# Pine Barrens and the Jersey Shore to Cape May

> 3-day road trip of about 184 km (115 mi) with 7 stops, from Barnegat Lighthouse to Cape May Lighthouse. About 2 h 03 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b10-jersey-shore-pine-barrens/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 184 km (115 mi) with 7 stops, from Barnegat Lighthouse to Cape May Lighthouse. About 2 h 03 min of driving in total. An old lighthouse, a forest village in the Pine Barrens, boardwalks and Victorian Cape May.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 184 km (115 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 03 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Barnegat Lighthouse → Cape May Lighthouse |
| States | NJ |
| Updated | April 30, 2026 |

## 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.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Barnegat Lighthouse** (Barnegat Light, NJ): “Old Barney”, a red-and-white lighthouse at the north tip of Long Beach Island, with a climb to the gallery and a jetty walk.
2. **Batsto Village** (Hammonton, NJ): An old iron and glass-making village in Wharton State Forest, the gateway to the Pine Barrens. Sandy forest roads beyond it are not for RVs.
3. **Atlantic City** (NJ)
4. **Ocean City** (NJ)
5. **Wildwood** (NJ)
6. **Cape May** (NJ)
7. **Cape May Lighthouse** (Cape May Point, NJ): A 157-foot lighthouse inside Cape May Point State Park, a top spot for autumn bird and monarch butterfly migration. Sunset Beach is nearby.