New Jersey destinations, parks and attractions

Are you going on a road trip to New Jersey, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?

Here are some of the top destinations in New Jersey and tips about visiting them

Top New Jersey destinations

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National Monument: Most think of this as a NY destination, but it is MUCH easier to get to from the NJ side, where there is a historic train station and ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue! Be sure to reserve everything long in advance online! 12 million immigrants passed through the halls of Ellisd Islands from 1892 to 1954. Ellis Island afforded them the opportunity to attain the American dream for themselves and their descendants. And get reservations to go to the crown of the Statue of Liberty! Alerts and Current Conditions, Info about the park, Park event calendar and Park maps.
Ocean City, NJ - Beautiful beaches, a family area, a boardwalk with food, 2 amusement parks and entertainment . Plus, the beaches and bay have surfing, deep sea and pier fishing, sailing, boating, and much more.
Battleship New Jersey, 100 Clinton Street, Camden, NJ. The USS New Jersey is an Iowa-class battleship, launched in 1942 and now is a floating museum docked on the Delaware River.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park:, West Orange, NJ. Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory are a step back in time, when machines were run by belts and pulleys and music was played on phonographs. Where to the uninformed passerby, the buildings betray little evidence of the industries they once started. Discover where America’s greatest inventor changed our world forever. Alerts and Current Conditions, Info about the park, Park event calendar and Park maps.
Blueberry picking - Many U-pick blueberry fields in Pemberton, NJ (Burlington County) each July. See this page for farms to go to.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park:, Paterson, NJ. Cotton and silk fabrics; steam locomotives; continuous rolls of paper; airplane engines. What do these things have in common? They were all manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 1792, Paterson was established, America's first planned industrial city, centered around the Great Falls of the Passaic River. From humble mills rose industries that changed the face of the United States. Info about the park; Park event calendar; Alerts and Current Conditions and Park maps
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area:, 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA, Phone: 570-426-2452. The park is along the Delaware River in the states of NJ,PA.
Need to get away from everything for a while? We know the place. This sacred land has been cherished by people for over 10,000 years. Its fields and forests a bounty for those that have come before us, and a national treasure for us to enjoy today. With waterfalls, over 100 miles of hiking trails and three swim beaches that allow grilling. Info about the park, Park event calendar, Alerts and Current Conditions and Park maps.
Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, New Jersey,. Located in the middle of the state, it has a huge number of rides and a 452 ft tall roller coaster, Kingda Ka!
Wildwoods, New Jersey - 5 miles of beaches, the Wildwoods boardwalk, (38 blocks long, with food, amusement parks and entertainment ). Plus, the beaches offer surfing, deep sea and pier fishing, sailing, boating, and much more.
The Adventure Aquarium - 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ. Located on the Delaware River, it is a huge aquarium complex with 2 million-gallons of aquariums and 8,500 marine life. They have fish, shrimp, coral, anemones, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, stingrays and much more. Even hippos!
Cape May, NJ - Located in the southern tip of New Jersey in addition to beautiful beaches there are beautiful Victorian homes, a GREAT county zoo (don't underestimate it!), the Cape May Point Lighthouse which was built in 1859), and a museum Emlen Physick Estate built in 1879.
Atlantic City, NJ - Similar to the other beach towns with their famous boardwalk, but also gambling. Perhaps not the first choice beach town for non-gamblers!

National parks and monuments in New Jersey

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Maine to Georgia, CT,GA,MA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,NY,PA,TN,VA,VT,WV.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Gateway National Recreation area:, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, New York and Monmouth County, New Jersey, NY,NJ.

