Take This Unforgettable Road Trip To 6 Of New Jersey's Least-Visited State Parks
By Kim Magaraci|Updated on December 06, 2022(Originally published November 30, 2022)
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Kim Magaraci
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Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
The least-visited state parks in New Jersey make for excellent places to spend a day outdoors, exploring the Garden State. Take a two-day trip (or a really long day trip!) to find beauty at the beach, in the Pine Barrens, and up in the Skylands and you’ll get to see a variety of landscapes that make New Jersey such an amazing place to live! You’ll start off in Bass River State Forest and make your way all the way up to New Jersey’s very first State Park, Swartswood, all the while avoiding crowded trails and parking lots because these are the quietest parks around. For some great suggestions of what to pack on your trip, check out our Road Trip Essentials Packing List & Guide.
The entire trip takes under four hours of driving time, although you’ll want to carve out more time to stop at these New Jersey state parks. You can find the whole road trip itinerary here.
If you want to take your family on a fun outing in the summer, Bass River State Forest is a great choice. It's fun to let the little ones splash around in the calm, shallow water, and they are sure to love it. This lovely trip just might become a new family tradition that you'll look forward to every year. You can also enjoy the natural beauty of the state park in other seasons! Just wait until you see the winter wonderland it becomes when the weather gets chilly. It's worth it to bundle up and take a winter hike.
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Double Trouble State Park is next on your list, and despite being practically empty year-round, it's a fascinating look into the history of the pines and definitely one of the best state parks in New Jersey.
Head north from Rancocas up to the mountains! This is the longest stretch of the drive, and a good time to split the trip. Stay in a cozy vacation rental in Lambertville or Princeton if you want to really treat yourself.
Once you get up to Jenny Jump State Forest, you'll be wowed by the views! You can see the Delaware Water Gap from way up here, and the hiking trails are absolutely gorgeous.
Jenny Jump State Forest, 330 State Park Rd, Hope, NJ 07844, USA
Jenny Jump also offers a campground if you're a fan of sleeping in nature, and there's an observatory at the top because here you'll find some of the darkest skies in the state. These stars will blow your mind! Especially if you spend most of your time in the New Jersey cities, the twinkling sky will amaze you.
Your final stop is Swartswood State Park, a beachy and woodsy spot that was New Jersey's first designated state park.
Swartswood can get crowded on the hottest of summer days, but all other times, you'll have this place practically to yourself. That's a rarity in New Jersey!
Swartswood State Park, 1091 E Shore Dr, Swartswood, NJ 07877, USA
Have you ever visited any of these beautiful New Jersey state parks before? Share with us your experiences and your favorite road trips in New Jersey in the comments section! We would love to hear about where you’ve been.
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