New Jersey Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
It’s time to hit the road, but where do you want to go? Here are some New Jersey road trip ideas for your next adventure! Whether you have just one day, a long weekend, or even longer, here are the best New Jersey road trips you can take.
Table of Contents
1-Day Road Trip In New Jersey
- Route: Lucy the Elephant > Tuckerton Seaport Museum > Carranza Memorial > Burlington County Prison Museum > Monmouth Battlefield > Twin Lights State Historic Site > Asbury Park Convention Hall
- Distance: 175 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours 11 minutes
This New Jersey road trip itinerary leads travelers on an adventure to some of the state's most iconic landmarks. You'll start at Lucy the Elephant in Margate City and make stops at a couple of museums, a historical park, and finally end in Asbury Park at the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In New Jersey
- Route: Long Branch > Asbury Park > Point Pleasant Beach > Seaside Heights > Beach Haven > Atlantic City > Ocean City > Wildwood > Cape May
- Distance: 179 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours
Want to explore all the best that the Jersey Shore has to offer? Then we invite you to embark on this three-day Jersey Shore road trip. The Garden State is home to some of the best beach towns in the country. From Long Branch to Cape May, every bustling city and charming small town along the shore has its own distinct personality. This is one of the best New Jersey road trips you can take.
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New Jersey Hidden Gems Road Trip
- Route: Princeton Battlefield State Park > Ken Lockwood Gorge > The Faery Cave at Great Meadows > Sterling Hill Mining Museum > Chikahoki Falls > Speedwell Park
- Distance: 127 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours 19 minutes
From a battlefield to a faery cave, from a mining museum to a waterfall, there are so many hidden gems on this particular road trip through New Jersey. You'll most certainly discover a place that's new to you along the way!
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New Jersey State Parks Road Trip
- Route: Bass River State Forest > Double Trouble State Park > Brendan T. Byrne State Forest > Rancocas State Park > Jenny Jump State Forest > Swartswood State Park
- Distance: miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours 49 minutes
Among the best New Jersey road trips we could think of is a trip to some of the least-visited state parks. Beat the crowds and head to a park where you can traverse the hiking trails in peace. Or maybe you'll choose to spend time on the water and go kayaking at one of these quiet state parks.
Best New Jersey Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Dunnfield Creek Falls > Buttermilk Falls > Boonton Falls > Ramapo Falls > Great Falls > Hemlock Falls > High Bridge Falls/Lake Solitude Dam > Hacklebarney Falls
- Distance: 156 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours 24 minutes
Want to know the best road trip you can take in the spring? It's a New Jersey waterfall road trip! We may not have many waterfalls in New Jersey, but they sure are pretty. See some of our state's most beautiful falls on this short, easy road trip. You'll see our tallest waterfall (Buttermilk Falls) and our most powerful (Great Falls) along the way.
Best Summer Road Trip In New Jersey
- Route: Paterson Great Falls > Red Bank > Six Flags Great Adventure > Seaside Heights Boardwalk > Atlantic City > Cape May County Park and Zoo > Cape May Point
- Distance: 240 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours 36 minutes
If you're looking for something to do this summer, then we suggest you take a road trip to the best summer spots in New Jersey. The route starts out at Paterson Great Falls in Paterson, New Jersey before it takes you to the charming town of Red Bank. You'll then make your way to Six Flags to ride a few roller coasters, hit the Seaside Heights Boardwalk, and more. This road trip can be taken over the course of a few days making it the perfect family getaway when school is out for summer.
Best New Jersey Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Palisades Interstate Park > Ringwood State Park > High Point State Park > Buttermilk Falls > Worthington State Forest > Washington Crossing State Park > Belleplain State Forest > Batsto Village
- Distance: 302 miles
- Trip Time: 7 hours
How about a little leaf-peeping when fall hits and the leaves start to turn gorgeous shades of crimson and gold? You don't need to head up to Maine or Vermont for incredible fall foliage - you can find colorful leaves all over the Garden State. This New Jersey fall foliage road trip takes you down spectacular roads and into some of our state parks for the ultimate leaf-peeping experience.
Best Winter Road Trip In New Jersey
- Route: Christmas Lights Show at Skylands Stadium > Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo > The Christmas Light Show in Farmingdale > Majestic Hotel in Ocean Grove > Holiday Light Show in Galloway > Storybook Land's Christmas Fantasy With Lights > Cape May
- Distance: 223 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours 12 minutes
Make this New Jersey holiday lights road trip a new holiday tradition. It's perfect for school break with the kids or a weekend getaway with a loved one. The shows are pure magic and several are even free!
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Family-Friendly New Jersey Road Trip
- Route: Spring Lake Beach > Sea Girt Beach > Mantoloking Beach > 7 Mile Beach in Avalon > Pearl Beach at Cape May Point
- Distance: 119 miles
- Trip Time: 2 hours 28 minutes
For a child, there's nothing quite as exciting as a trip to the beach. It's the perfect family-friendly destination, after all! Kids can play in the sand while adults relax and listen to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. This family-friendly road trip in New Jersey will take you to five hidden beaches you probably never even heard of.
Road Trip to New Jersey Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: High Point State Park > Buttermilk Falls > Worthington State Forest > Great Falls National Historical Park > Palisades Interstate Park > Ringwood State Park > Waywayanda State Park
- Distance: 169 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours
We've got an abundance of natural beauty all over the state, but this trip focuses on Northern New Jersey to cut down on drive time. It's very doable over the course of a weekend or split into a couple of day trips. You'll score epic river views from towering cliffs and gorgeous lakes along the way. This natural wonders road trip is one of the best road trips in New Jersey.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in New Jersey
- Route: Andover > Belvidere > Frenchtown > Lambertville > Medford Lakes > Shamong > Smithville
- Distance: 151 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours 41 minutes
We've got so many charming small towns in the Garden State - explore just a handful on this road trip that traverses the western side of our state for miles. Destinations include Andover, Shamong, Lambertville, and more. You'll fall in love with this New Jersey road trip itinerary!
For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling!
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More to Explore
New Jersey Road Trip Ideas
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in New Jersey?
Among the most popular landmarks to visit in New Jersey are:
- The Ocean City Boardwalk
- The Atlantic City Boardwalk
- The Asbury Park Boardwalk
- Princeton University
- Cape May Lighthouse
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Delaware Bay
- The Newark Museum of Art
What are the most popular state parks to visit in New Jersey?
The most popular state parks in New Jersey include:
- Liberty State Park in Jersey City for views of the Statue of Liberty and New York City
- Gateway National Recreation Area, is home to the oldest lighthouse in the USA.
- Cape May Point State Park
- Washington Crossing State Park on the Delaware River
- Palisades Interstate Park is located just 20 minutes from Manhattan. This park sits along the Hudson River and one can take the Palisades Interstate Parkway for a scenic drive through the park.
What are the major highways in New Jersey?
Major highways in New Jersey include:
- I-95
- I-78 which goes through the Holland Tunnel
- I-195
- I-895 which leads into Pennsylvania