The Perfect Day Trip from NYC to Highlands, NJ: Sandy Hook, Sandy Shores & Mule Barn Tavern
New Yorkers looking for a genuine day trip that doesn't require a car often overlook Highlands, NJ, even though it sits a scenic ferry ride away and offers one of the most rewarding Shore days within easy reach of the city. Here's how to plan the whole trip, from getting there to dinner at the end.
Getting to Highlands from NYC
Seastreak operates daily, year-round ferry service between Manhattan and Highlands, with boats departing from Pier 11/Wall Street and East 35th Street. The crossing takes approximately 45 minutes, turning what could be a stressful drive through Shore-bound traffic into a relaxed ride across the harbor with skyline views the whole way. For visitors without a car, this is genuinely the easiest way to reach Highlands from the city.
Drivers have an option too. The trip from Manhattan to Highlands runs a little over an hour depending on traffic and route, making it manageable as a same-day round trip for anyone who prefers to drive.
Morning: Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, sits just minutes from the Highlands ferry terminal and offers miles of beach, dune trails, and the historic grounds of Fort Hancock. A morning walk along the Fort Hancock Walking Tour covers more than a century of coastal defense history, including the former mule barn that now houses Mule Barn Tavern itself, a fitting bit of context before dinner later in the day.
Afternoon: The Beach
Sandy Hook's beaches are less crowded than the more heavily trafficked Shore towns further south, making it a good choice for visitors who want sand and water without fighting for a parking spot or a patch of beach. The unobstructed views back toward the Manhattan skyline are also part of what makes a Sandy Hook beach day feel different from a typical Jersey Shore outing.
Evening: Dinner at Mule Barn Tavern
After a day at the park and the beach, Mule Barn Tavern sits just up the road in Highlands, inside a restored building that was once part of Fort Hancock's working stable operation. The full tavern menu covers everything from lobster sliders and the Jersey Shore burger to a rotating tap list of New Jersey craft beer, giving a day-tripper a proper sit-down meal to end the day rather than a quick bite before the ferry back.
Getting Back to the City
Seastreak's return schedule runs multiple departures throughout the evening from the Highlands terminal back to Manhattan, so there's no need to rush dinner to catch the last boat, particularly outside of the busiest summer weekends when it's worth checking the schedule in advance.
Why the Ferry Beats Driving
Beyond avoiding traffic, the Seastreak crossing is part of the experience itself. Skipping the car means no searching for parking near a crowded beach entrance and no sitting in Shore-bound traffic that can turn a short trip into a long one on a summer weekend. For a day trip built around relaxation, removing the drive from the equation is worth the ferry fare on its own.
Making It a Group Outing
This itinerary works just as well for a group as it does for a couple or solo traveler. Splitting a ferry booking, coordinating one beach spot for the group, and finishing with a shared table at Mule Barn Tavern, where the full menu and rotating tap list give everyone something to order, makes for an easy day trip to plan without much back-and-forth.
Why This Day Trip Works
The combination of an easy ferry commute, a genuinely scenic and historic park, an uncrowded beach, and a distinctive dinner destination gives Highlands a complete day-trip itinerary that few other options within an hour of Manhattan can match. It's an easy sell for anyone who wants a real change of scenery without renting a car or planning an overnight stay. For New Yorkers who default to the same handful of day-trip options every summer, swapping in Highlands for even one weekend is a genuinely different experience from the usual crowded Shore towns closer to the city.
Timing Your Visit
The ferry schedule and Sandy Hook's own hours should anchor your planning. Checking the current Seastreak schedule before you go ensures you don't end up rushing the beach portion of the day to catch a return boat, and building in a buffer between leaving the park and your dinner reservation at Mule Barn Tavern gives everyone time to change out of beach clothes and settle in for the evening. Weekday trips also tend to be quieter across every part of this itinerary, from the ferry itself to the beach to dinner, which is worth considering for anyone with a flexible schedule.
Plan Your Day
Mule Barn Tavern is located at 36 Kearney Road, Highlands, NJ 07732, and is open 11 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, making it easy to fit dinner around any ferry schedule.
View the full menu or call to reserve a table for your day trip.
