Barnegat Light Beach
Barnegat Light, NJ
Barnegat Light sits at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, anchored by the lighthouse that's been guiding boats through Barnegat Inlet since 1859. It's the one LBI town that bans beach driving outright, and the 217 step climb to the top of the lighthouse is as much a draw here as the beach itself.
The lighthouse and the no beach driving rule give it a genuinely different identity from the rest of LBI, though the inlet currents mean swimmers need to pay real attention here.
How we score beachesClimb the lighthouse before or after the beach, not during peak midday heat. There's no shade on the way up, and it's a real workout at 217 steps.
Street parking is available on most blocks, though some streets restrict it. Pay attention to posted signs rather than assuming.
Flat streets lead to the sand at regular access points, with no boardwalk to navigate.
Dogs aren't allowed on the beach from mid April through September. Leashed dogs are welcome the rest of the year.
Water warms into the low to mid 70s by August, and the inlet's currents make this one of the more current aware swimming spots on the island. Fall brings clearer lighthouse views once summer haze clears out.
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