9 Amazing New Jersey Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Day trips are an easy way to enjoy travel without the stress of a multi-day getaway. No packing lists. No hotel bookings. No complicated planning. In New Jersey, that “one great spot” can look wildly different depending on your mood: skyline-and-waterfront energy around Jersey City, a lake day on Lake Hopatcong, or classic Shore strolling in Atlantic City. The picks below are each worthy of a whole day of exploring, whether you’re chasing nature, history, art, or family-friendly fun!
Liberty State Park
The largest urban park in New Jersey, Liberty State Park, is an ideal place to spend an entire day. For starters, the park is in Jersey City, just 19 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport. Such easy access leaves plenty of time to enjoy the numerous attractions of the 1,200-acre urban oasis, from the two-mile Liberty Walk with views of the Hudson River to monuments like Empty Sky, dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks. Notably, the park is home to the Liberty Science Center, an immersive museum with interactive exhibits and hands-on displays. One of the largest of its kind in the region, this museum’s attractions include hundreds of exhibits across 12 exhibition halls, giant aquariums, a live animal collection with 110 species, and much more.
Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, is also part of this science museum, delighting visitors with an immersive journey through space and distant planets. Meanwhile, the park offers access to the Hudson River for boating, fishing, and crabbing, and year-round cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Hopatcong State Park
Day trips to natural attractions offer a refreshing change of pace, and Hopatcong State Park is among the most popular in New Jersey. This park is located in Landing, where it hosts Lake Hopatcong, the state’s largest freshwater lake. Covering a 2,500-acre area, this lake is a paradise for a wide range of water sports, from swimming (in summer) and fishing to boating, sailing, and jet skiing, and more. During the winter months, the lake freezes, setting the stage for winter sports like ice boating and ice fishing. More than the lake, the park boasts picnic areas, playgrounds for children, sports facilities, and a couple of nearby trails, including Lake Hopatcong Trail, which stretches 12 miles along the lake and through wooded areas. Additionally, history buffs can explore the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum. Located in a 19th-century building that once served as a lock tender’s house on the abandoned Morris Canal, the museum preserves and showcases artifacts and documents highlighting the cultural and political history of the lake region. Thankfully, Hopatcong State Park is just an hour’s drive from Newark, home to Newark Liberty International Airport.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
A day trip to one of America’s largest waterfalls is hard to forget, and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park delivers that experience right in New Jersey. Standing at 77 feet tall and 260 feet wide, this waterfall is truly spectacular, especially as it releases up to two billion gallons of water daily into the gorge. In 1778, the falls impressed Alexander Hamilton, who eventually chose the site for the nation’s first planned industrial city. Powered by the falls, the site soon became a hub for the production of silk, paper, locomotives, and firearms. Today, visitors can view the southern side of the falls from Harry B. Haines Overlook Park or the northern side from Mary Ellen Kramer Park. These parks are within the national park, and it is important to check for conditions before visiting, as some sections can be closed due to dangerous conditions or ongoing construction. Meanwhile, be sure to visit the nearby Paterson Museum to delve deeper into the city’s industrial history and view exhibits featuring steam locomotives and textile machines. The park is just 25 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport.
Grounds For Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture is the perfect day trip for lovers of art and nature. Located in Hamilton Township, this 42-acre park is the largest of its kind in New Jersey, featuring nearly 300 ever-changing sculptures in a variety of designs and sizes. Visitors will feel relaxed and inspired as they stroll through these enchanting outdoor sculptures set amid beautiful trees, ponds, native plants, flowers, and manicured paths. The park also features six indoor galleries with rotating exhibits, performances, and workshops, plus visitors are welcome to shop for books, jewelry, and other souvenirs at the Museum Shop.
Meanwhile, the famous Rat’s Restaurant is in the park to offer an unforgettable dining experience. This restaurant evokes the feeling of a cozy French cafe, with its warm designs and colors, a menu inspired by French cuisine, and views of surrounding gardens. Notable delicacies include French onion soup, shrimp cocktail, and desserts such as Dubai chocolate tart, plus a good selection of wines and beverages. In the meantime, getting to Grounds For Sculpture is super easy, with Trenton-Mercer Airport less than 20 minutes away and Newark Liberty International Airport just an hour north.
Adventure Aquarium
A day trip to Adventure Aquarium offers a lively outing for visitors of all ages, especially families with children. This aquarium is one of the most famous in New Jersey, with a vast collection of aquatic creatures, from sharks and penguins to hippos, turtles, and more, all housed in 2 million gallons of water. Notably, the aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast, as well as unique species such as blue blubber jellyfish and dwarf caiman, the world’s smallest crocodilian species. It’s a feast of aquatic animals for the eyes here, plus daily animal shows are offered as well as opportunities for more intimate experiences, like animal feeding. Moreover, visitors will have plenty of other attractions to enjoy here, from the Kaleidoscope Cove, which displays captivating visuals, to the 40-foot Shark Tunnel, where one can stroll through while surrounded by different types of sharks. The perfect family day trip adventure, this aquarium is only an hour and 25 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport. Plus, it is just 20 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport, a delight for Pennsylvania travelers.
