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Lighthouses in New Jersey

32 lighthouses in New Jersey with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Monmouth County has the most (9). The darkest skies are at Brandywine Shoal Light (Bortle 4).

Top lighthouses

Sandy Hook LightLighthouse
Sandy Hook LightMonmouth County
Robbins Reef LightLighthouse
Robbins Reef LightHudson County
Absecon LightLighthouse
Absecon LightAtlantic County
Barnegat LighthouseLighthouse
Barnegat LighthouseOcean County
Cape May LighthouseLighthouse
Cape May LighthouseCape May County
Romer Shoal LightLighthouse
Romer Shoal LightUnion County
Cross Ledge LightLighthouse
Cross Ledge LightCumberland County
Elbow of Cross Ledge LightLighthouse
Elbow of Cross Ledge LightCumberland County
Brandywine Shoal LightLighthouse
Brandywine Shoal LightCape May County
Miah Maull Shoal LightLighthouse
Miah Maull Shoal LightCumberland County
Great Beds LightLighthouse
Great Beds LightMiddlesex County
Ship John Shoal LightLighthouse
Ship John Shoal LightCumberland County

Lighthouses by county

All lighthouses (32)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Sandy Hook LightGatewayMonmouth County4 mHighlands8
Robbins Reef LightNational Parks of New York HarborHudson County—Tompkinsville9
Absecon LightAtlantic County5 mAtlantic City7
Barnegat LighthouseOcean County3 mWaretown5
Cape May LighthouseCape May County47 mWest Cape May4
Romer Shoal LightUnion County—Coney Island8
Cross Ledge LightCumberland County—Port Norris4
Elbow of Cross Ledge LightCumberland County—Dover Base Housing4
Brandywine Shoal LightCape May County—North Cape May4
Miah Maull Shoal LightCumberland County—Port Norris4
Great Beds LightMiddlesex County—Perth Amboy8
Ship John Shoal LightCumberland County—Fairton5
Hereford Inlet LighthouseCape May County—North Wildwood5
Sea Girt LightMonmouth County—Sea Girt7
East Point LightCumberland County—Port Norris4
Tinicum Island Rear Range LightGloucester County—Paulsboro8
Conover BeaconMonmouth County—Leonardo8
Ludlam's Beach LightCape May County—Sea Isle City4
Finns Point Range LightSalem County—Pennsville6
Chapel Hill Rear Range LightMonmouth County—Navesink8
Brigantine LighthouseAtlantic County—Brigantine6
Waackaack Rear Range LightMonmouth County—Keansburg8
Finn's Point Rear Range LightSalem County—Pennsville6
Tinicum Island Range Front LightGloucester County—Paulsboro8
Navesink north lighthouseMonmouth County—Highlands7
Navesink south lighthouseMonmouth County—Highlands7
Deepwater point Range Rear LightSalem County—Carneys Point7
Deepwater Point Range Front LightSalem County—Pennsville6
Sea Girt Inlet LighthouseMonmouth County6 mSea Girt7
Highlands LightMonmouth County62 mHighlands7
Cohansey LighthouseCumberland County1 mFairton5
Little Egg Harbor Light (historical)Ocean County—Beach Haven5

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lighthouses

Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.

  • During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
  • Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
  • Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
  • A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
  • Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.

Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.