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for millions of visitors every year. Gateway offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes. Every day, Gateway is open for you to explore, envision, and enjoy!
Great Egg Harbor River, Egg Harbor, NJ
The River gradually widens as it picks up the waters of 17 tributaries on its way to Great Egg Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Established by Congress in 1992, nearly all of this 129-mile river system rests within the Pinelands National Reserve. This National Park Service unit is unusual in that local jurisdictions continue to administer the lands.
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River; PA,NJ
The largest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, the Delaware River runs past forests, farmlands, and villages, and it also links some of the most densely populated regions in America. In 2000, the National Wild and Scenic River System incorporated key segments of the lower Delaware River to form this unit of the National Park System.
Morristown National Historical Park:, Morristown, NJ.

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental army’s winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780, where they survived through what would be the coldest winter on record. The park also maintains a museum and library collection related to the encampments and George Washington, as well as items relating to pre- and post-Revolutionary America.
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve: Southeastern New Jersey, NJ
This is truly a special place. It's classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and in 1978 was established by Congress as the country’s first National Reserve. It includes portions of seven southern New Jersey counties, and encompasses over one-million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. It contains 56 communities, from hamlets to suburbs, with over 700,000 permanent residents.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, MA,RI,CT,NY,NJ,PA,DE,MD,VA,DC.

In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French Army joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the French Navy in support, the allied armies moved hundreds of miles to become the largest troop movement of the American Revolution. The effort and cooperation between the two sides led to a victory at Yorktown and secured American independence.

