Pine Barrens and the Jersey Shore to Cape May

Route description

Start at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, reached from the Garden State Parkway on State Road 72, where Barnegat Lighthouse overlooks the inlet. Then head inland on Routes 72, 563 and 542 into the Pine Barrens, a huge forest of pitch pine and cedar-colored rivers.

Batsto Village, in Wharton State Forest, is a preserved iron-making town with a mansion, sawmill and trailheads. Canoe rentals nearby run on the slow Batsto and Mullica rivers. Keep RVs on paved roads; the sand forest tracks swallow heavy vehicles.

Rejoin the coast at Atlantic City for the original boardwalk, and continue to family-friendly Ocean City, where alcohol is not sold, and to Wildwood, with retro 1950s motels and a vast free beach. The Garden State Parkway has small tolls; the Ocean Drive along the barrier islands is slower but more scenic.

End in Cape May, the oldest seaside resort in the country, full of Victorian houses. The lighthouse in Cape May Point State Park is a famous spot for fall bird and butterfly migration. September and October bring warm water, quiet beaches and lower prices.