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New Jersey (NJ)
Jersey Shore
Cape May County
North Wildwood
Things to Do in North Wildwood
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
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Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

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Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
4.5
217 reviews
#2 of 18 things to do in North Wildwood
Lighthouses
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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See what other travelers are saying
  • Justin W
    Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey3,570 contributions
    Don't miss the tour of both the lighthouse and the beautiful gardens that surround it.
    The Hereford Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful lighthouses to tour on the Jersey Shore. It has interesting artifacts to see, nicely decorated rooms with period furniture and a great display on the top floor of the light that used to shine at the lighthouse. They also have great exhibits on the lighthouse masters who used to run the lighthouse and the kids that lived there. The nicest thing about the museum is the beautiful gardens in both the front and the back of the lighthouse. The local garden club does such a nice job with them and they are vibrant and colorful. When they are in bloom, there is nothing like the colorful show of flowers.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written September 26, 2023
  • SDB4
    New Jersey1,954 contributions
    Gorgeous gardens and location
    A quaint lighthouse situated on the inlet was a beautiful place to visit. We enjoyed touring the lighthouse, looking at pictures of the lighthouse and North Wildwood through the years, and getting a glimpse into the lives of the keepers and their families. The gardens are amazing and lead out to the walking path that lines the inlet. What a stunning view! There is no admission fee, but a donation is requested. I would definitely recommend spending some time at this treasure in North Wildwood.
    Visited July 2022
    Written July 10, 2022
  • Dean_Amy-2004
    Gettysburg, Pennsylvania5,798 contributions
    Beautiful
    A beautiful light with an interesting story history. It was relocated after the foundation was destroyed but the house/light remained in tact. Beautiful gardens to explore as well. Just off the sea wall; also a small parking area available in front. Parking is free and entrance is by donation. You can walk to the top of the tower, just below the light. The coast guard still mans the light and it is not open. Nice little shop and lots of donated items/history throughout the house.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
217 reviews
Excellent
154
Very good
46
Average
10
Poor
3
Terrible
4
April1585
Galloway, NJ218 contributions
Absolutely gorgeous
Jul 2021 • Family
Hereford inlet lighthouse is absolutely stunning! The harden and all of the flowers are just gorgeous. The path leading up to the path by the water has a railing, and notches on the incline to have grip on your feet, and there are boats at the top with cutouts on the back for easy access to get inside for a fun photo op! You can walk pretty much the length of the water on the cement walkway. It’s very beautiful and relaxing. I enjoyed our visit and will be coming again! A definite stop if you’re on vacation or a local!
Written July 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy Momorella
7 contributions
no longer worth the time to visit
May 2021
the structure itself is as lovely as ever, however the gardens are just a mere shadow of their former beauty. The stunning, award winning plantings in the cottage garden style that complimented the architecture of the lighthouse so perfectly have been replaced with unimaginative, ordinary bedding plants.
Breaks my heart to see all the beautiful work Steve Murray and his friends put into the garden destroyed.
No more Maritime Festival....the N.J. Lighthouse Society dropped the site in the annual Lighthouse Challenge!
Way to go Mayor Rosenello!
Written May 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki F
32 contributions
Beautiful Lighthouse
Jun 2020
Found this little gem a couple of years ago while taking an early morning walk while in North Wildwood. I haven't been inside yet, but the grounds are just beautiful. I make sure I walk to at least this point every visit.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
angeleyes27
Brigantine, NJ5,022 contributions
Very Scenic Lighthouse
I have visited the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse almost every year for the past 15 years. And I enjoy it every time. The gardens are very peaceful and scenic..a place where weddings take place. There is a little path that goes to the ocean and from there, you can sit on park benches and see for miles down the jetties and the entire beach. I walk there early in the morning and just sit beside the ocean. This year I took the lighthouse tour. Although it is not a very tall lighthouse, the staff does their best to give the history of the lighthouse. This lighthouse was in disrepair 30 years and was boarded up. How nice it is to see it restored for generations to enjoy!
Written May 28, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
309JohnD309
Southborough, MA27 contributions
Don't visit until City relinquishes control!
Jun 2017 • Family
This lighthouse used to be a highlight of any trip to New Jersey. Since the end of last year (2017) the city's Mayor (who is a local businessman) "power tripped" and decided to close the lighthouse without notice and throw out the volunteers who had spent over 30 years and thousands of hours restoring, renovating, and maintaining the light and establishing an award winning specialty garden and museum. Now after 8 months the Mayor is trying to enlist new volunteers under the city's control for the operation of the Museum (the insides of which have been gutted and many of the garden plants have been removed).
Written May 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia M
Cape May Court House, NJ37 contributions
Once a great place
Jul 2018
Very disappointed. Has gone downhill since the city took over management of the Lighthouse. No more incredible gardens, gift shop is gone, and the staff doesn't have the knowledge or enthusiasm of the previous volunteers
Written January 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed D
Lebanon, NJ61 contributions
City took over museum
Oct 2017 • Couples
This was a wonderful place to visit until the City took over operations the end of 2017. For over 30 years, the Friends of Hereford saved then nurtured this site into a world class destination - truly unique in many ways - then. Now, the gardens are ruined and the location is seldom open to the public. A terrible loss at the hands of Patrick Rosenello, Mayor of North Wildwood, who can now see the ocean better from his home. Such a shame. Not worth the visit any more, sadly.
Written May 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard S
Rahway, NJ686 contributions
Favorite place in this area
Sep 2019 • Couples
The lighthouse itself is interesting, but the garden is the real prize here. The wooden Victorian house and tower has been nicely restored, with a good sense of how the keepers and their families lived. This was a standard Lighthouse Service design, there are duplicates in Oregon and along the west coast. Over the years it was moved back from the sea several times as the coastline changed.

The garden has been a 20 year volunteer effort, and it is a very colorful and relaxing example of a Victorian flower and shrub garden. You can walk thru to a paved seawall which is a nice walk along the shore.
Written September 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chelsi P
Denver, CO377 contributions
Beautiful Garden!
Jun 2021
My friends and I came for the history, and stayed for the garden! There is also a beach walk around there that is also beautiful, so take time to do that too. You do not need a lot of time in the lighthouse itself.
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawnsouthjersey
Franklinville, NJ3 contributions
Information update for Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
Jul 2018 • Family
The phone number for info is 609-522-2030, this is the township clerk office, select recreation. The hours are 9-5 every day and there is no admission fee.
Written July 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Hereford Inlet Lighthouse - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Information

Excellent Reviews

153

Very Good Reviews

46

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Photos

179