Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

State: New Jersey. Type: state park in Ocean County on the northern tip of Long Beach Island. Established 1951; operated by the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry. Centerpiece is the historic Barnegat Lighthouse (locally nicknamed "Old Barney"), which visitors can climb via 217 steps. Park entrance is free; lighthouse climbing carries a small seasonal fee.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park occupies the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey, where fast currents, shifting sandbars and offshore shoals long made the waters treacherous for ships heading toward New York Harbor. The park's centerpiece is the historic Barnegat Lighthouse, which for generations helped mariners avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. Established in 1951 and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, the park itself is compact, but its combination of a climbable historic lighthouse, a short maritime forest trail, an interpretive center, and a long jetty for saltwater fishing makes it a popular stop for both history-minded visitors and anglers. From the top of the lighthouse, visitors get sweeping views over Barnegat Inlet, the Atlantic Ocean, and the surrounding bay.

The park sits at 208 Broadway & The Bay, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006, on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey, overlooking Barnegat Inlet where the bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

As a New Jersey shore location, the park has a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and cool winters; being right on the inlet, it is often windier than inland areas, which affects lighthouse-climbing comfort and jetty fishing conditions.

Late spring through early fall (Memorial Day to Labor Day) is when the lighthouse interior is open for climbing, making this the most practical window for visitors who want to go up. The Maritime Forest Trail and jetty fishing are accessible year-round, so off-season visits still work for those mainly interested in the grounds, birdwatching, or fishing.

The waters off the northern tip of Long Beach Island were historically hazardous for ships approaching New York Harbor because of fast currents, shifting sandbars and offshore shoals, prompting construction of the Barnegat Lighthouse to guide vessels safely around these shoals. The state park surrounding the lighthouse was established in 1951 and has since been operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. The lighthouse remains a maritime landmark and one of the most recognizable structures on the Jersey Shore.

Visitors can climb the 217 steps to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse for panoramic views (seasonal, weather permitting), walk the 0.2-mile self-guided Maritime Forest Trail, visit the Interpretive Center to learn the lighthouse's history and surrounding ecology, picnic at the on-site tables and shelters, watch birds and wildlife, and fish for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and flounder from the shoreline or the accessible 1,033-foot fishing walkway along the south jetty.

The historic Barnegat Lighthouse itself is the main attraction, alongside the Interpretive Center, the Maritime Forest Trail, and the long south jetty with its dedicated fishing walkway. Live camera feeds from the top of the lighthouse are also available through the park's visitor information.

The park is reached by car via local roads on Long Beach Island, with the address 208 Broadway & The Bay, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006. No specific airport or transit distance was found in the sources reviewed; visitors typically drive in via the causeway onto Long Beach Island.

Per the NJ DEP: park gate open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; park office open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; the lighthouse itself is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily (seasonal, weather permitting).

Park entrance is free. Climbing the lighthouse costs $3 for ages 12 and up and $1 for ages 6-11, charged between Memorial Day and Labor Day per the NJ DEP's official park page.

Most visitors spend one to two hours: time to climb the lighthouse, walk the short Maritime Forest Trail, and browse the Interpretive Center; anglers using the jetty may stay considerably longer.

Long Beach Island has a range of shore lodging, from small inns and motels to vacation rental homes, concentrated in Barnegat Light and neighboring LBI communities; specific properties were not verified from official sources for this report.

Barnegat Light and nearby Long Beach Island towns offer casual, shore-town dining with a strong seafood presence, reflecting the area's fishing heritage; specific restaurant names were not verified from official sources for this report.

The rest of Long Beach Island's beach towns stretch south along the barrier island, and Barnegat Bay lies just west of the park across the inlet from the mainland.

No airport or rail information specific to the park was found in the sources reviewed; visitors generally arrive by car via the Long Beach Island causeway from mainland Ocean County.

Children climbing the lighthouse's 217 steps must be under adult supervision per park rules. The jetty and shoreline can have slippery rocks and strong currents at the inlet, so caution is advised for anglers and sightseers. No swimming, camping, alcohol or smoking are permitted in the park. For emergencies, dial 911.

Comfortable shoes for the 217-step lighthouse climb and the Maritime Forest Trail, sun protection, and water are recommended; anglers should bring their own tackle, as the park's information does not indicate on-site rental gear.

Visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day if climbing the lighthouse interior is a priority, since access is seasonal and weather-dependent. Pets must be leashed and are restricted from park beaches between April 1 and September 15. Arriving earlier in the day can help avoid the busiest summer crowds on Long Beach Island.

Dial 911 for any emergency. Park office: 609-494-2016; email parks@dep.nj.gov.

NJ Division of Parks and Forestry, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park - https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/find/barnegat-lighthouse-state-park/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.