With seven miles of beaches, the bay, bike paths, hiking trails, and the oldest operating lighthouse in America, you’ll want to add a visit to Sandy Hook, NJ, to your bucket list. But what brings over 2 million visitors a year to Sandy Hook is its unique location—nestled between the waters of the Sandy Hook Bay and the New York/New Jersey Bight, this popular national park has a unique ecosystem with a beach and a maritime forest featuring a large wildlife population. What’s more, the New York City views from the shoreline are a major wow, especially on a clear day, and it’s one of the few free beaches in New Jersey. Read on for more on what to do on a day trip to Sandy Hook and what you need to know before you go. (Photo Credit: NJ MOM)
Sandy Hook: An NJ Attraction
Visit the bayside or ocean side of Sandy Hook in NJ. Photo Credit: istock/Andrea DiSavino
Catch some rays with NYC views
Sure, Sandy Hook has incredible views from its beaches, but what really brings people here are the miles of unspoiled landscape and natural surroundings. The sandy beaches (some with lifeguards) are on the ocean, with a few small beaches by the bay, and allow swimming, jet skiing, parasailing, fishing, or boating. And while you won’t have to pay to enter any of the beaches in Sandy Hook, you will have to pay for parking. You can also bring a picnic or stop by one of the food trucks that come during the season.
Bike or hike the trails
Got a family that likes to hit the trails? Sandy Hook has something for everyone, especially for biking and hiking. There are bike rentals available near the ferry dock, and you can take them on the scenic Multi-Use Pathway (MUP), which starts at the park entrance and ends in Fort Hancock (a former defense site and military installation from the late 1800s-1974). The trail leads through a shady holly forest and along the salt marsh near the beach and historical sites, including the two Nike missile sites. If two wheels aren’t your family’s speed, there are hiking trails starting at the Sandy Hook Visitor Center and at Area M near Nine Gun Battery, where there’s also an observation tower kids young and old can climb.
Visit the oldest operating lighthouse in America in Sandy Hook, NJ. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Climb the oldest operating lighthouse
Just one mile from the tip of Sandy Hook, the 250-year-old Sandy Hook Lighthouse stands tall and is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States. It was initially built to end shipwrecks in the area, and now, on a clear night, the light from the lighthouse can be seen from up to 19 miles away. Tours inside the lighthouse are first come, first serve, and you can learn about this imposing and historic beacon at the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and Visitor Center.
Explore nature
Here’s a cool fact—Sandy Hook has the largest holly forest in the northeastern United States. What makes this even more interesting is the wildlife, where Diamondback terrapins, Eastern Gray Tree Frogs, Tree Swallows (look for their shiny blue tops), and even Harbor Seals call this part of Sandy Hook home. Got any bird lovers in the family? Sandy Hook is the place to see them, with over 300 bird species populating the area, including rare ones like the Black Skimmer, Least Tern, and the endangered nesting Piping Plovers. And as you explore, you’ll come across salt marshes and rare plants like the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. Kids will want to pick up a Sandy Hook Junior Ranger Booklet at the Visitor Center, where they can get a map, answer questions, or draw themselves as a Junior Ranger. When they’re done and turn it in, they’ll get a Junior Ranger badge as a keepsake.
Officer Housing Row at Sandy Hook in NJ is an iconic part of the area. Photo Credit: istock/William S Jones
What to know before you go
When entering Sandy Hook, a sign at the entrance signals which lots are open, or you can ask a ranger. Open lots have food trucks, beach and umbrella rentals, public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms. The beaches don’t require a badge, but parking is charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and the Sandy Hook Unit is open from 6 AM, with parking charges starting at 8 AM. For most vehicles, beach parking is $20 per day or $100 per season. Tip: Every Kid Outdoors pass holder will receive free parking, and the remaining 2024 National Park Free Entrance days include September 28 and November 11. Sandy Hook parking is a cashless operation—all booths only accept credit cards or cashless payments. Online sales are seasonal, and daily parking permits are available through recreation.gov but do not guarantee parking in a specific spot. You can also buy seasonal or daily permits in person at the entrance booth. Once you enter the parking lot, you may stay as long as you want; the last car must leave by 10 PM. The Seastreak Ferry also makes stops at Sandy Hook in the summer. If you head to the beach, lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM to 6 PM from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at ocean-side beaches. If you get hungry, enjoy a picnic on the beach, visit a mobile food vendor during the summer months, or stop in McFly’s on the Hook near the lighthouse for a treat like hot dogs, frozen lemonade, or milkshakes. If you want to stay overnight, a few rentals are available in the Officer’s Row. Camping is also available, but it is currently closed.
Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area
128 South Hartshorne Drive
Highlands, NJ 07732
For more information about Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, check out its website, Instagram, and Facebook pages.
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