The Lighthouse Road Trip On The New Jersey Coast That’s Dreamily Beautiful
New Jersey is home to some truly spectacular lighthouses; we’ve got architectural gems loaded with rich history dotted all along our coast. While one of the best ways to see them all is by taking the 2-day lighthouse challenge, held annually in October, you can still enjoy a select few over the course of a road trip. Take in some of our most notable lighthouses while enjoying the beach along the way! The Garden State is a perfect vacation destination, and this lighthouse road trip in New Jersey makes for a great experience across the state.
This trip totals 170 miles and can start at either Cape May Lighthouse or the Navesink Twin Lights. Over the course of two days (three lighthouses each day), you'll enjoy six lighthouses and the surrounding attractions. It just might be the most unique road trip in New Jersey!
Sandy Hook Light is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. It is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States and was built all the way back in 1764. It has survived several attacks over the years including a brief occupation by British troops. In 1990, it was featured on a postal stamp. In 2000, it underwent significant renovations. You can now visit visit and enjoy free tours if you're looking for things to do on the coast of New Jersey.
No lighthouse road trip in New Jersey is worth its salt without a visit to this stunning location! This architectural masterpiece sits 200 feet above sea level and offers sprawling views of Sandy Hook, New York City and the New Jersey Coast. Visitors can enjoy free admission and a fantastic little museum. The Twin Lights made front-page news in 1893 when the site was selected as the location for the first official reading of the Pledge of Allegiance. In 1899, it served as the site for Marconi's first major demonstration of his wireless telegraph, changing the communication industry forever.
At just 44' high, this is one of the smaller lighthouses on our list but it still has historical significance; it hosted the first radio beacon mounted in a shore installation in the United States. During WWII it served as a Coast Guard dormitory and it is now open for tours. These guided tours will take you to every room, from the keepers quarters to the top of the tower. First lit in 1896, it was the last live-in lighthouse built in the United States. Notable keepers include Major Abraham Wolf, a spy for the Union Army and Harriet Yates, one of the first female lighthouse keepers in the country. It's known as one of the most historic lighthouses in New Jersey.
Just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Atlantic City's boardwalk, Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest. At 171', it is also the third tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States. It was first lit in 1857 and still shines today, though it is no longer an active navigational aid. Visitors can climb to the top or enjoy the museum below, offering exhibits on local sea life, shipwrecks and more.
This lighthouse was built in 1874 and offers award-winning gardens. It is the only Swiss Gothic residential lighthouse on the East Coast. You'll find a charming museum and gift shop here along with DVD tours for those who can't make the climb to the top. It's a great stop along this lighthouse road trip in New Jersey.
Opened in 1859, this is still a working lighthouse and it is open to the public. A popular tourist destination, it can receive over 100,000 visitors per year. Surrounded by a beautiful state park, Cape May Lighthouse is the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll.
For the route, locations, directions and an interactive map, click here.
Do you have a favorite lighthouse in New Jersey?
Not every lighthouse is featured on this road trip as it’s meant to be a manageable drive and easy to do in terms of time. For more lighthouses to explore, check out this list. One of the great things about Garden State lighthouses is that many are very affordable or even free to visit. For other free and fun ideas, check out this list.
Address: 85 Mercer Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA
Address: Twin Lights State Historic Site, 2 Light House Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA
Address: 9 Ocean Ave, Sea Girt, NJ 08750, USA
Address: Absecon Lighthouse, 31 S Rhode Island Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA
Address: 111 N Central Ave, North Wildwood, NJ 08260, USA
Address: Lighthouse Pond West, New Jersey 08204, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
lighthouse road trip in New Jersey
April 24, 2020
Meghan Kraft
What is the most famous lighthouse in New Jersey?
The most famous lighthouse in New Jersey is the Absecon Lighthouse, which is located in the famed outskirts of Atlantic City. It’s one of the most distinctive views in the state, especially with its distinctive dual colors and the 171-foot tower that stretches high above the heads of onlookers. The Absecon Lighthouse is known as the sister lighthouse of the Barnegat Lighthouse and has been considered as such for more than 150 years. The popular attraction welcomes visitors from the furthest reaches of the globe and locals alike on an annual basis. Although it is not the oldest workhouse in New Jersey, it is one of the most visited.
Are there any other unique road trips to take in New Jersey?
New Jersey may be a small state, but it remains one of the most fun and beautiful places to visit in the nation. You can road trip the famed Jersey Shore, where beach town after beach town is bound to regale you with fun experiences and spectacular, waterfront views. You can plan your own road trip and spend a weekend hopping from haunted cemetery to haunted hotel, or maybe take an abandoned places road trip that features buildings and spaces long since forgotten by the world. There are a handful of waterfalls that are both beautiful and easily accessible in New Jersey and would lend themselves to a great road trip.
What else can I do along the coast in New Jersey?
There are all sorts of great things to do along the shore of New Jersey! Cheekily known as the “Jersey Shore,” locals find themselves wandering everything from the Cape May City Beaches to Cape May County Park and Zoo, or perhaps the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The number one attraction in New Jersey is definitely the Atlantic City and Boardwalk, but the Adventure Aquarium and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are also great spots to visit.
Address: 85 Mercer Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA
Address: Twin Lights State Historic Site, 2 Light House Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA
Address: 9 Ocean Ave, Sea Girt, NJ 08750, USA
Address: Absecon Lighthouse, 31 S Rhode Island Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA
Address: 111 N Central Ave, North Wildwood, NJ 08260, USA
Address: Lighthouse Pond West, New Jersey 08204, USA
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Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
