Discover the Wonders of Forked River Interpretive Center

Getting There

• Car

  From any point within Island Beach State Park, head northwest towards Central Avenue. Depending on your starting location, follow the park roads to exit the park onto Central Avenue. Once on Central Avenue, continue driving until you reach the intersection with Route 9. Turn left onto Route 9 South. After approximately 2 miles, take the exit for Lacey Road. Continue on Lacey Road until you see signs for the Forked River Interpretive Center. Follow the signs to the center, which will be located at Island Beach State Park, Central Avenue, Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734. Note that there is usually a parking fee for the park, so be prepared to pay this upon entry.

• Public Transportation

  If you are using public transportation, you will first need to take a bus from a nearby town or city to reach the closest bus stop to Island Beach State Park. The NJ Transit bus service (Route 137) operates from New Jersey towns like Toms River. Once you arrive at the bus stop closest to the park, you will need to either walk or take a rideshare service (such as Uber or Lyft) to reach the Forked River Interpretive Center. The center is about a 10-15 minute ride from the nearest bus stop inside the park. Make sure to check the NJ Transit schedule for the latest bus timings and plan accordingly.