New Jersey Lighthouses Offer Breathtaking Views, Historic Perspective to Visitors

Yesterday my sons and I visited Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City and now we can brag that we’ve climbed the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey! There’s just something about the symbolism of a lighthouse that I love – a lone tall beacon in the night, signaling guidance and safe harbor for those traveling the rough seas. New Jersey has a number of lighthouses that are open to the public and they make a great, inexpensive (sometimes free!) day trip or a nice little side trip while you’re spending some time at the Jersey shore. You can visit a whole bunch of lighthouses in one day (don’t miss the Lighthouse Challenge of NJ) or spend an hour or two at one lighthouse, climbing to the top, taking in the spectacular view, and learning about its history. Many New Jersey lighthouses are located in or near state parks or beaches, so – in addition to the fun of visiting the lighthouse – there are lots of other fun things to do (hiking, swimming, visiting a museum, fishing, etc) nearby. Here’s a guide to visiting lighthouses in New Jersey…

Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse, standing tall along the Atlantic City shoreline at 171 feet. The Absecon lighthouse was built in 1857 under the supervision of General George Meade, who is best known for commanding the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg (Meade also built New Jersey’s Barnegat and Cape May Lighthouses). It is 228 steps to the top, where visitors are treated to stunning views of the Brigantine Inlet, the New Jersey shoreline, and the Atlantic City skyline. The Absecon Lighthouse houses an educational museum and replica of the lightkeeper’s house and offers special programs such as themed parties on “Wacky Wednesdays”, a “Keeper Sleeper” program (kids can sleep over and experience life as a lighthouse keeper 150 years ago – great for Girl and Boy Scouts!), group tours, and full moon climbs. Absecon Lighthouse is located at S. Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey and is open from Thursday through Monday from 11am to 4pm from September through June and daily from 10am to 5pm in July and August. Admission to the Keeper’s House Museum, exhibits, and grounds are free. The cost to climb this New Jersey lighthouse is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for kids ages 4-12. Active military personnel and kids under 4 can climb the lighthouse for free.

Barnegat Lighthouse

A trip to Long Beach Island is just not complete without a visit to Old Barney! This landmark New Jersey lighthouse is located at the southern tip of the treacherous Barnegat Inlet and was originally lit in 1859. Its light was recently replaced with a new Coast Guard-approved lens and is now visible for 22 nautical miles. It is a 217 step climb to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse. Once at the top, climbers are rewarded with spectacular views of the Barnegat Bay, Island Beach State Park, and Long Beach Island. The lighthouse is located within Barnegat Lighthouse State Park where visitors can take an easy hike along the Maritime Forest Trail, do some fishing, beachcombing, and picnicking, and visit the Barnegat Lighthouse Interpretive Center where they can learn about the history of the lighthouse as well as the changing nature of New Jersey’s coastline and the natural environment surrounding the lighthouse. Barnegat Lighthouse is located at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, off Broadway in Barnegat Light, New Jersey and the lighthouse is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm (weather permitting). Fees to climb this New Jersey lighthouse are in effect between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day ($3 per person for ages 12 and older, $1 for children ages 6 to 11, children under 5 climb free).

Cape May Lighthouse

Cape May’s current lighthouse has been standing since 1859. Previous structures were built in 1823 and 1847, but could not stand the test of time. Still acting as an aid to navigation today, the Cape May Lighthouse stands 157 feet high. It is 199 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The Oil House on the grounds of the lighthouse contains a fully accessible museum. Located within Cape May Point State Park, visitors to this New Jersey lighthouse can also explore the Interpretive Nature Center, enjoy some surf fishing, hunt for Cape May diamonds, do some bird watching, picnic along the beach, and participate in special nature programs. The Cape May Lighthouse is located at 215 Lighthouse Avenue in Cape May Point, New Jersey. Hours vary – visit the Cape May Lighthouse online for details. Admission fees are $8 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 to 12.

Finn’s Point Rear Range Light

Finn’s Point Rear Range Light is a 115 foot tall iron tower that was built in 1879 to guide ships from the Delaware Bay into the Delaware River. The lighthouse is located within Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is an excellent destination for viewing wildlife, hiking, and bird watching. Fort Mott State Park is within a 5-minute drive and is a great destination for those interested in military and New Jersey history. Fishing, hiking, and picnicking are other popular activities at Fort Mott State Park. Finn’s Point Rear Range Light is located at 197 Lighthouse Road in Pennsville, New Jersey and is open to the public from April to October on the third Sunday of the month from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The lighthouse is also open on the weekend of the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey. Admission is free. (Note: climbing will not be permitted on days when the temperature/humidity are exceptionally high.)