New Jersey State parks and historic sites

Historic sites

Absecon Lighthouse
31 South Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 449-1360
New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the country's third tallest masonry lighthouse. Climb the 228 steps to the top for the only 360 degree view of Atlantic City. First lit in 1857, it features the original first-order Fresnel Lens still in place at the top. A two-acre property with outdoor exhibits, a Keeper's Cottage, museum, gift shop and ample free parking. The lighthouse is leased by the nonprofit Inlet Public Private Association. They hold many special events throughout the year, including special group tours and even sleepover opportunities.
Allaire Village, Allaire State Park
P.O. Box 220, Farmingdale NJ 07727
(732) 938-2371
Allaire State Park is best known for Allaire Village, a well-preserved early 19th-century ironmaking town with a general store, blacksmith shop, carpenter's shop, owner's house, foreman's house, church, and museum. Allaire Village Inc., a nonprofit corporation, sponsors more than 40 programs and events annually, including living history events, antique shows, arts and craft shows, and flea markets. For more information call (732) 919-3500.
Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
P.O. Box 167, Barnegat Light NJ 08006
(609) 494-2016
The site of Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County was regarded as one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. A panoramic view of Island Beach, Barnegat Bay and Long Beach Island awaits visitors to the top of the lighthouse.
Batsto Village, Wharton State Forest
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton NJ 08037
(609) 561-0024
This Pine Barrens village is composed of 33 historic buildings and structures including the Batsto Mansion, gristmill, sawmill, general store, workers' homes and post office. Batsto Village was a former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center from 1766 to 1867 and currently reflects the agricultural and commercial enterprises that existed here during the late 19th century.
Boxwood Hall
1073 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth NJ 07201
(908) 282-7617
Built about 1750, Boxwood Hall became the residence of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress that ratified the Peace Treaty with Great Britain. George Washington visited his friend Boudinot in 1789 on his way to New York for his first inauguration.
Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May Point State Park
Box 107, Cape May Point NJ 08212
(609) 884-2159
The 157-foot high lighthouse is still an aid to navigation. Visitors who climb to the top of the lighthouse can view the constantly changing Cape May peninsula shoreline. The first known lighthouse at Cape May was built in 1823, but had to be moved. The present lighthouse was built in 1859. For information on tours and hours of operation visit The Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts or call (609) 884-5404.
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Liberty State Park
Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City NJ 07305
(201) 915-3400
From 1892 through 1954, the CRRNJ Terminal stood with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to unfold one of this nation's most dramatic stories: the immigration of northern, southern and eastern Europeans, among others, into the United States. After being greeted by the Statue of Liberty and processed at Ellis Island, these immigrants purchased tickets and boarded trains at the Terminal to their new homes.
Clarke House, Princeton Battlefield State Park
500 Mercer Road, Princeton NJ 08540
(609) 921-0074
Built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, the house is located on Princeton Battlefield and was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of Princeton. General Hugh Mercer was mortally wounded nearby and was carried to the Clarke House, where he died nine days after the battle.
Craig House, Monmouth Battlefield State Park
347 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Manalapan NJ 07726
(732) 462-9616
During the Battle of Monmouth, this 18th-century farmhouse was the home of John and Ann Craig and their three children and was used as a hospital by the British forces in June of 1778.
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park - Blackwells Mills Canal House,
Mule Tenders Barracks, Port Mercer Canal House, Prallsville Mills
625 Canal Road, Somerset NJ 08873
(732) 873-3050
Most of the old canal system remains intact today and is a reminder of the days when the delivery of freight depended upon a team of mules or steam tugboats. Nearly 36 miles of the main canal and 22 miles of the feeder canal still exist, with many historic structures along the canal.
Double Trouble Village, Double Trouble State Park
Pinewald Keswick Road and Double Trouble Road, Bayville, NJ 08721
Interpretive Center: 732-341-4098
The Double Trouble Historic District is a window into past and current industries in the Pine Barrens. A succession of sawmills has been on site since the mid-1700s. As swamps were cleared of cedar trees, a new industry emerged with the planting of cranberry vines. The village has fourteen historic structures dating from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, including the restored sawmill and cranberry packing house with static exhibits and un-restored buildings including the company store, one room schoolhouse, and workers cottages.
Dr. James Still Historic Office and Education Center, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
211 Church Rd., Medford, NJ 08055. DrJamesStillCenter@gmail.com Dr. James Still (1812-1882) was born an African American freeman to former slaves in Burlington County, NJ. With minimal education this “Black Doctor of the Pines” was largely self-taught in the discipline of medicinal healing. Upon his death he was recognized as one of the largest landholders in Burlington County and had earned the respect of those throughout the region for his ethical treatment to all patients. Schedule a visit to the New Jersey State Park Service’s first African American historic site to learn about the remarkable accomplishments and contributions of Dr. James Still. www.Drjamesstillcenter.org and Facebook - Dr. James Still Historic Office and Education Center
