Squan Beach is a preserved Duluth-style station built in 1902 on a site that had lifesaving operations going back to the nineteenth century. It later served the Coast Guard and remained in government use until 1996 before the Borough of Manasquan acquired it.
The architecture itself explains the work: boat rooms, living quarters, keeper space and a tall observation tower were arranged around the practical problem of seeing a wreck and getting a crew and equipment to the beach quickly.
That is the recurring theme of the lifesaving stations on this route. Their beauty is almost incidental. The buildings are machines for readiness.
Project-management note
Sea Girt to Squan is one of the shortest Challenge transfers. Keep both stops together mentally as one operational cluster. The long drive to Barnegat comes immediately afterward, so restroom, water and navigation checks should happen before leaving Manasquan.
Worth noticing nearby
Manasquan Inlet and the Point Pleasant side of the inlet are close enough to tempt a detour. Resist during a completion run. The next 70 minutes are the price of getting to the north end of Long Beach Island.
Stop facts
| Stop | 5 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lifesaving station |
| Address | 124 Ocean Avenue / Ocean & 2nd Avenue, Manasquan |
| Town | Manasquan |
| First lit / built | Current station 1902 |
| Climb | Observation tower when open |
| 2026 night climb | No |
| Default dwell | 20–25 min |
SOURCE NOTES
Site history drawn from federal, state and nonprofit sources cited in the field notes. Challenge hours, stamps and night climbs follow the organizer's 2026 pages; verify live addresses during event week.