New Jersey Stops
Road-trip stops in New Jersey
10 featured New Jerseystops — National Parks, iconic roadside attractions, and Steve’s hand-picked favorites.
New Jersey (10)
- Attraction · ⭐$
Atlantic City Boardwalk
The world's first boardwalk, opened 1870, still four miles of wood planks paralleling the Atlantic. Free to stroll, salt water taffy at every other storefront, rolling chairs for hire if your feet give out. Steel Pier rides in summer. Save the casinos for after the kids are in bed. Park downtown and walk in — the Boardwalk-frontage hotels are wildly overpriced.
- Scenic · ⭐$$
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Attraction · ⭐$$
Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
- Scenic · ⭐$$
Great Egg Harbor River
- Attraction · ⭐$
Lucy the Elephant
A six-story wooden elephant built in 1881 as a real estate gimmick to sell beachfront lots in Margate. National Historic Landmark. You climb up through her leg, into her belly, up her howdah, and out onto her back for an ocean view. The whole tour is fifteen minutes and the kids will remember it for ten years. Two blocks south of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, on the beach.
- Attraction · ⭐$$
Morristown National Historical Park
- Scenic · ⭐$$
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
- Attraction · ⭐$$
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
- Attraction · ⭐$$
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
- Quick stop$
Molly Pitcher Service Area (NJ Turnpike)
The New Jersey Turnpike is an experience. Not a good experience — just an experience. The service areas are named after famous New Jerseyans, which is how you end up eating Burger King at the Molly Pitcher plaza while explaining to your nine-year-old who Molly Pitcher was. It's fine. It's functional. The important thing is you survived the George Washington Bridge and you're pointed south. Keep going.