Edison Memorial Tower and Museum - Christie Street, Menlo Park 08817, Phone: (732) 549-3299. The art deco memorial tower was constructed in 1937 as a tribute to Thomas Alva Edison. The tower marks the location of Edison’s early experiments critical to the development of the electric light and other major inventions. The site includes a museum that focuses on Edison and his work. The Township of Edison, the nonprofit Edison Memorial Tower Corporation and the DEP jointly administer the tower and the museum in Edison State Park.
Fort Mott State Park
454 Fort Mott Road, Pennsville, NJ 08070
(856) 935-3218
Fort Mott was part of a coastal defense system designed for the Delaware River in the late 1800's. The fortifications seen today at Fort Mott were erected in 1896 in anticipation of the Spanish-American War.
Grover Cleveland Birthplace 207 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell NJ 07006
(973)226-0001
The grounds of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Historic Site are currently closed to the public due to ongoing construction. The public is welcome to view the home from the public walkway during this time. In 1837, Grover Cleveland was born in this house while his father, the Reverend Richard Falley Cleveland, was the minister to the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell. Most of the first floor rooms portray the house as it was in 1837.
Hancock House
3 Front Street, Hancock's Bridge NJ 08038
(856) 935-4373
Judge William Hancock built this brick house in 1734. A notable feature is the decorative patterned brickwork on the end wall of the house.
The Hermitage
335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus NJ 07423
(201)445-8311
The original section of the Hermitage House was built in the mid-18th century and visited by George Washington and his staff during the Revolutionary War. In 1845, the house was transformed by architect William Ranlett into one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in North America. The Hermitage is leased by the Friends of the Hermitage, Inc.
High Point Monument, High Point State Park
1480 State Route 23, Sussex NJ 07461
(973) 875-4800
Built in 1930 with donations from the Kuser family of Trenton, the monument was built on the highest point in New Jersey and was erected in honor of the American servicemen who served in World War I.
Indian King Tavern
233 Kings Highway, Haddonfield NJ 08033
(856) 429-6792
On March 10, 1777, the New Jersey Assembly met at the Indian King Tavern and approved the adoption of the Great Seal of New Jersey. Six months later, the Assembly met again at the tavern and enacted a law substituting the word "state" for "colony" in all commissions, writs and indictments.
Johnson Ferry House, Washington Crossing State Park
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville NJ 08560
(609) 737-2515
This early 18th-century gambrel roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River was owned by Garret Johnson, who operated a 490-acre colonial plantation and a ferry service across the river in the 1700s.
Long Pond Ironworks Historic District, Ringwood State Park
1304 Sloatsburg Rd., Ringwood, NJ 07456-1799
(973) 962-7031
Long Pond Ironworks was founded in 1766 and operated continually until 1882, making iron for a wide range of purposes. Today, the ruins of three furnaces and other unique structures remain in a beautiful setting within Long Pond Ironworks State Park near the New York border in West Milford, NJ.
Monmouth Battlefield, Monmouth Battlefield State Park
347 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Manalapan NJ 07726
(732) 462-9616
One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place in the fields and forests that now make up Monmouth Battlefield State Park. A reenactment of the June 1778 battle is held every year with authentically dressed troops camped out in the park and situated in the fields for fighting.
Old Dutch Parsonage
(908) 725-1015
The parsonage was built in 1751 and first occupied by Reverend John Frelinghuysen, who came from Amsterdam to serve three congregations of the Dutch Reform church in the upper Raritan Valley. The second occupant of the Parsonage, the Reverend Jacob Hardenbergh, founded Queens College in 1766 while residing in the house.
Princeton Battlefield, Princeton Battlefield State Park
500 Mercer Road, Princeton NJ 08540
(609) 921-0074
On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars.
Proprietary House
149 Kearny Avenue
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
(732) 826-5527
This is one of the most historic buildings in the United States. Completed in 1764, the house has served as a residence to New Jersey's last Royal Governor, a stylish hotel, a private mansion, a retirement home, a boarding house and now a museum. A true survivor, this building has seen war and peace, fire and storms, neglect and restoration, to stand as a witness to over 250 years of American history.
http://www.theproprietaryhouse.org
Ringwood Manor, Ringwood State Park
Box 1304, Ringwood NJ 07456
(973) 962-7031
For nearly 200 years, this graceful country manor house was the home of a succession of important ironmasters, including the Ryersons, Coopers and Hewitts. The house contains an excellent collection of paintings and period furniture, all of which are associated with the families who lived in the manor.
Rockingham
PO Box 496, Kingston NJ 08528
(609) 683-7132
In 1783, while the Continental Congress was meeting at Nassau Hall in nearby Princeton, Congress rented the house from the widow of Judge John Berrien for use by General George Washington from August 23 to November 10, 1783. Martha Washington joined him at Rockingham. Rockingham was reopened to the public in July of 2004 after an extensive restoration.
Skylands Manor and State Botanical Garden, Ringwood State Park
Box 1304, Ringwood NJ 07456
(973) 962-7031
Skylands Manor, with its English Jacobean architecture common in the English countryside 400 years ago, was designed by John Russell Pope for Clarence McKenzie Lewis, a stockbroker and civil engineer. Built in the 1920's, it is constructed of native stone and half-timbers and has 44 rooms. The garden is a culmination of two eras of landscape architecture under the direction of Francis Lynde Stetson, owner of Skylands from 1891 to 1922.
Somers Mansion
1000 Shore Road, Somers Point NJ 08244
(609) 927-2212
Overlooking the Great Egg Harbor Bay in Somers Point stands the Somers Mansion, a three story home constructed of brick in the Flemish Bond Pattern. It was the home of Richard Somers, son of John and first of the Somers family to be born in New Jersey. In 1726, the Great Egg / Cape May Society of Friends used the home for a meeting and memorialized it in their minutes. This is the earliest recorded date of the home’s existence.