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

Built in 1874, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a Swiss Carpenter Gothic-style lighthouse and is the only one of its kind on the East coast. The lighthouse is still a working navigational aid and is a shorter lighthouse with an easy 56 steps for visitors to climb to the top (there are actually 69 steps to the lantern room, but this room is closed to the public). The lighthouse museum shows visitors what life was like for a lighthouse keeper in the late 19th and early 20th century. The beautiful Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Gardens contain over 200 plant varieties planted in the Victorian cottage style and extend right up to the ocean seawall. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is located at 111 North Central Avenue in North Wildwood, New Jersey and is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Lighthouse tour admission fees are $5 for visitors ages 12 and up and $2 for visitors under 12.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse

Lit for the first time in 1764, Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. The lighthouse is surrounded by historic Fort Hancock and is part of Gateway National Recreation Area (learn more about all the fun things to do at Gateway National Recreation Area here). The light is still in operation today and is maintained by the United States Coast Guard. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and Visitor Center is open from 9am to 5pm daily. The Keepers Quarters contains interpretive exhibits and National Park rangers are available to answer questions. Sandy Hook Lighthouse tours are offered on a first come, first served basis from 1pm to 4:30pm. Children must be at least 48 inches tall to climb the tower. A video about the lighthouse in the adjacent barn is always open. Admission to Sandy Hook Lighthouse is free. Sandy Hook beach parking is $15 between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day; parking at Fort Hancock is free. To get to Gateway National Recreation area at Sandy Hook, use GPS address 128 South Hartshorne Drive in Highlands, New Jersey. Follow signs for Historic Fort Hancock area to get to Sandy Hook Lighthouse.

Sea Girt Lighthouse

After many shipwrecks along the Central New Jersey coast in the 19th century, Sea Girt Lighthouse was constructed in 1896 to close the gap in navigational aids between the Barnegat and Navesink Lighthouses. The lighthouse was the last live-in lighthouse constructed on the Atlantic coast. Sea Girt Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1945 and over the next several decades the impressive brick structure fell into disrepair. In 1981, the Sea Girt Lighthouse Citizens Committee leased the structure from the Borough of Sea Girt and restored it to its original glory. Today the Sea Girt Lighthouse is open to the public. Visitors are invited to tour the keeper’s office, living quarters, and the tower’s lantern room. Many artifacts are on display including historical photos, a keeper’s logbook, and a 4th order Fresnel lens. The Sea Girt Lighthouse is located at 9 Ocean Avenue in Sea Girt, New Jersey and is open to the public on Sundays between 2pm and 4pm from mid-April through the Sunday before Thanksgiving. There are no tours on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, July 4 weekend, or Labor Day weekend. Admission to the Sea Girt Lighthouse is free!

Tinicum Island Rear Range Lighthouse

Tinicum Island Rear Range Lighthouse is a steel skeletal structure standing 85 feet tall with 112 steps leading from the pavilion at the base of the tower to the lantern room. The lighthouse began operation on New Year’s Eve in 1880. The lighthouse is located at 70 2nd Street in Paulsboro, New Jersey and is open for tours on the third full weekend of each month from April through October. Admission is free, but donations to the Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse Society for the lighthouse’s continued preservation are appreciated.

Twin Lights of the Highlands

The unique Twin Lights sit 200 feet above sea level atop the Navesink Highlands. Built in 1862, the Twin Lights featured one steady light and one flashing light and was an important landmark to ships navigating the treacherous entrances to New York Harbor. The Twin Lights are also home to a number of other historic events including the first official reading of the Pledge of Allegiance, the first electrically powered lighthouse in the United States, wireless telegraph communications by Guglielmo Marconi in 1899, and field testing by the U.S. Army of the “Mystery Ray”, which we now call radar. Today, the lighthouse is open to visitors and climbers to the top of the North Tower are rewarded with gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Twin Lights museum displays lighthouse and lifesaving station artifacts and offers educational programs and fun events for visitors. The Twin Lights of Highlands are located on Lighthouse Road in Highlands, New Jersey and are open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 12:00pm and from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Admission to this New Jersey lighthouse is free!

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