While staying at Newport Campground, we traveled south on Lighthouse Rd. through St. Marks Wildlife Refuge to see the lighthouse on the gulf.

Lighthouse Rd. was directly across from the campground so it was easy access. We timed our trip to coincide with our being there during sunset and making sure we’d be out of there (the gates close this road) by 7:00 PM. We wondered what happens to folks who are stuck inside on this road after closure??

It was a beautiful 10 mile drive through natural vegetation and habitat. In the map above, you can see the St. Marks river to the left of the road.

Once at the lighthouse, the beauty of the surrounding wetlands was presented. This panorama gives the feeling of it from three stories up on an observation platform.

And finally, our sunset photo over the gulf:
Overall, a beautiful place for a side trip! Now, for the answer to the question I posed about getting locked in after the gates close in Lighthouse Rd about 3 miles from Route 98: there is a button that one can press to open the gates!! Hah! You’re not locked in until the next day.