Since the late 1600s, the property which surrounds the Somers Mansion had been owned by descendants of John Somers. In 1937, Florence Hayday Brooks and Lulu Hayday Smith, daughters of Hannah Hayday Somers, deeded the home for the purpose of creating a permanent memorial of the Somers family. The Somers Mansion Historic Site was dedicated on September 26, 1942.
Steuben House at Historic New Bridge Landing
1209 Main Street, River Edge NJ 07661
(201) 487-1739
In 1783, the Steuben House was presented to Baron Von Steuben in gratitude for his assistance to the colonies during the Revolutionary War.
Trenton Battle Monument
Administered by Washington Crossing State Park
348 North Warren Street, Trenton NJ 08638
(609) 737-0623
The monument marks the site of the American artillery emplacement that commanded the streets of Trenton during the battle that led to the defeat of the three Hessian Regiments by the American Army at the Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776. The monument was designed by John H. Duncan, architect of Grant's tomb.
Twin Lights
Lighthouse Road, Highlands NJ 07732
(732) 872-1814
The current brownstone structure was built in 1862 and served as the primary seacoast light marking the entrance to New York Harbor. The towers are not identical twins; the south tower is square and the north is octagonal. This 1862 structure replaced an earlier twin tower lighthouse.
Wallace House
71 Somerset Street, Somerville NJ 08876
(908) 725-1015
The Wallace House was completed in 1776 as Hope Farm for John Wallace, a successful Philadelphia merchant. General Washington leased the house for use as his headquarters during the Middlebrook Winter Encampment, December 11, 1778, to June 3, 1779. The house is one of the best and most original examples of Georgian architecture in New Jersey.
Walt Whitman House
330 Mickle Boulevard, Camden NJ 08103
(856) 964-5383
The renowned poet lived in this house from 1884 until his death in 1892, and received many visitors during that time including the painter Thomas Eakins, naturalist John Burroughs and writers Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. The house is furnished with a number of pieces owned and used by Whitman.
Washington Crossing, Washington Crossing State Park Visitor Center/Museum
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville NJ 08560
(609) 737-9303
After crossing the icy waters of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, General George Washington and the Continental Army landed at Johnson's Ferry, at the site now knows as Washington Crossing State Park.
Waterloo Village, Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Waterloo Road, Stanhope NJ 07874
(973) 347-1835 (administered by Kittatinny Valley State Park)
This 19th-century village contains a working gristmill, a general store, blacksmith shop, a canal museum and several historic houses. The village is located on the banks of the Morris Canal. An early 19th-century log cabin farmsite and 17th-century Lenape Indian Village exhibit are also located at the site. Waterloo Village is open dawn to dusk and the Historic Site Office is open Wednesday through Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm. Call for historic programming and event information.
Whitesbog Village, Administered by Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
120 W. Whitesbog Rd., #34, Browns Mills, NJ 08015
(609) 893-4646
Whitesbog began as an active 19th and 20th century cranberry and blueberry farming community and company town. It was first farmed in 1857 the White family and incorporated in the 1870s by Joseph J. White. The commercial high-bush blueberry was developed here by Elizabeth White in 1916. Today farming remains a large part of the site. The village is leased to the Whitesbog Preservation Trust which provides historic and natural interpretation and scheduled activities for the visiting public.

New Jersey Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

NJ has a coastal climate, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. The state's temperatures range from 75.8 to 32.0 degrees If you are along the Atlantic Coast it is about 10 degrees warmer in winter and 10 degrees cooler in summer.

New Jersey Camping tips

You can reserve a campsite in a NJ state park campground here. Like many states, NJ also offers an NJ annual pass for discounts.

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in New Jersey.