Wharton State Forest
Located just 19 miles from Atlantic City International Airport, Wharton State Forest is one of New Jersey’s special day trip destinations, ideal for those seeking a quick retreat in nature. At 124,000 acres, it is the largest state forest in New Jersey, comprising a Pine Barrens ecosystem with vast pine forests, acidic soil, swamps, rivers, lakes, and streams that support a wide variety of wildlife, including beavers, river otters, and dozens of bird species. On a day trip here, one can head to the Atsion Recreation Area to swim, kayak, and fish, while keeping an eye out for birds such as bald eagles, ospreys, and red-tailed hawks. Hikers can take on parts of the over 110 miles of trails, like the Batsto Lake Trail, which offers a four-mile adventure through beautiful trees and around a lake. The forest also features trails for cross-country skiing, plus hundreds of miles of sand roads are open year-round for horseback riding, mountain biking, and scenic drives.
Notably, the Batsto Lake Trail is around Batsto Village, a historic site that was once a thriving industrial center for glassmaking and bog iron. Established in 1766 by Charles Read, the village is worth a day trip to see over 30 historic structures, including the 36-room 19th-century Batsto Mansion, which is open for tours.
Atlantic City Boardwalk
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is one of the best features of New Jersey’s Atlantic Shore. Positioned right on the ocean in Atlantic City, it is a worthy day-trip destination, with easy access from major cities like Newark, which is less than two hours away and home to Newark Liberty International Airport. Atlantic City International Airport is also just 21 minutes away. Notably, this boardwalk was built in 1870, making it the world's oldest known boardwalk, and at five miles, it is also the world’s longest. Perfect for family day trips, this boardwalk is lined with dozens of things to fill up an entire day, including the Island Waterpark at Showboat, the world’s largest indoor beachfront water park.
This park is especially popular in the warmer months, featuring 11 waterslides, a lazy river, multiple restaurants and bars, and access to Lucky Snake, one of the world’s largest arcades, with hundreds of games and go-kart racing. Beyond the amusement parks, the boardwalk’s establishments are exciting to explore, like the historic White House Sub Shop, which serves delicious submarine sandwiches. Visitors can also enjoy fresh seafood at Dock’s Oyster House and spend some time at the beach with some delicious ice cream from Sugar Factory.
Cape May County Park & Zoo
Cape May County Park & Zoo is the most sought-after wildlife destination in New Jersey, ideal for a day trip. Open year-round, this spacious zoo in Middle Township boasts about 550 animals from more than 200 species. Visitors are welcome to walk through the zoo to see creatures ranging from African Lions to American black bears, cheetahs, and zebras. Notably, the zoo houses rare and critically endangered animals, including the Amur leopard and the cotton-top tamarin. And beyond the abundance of wildlife, Cape May County Park & Zoo features hiking and biking trails, ponds for fishing, playgrounds for kids, and the Safari Cafe, where one can grab pizza and sandwiches after a satisfying adventure. Notably, the zoo is free, but donations are accepted, and it is easy to visit, with the Atlantic City International Airport just 32 minutes away and the drive from Newark less than two hours.
Wawayanda State Park
For those looking for where to spend the entire day hiking or biking, Wawayanda State Park is a resounding answer. Tucked deep in the Northeastern coastal forests of New Jersey, approximately an hour from Newark, this park boasts over 60 miles of trails. These trails are well-marked and wind through varied landscapes, from mixed oak-hardwood forests to swamps and lakes, including Wawayanda Lake, which is open for fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming.
A 20-mile section of the Appalachian Trail is also part of the park’s trail system, offering a thrilling hiking-only adventure through diverse terrain. Meanwhile, the Stairway to Heaven Trail (a popular route along the Appalachian Trail) is a cool day-trip hike in the park, offering a 2.8-mile out-and-back, steep adventure along rocky terrain to a viewpoint with gorgeous scenery. Others include the Wawayanda Lake Loop, which is just 6 miles round-trip and offers beautiful views of the lake, and blooming mountain laurel and rhododendron, especially in spring. In addition, the park is home to great blue heron, barred owl, and red-shouldered hawk, among other interesting wildlife often seen on the trails.
Make the Most of a Day in New Jersey
Whether on a weekend or a random free weekday, these day trips in New Jersey are great ways to make the most of time that may seem too little to offer much. Easy and affordable to do, these trips will leave lasting memories, with some offering enough adventure to spill into another day or more for those who have extra time to spare, of course. Moreover, with an early start, it is possible to fit multiple destinations into a single long day trip. This is especially true for attractions in proximity to each other, like Liberty State Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, both just 32 minutes apart, or Atlantic City Boardwalk and Cape May County Park & Zoo, separated by only 35 miles. You don’t need too much time and resources to enjoy exciting travel experiences, and these day trips in New Jersey prove that. These destinations make it easy to plan a rewarding day trip at any time of year.
