so I was hoping the drive would be fine for her. I gave her my phone, and she watched YouTube videos to keep herself occupied during the trip.

After enduring traffic delays, spending an overly long time at a fast-food restaurant, navigating toll booths (I need to get an EZ-Pass), and driving over the bridge to Long Beach Island, we finally arrived. Barnegat Lighthouse was a great experience. We climbed a total of 434 stairs to the top and back down! I didn’t realize how out of shape I was and took a few breaks on the way up. It was much easier going down. I think I did enough exercise for the year. We had a view of Long Beach Island, Barnegat Bay, and Island Beach.

Entrance is free with parking. There is a fee to climb the stairs. Children 5 and under are free. CASH ONLY: $1 for children 6-11 and $3 for ages 12 and up. Pets are welcome on a leash but are not permitted in certain parts of the park. A visitor station provides information about the history, nature, and coastline. Lighthouse hours are 8 am-8 pm, and the stairs to the lighthouse are open from 10 am-4:30 pm, weather permitting. Picnic tables are provided. Visitors can enjoy sunbathing and fishing. Fires, propane stoves, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

For more information, visit: https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html

TWIN LIGHTS LIGHTHOUSE

Twin Lights Lighthouse is located at 2 Lighthouse Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732. The museum is full of items and facts about lighthouses and their keepers. Entrance and parking are free, including access to climb the lighthouse. Donations are accepted. There is a gift shop with maps and blueprints of the lighthouse available for purchase. You can see Sandy Hook, New York Harbor, and the Manhattan skyline in the distance. We climbed to the top of the North Tower. The South Tower is open for special events and private tours. Twin Lights is a great day trip; we spent about an hour here and took a 20-minute drive down to Keansburg Beach and Amusement Park.

For more information: http://www.twinlightslighthouse.com/

List of New Jersey Lighthouses

https://www.visitnj.org/article/lighthouses-new-jersey

• Absecon Lighthouse
• Cape May Lighthouse
• Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
• East Point Lighthouse
• Sea Girt Lighthouse