While heading to the nearest holiday lights display is always fun, why not make Christmas even more magical? A holiday lights road trip in NJ is the perfect way to make memories that will last a lifetime. Maybe it will become a new family tradition. Here's a two-day Christmas lights road trip in New Jersey; you're certain to love every minute of it. Along the way, you'll discover some of the downright best Christmas lights in New Jersey, and surely, you'll never want the season to end.
Here's the map. You can start at either end of the state.
This drive-through display features over 2 million lights on a one-mile course of pure magic. Your admission includes access to the indoor Christmas Village with crafts, carolers, costumed characters, cocoa, and more. This is definitely one of the best things to do at Christmas in New Jersey.
This holiday spectacular is absolutely free, though they are accepting donations of non-perishable food, new, unwrapped toys, and gently-used winter coats. Walk through a display of around 1,000,000 lights, making up 50 different animals and holiday figures. Each day brings different activities from selfies with Santa to costumed characters. This is definitely among our favorite Christmas lights displays in New Jersey.
This local light display is free, though donations are accepted for the Challenged Youth Sports organization. The 2015 show is pictured. Set to music, the Wall Christmas Lights are absolutely epic. Dates are limited so be sure to keep an eye on the official website for the most up-to-date schedule.
Exploring New Jersey's stunning Christmas displays can wear a person out. Rest up at The Majestic Hotel and get ready to see more of this state's festive events. This charming bed and breakfast always decks the halls for Christmas, and it's certain to make you feel merry and bright. The bright and cheerful atmosphere pairs well with Ocean Grove's Victorian Holiday Festival, which you'll also love. If you visit that weekend, you can relax in cheerful bliss before heading out for evening light shows. Not to mention: the Majestic Hotel is one of the best places to stay in NJ.
You can also spend the morning shopping at Historic Smithville, offering a truly unique selection of goods and gifts. When night falls, watch the free light show on Lake Meone. We can't get enough of these sparkly, shiny holiday lights in NJ.
Come for the lights alone or enjoy the rides and games. Santa Claus lights up the park in the evenings, so you'll definitely want to stick around. Always a magical place, Storybook Land is even more whimsical in the winter. Come see one of the best Christmas lights in New Jersey!
The homes and inns are immaculately decorated and guests can take a holiday lights trolley tour of the town. We can't get enough of this spectacular Christmas lights show in NJ.
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 road trips in New Jersey that you can take.
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. One of our favorite quick road trips in New Jersey has you starting at Lucy the Elephant in Margate City and making stops at a couple of museums, and a historical park, and finally ending in Asbury Park at the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
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
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Weekend road trips in New Jersey give us the opportunity to take our time and see the sights. 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.
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
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From a battlefield to a faery cave, from a mining museum to a waterfall, there are so many interesting things to see on this particular hidden gems road trip through New Jersey. You'll most certainly discover a place that's new to you along the way!
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 road trips to take in New Jersey for nature lovers 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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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!
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
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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
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.
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!
Now that you have a few of the best road trips in New Jersey to look forward to, it's time to get packing! 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!
As spring reaches its peak through New Jersey, it's impossible to avoid seeing the flowers springing up all around us. Some are more welcome than others - c'mon, dandelions in my front yard, take a day off - but they all add to the unique beauty of the Garden State. This is also the time when we're all ready to get out of the house and shake off that winter inertia, and there's no better way to do that than a spring flower road trip in New Jersey. We've put together an itinerary with eight spectacular destinations across the Garden State, ranging from world-famous flower farms to hidden gardens and park trails. The trip will take around four hours of total driving, which makes it perfect for a one or two-day adventure. Come with us and discover why New Jersey is never more beautiful than in the springtime.
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From South Jersey to the New York border, this flower road trip is around 180 miles and well worth the journey.
Dalton Farms is located in Swedesboro, a small town which celebrates its Scandinavian roots - and they're on full display at this massive tulip farm. A drive-through tulip trail is the farm's top spring attraction, but through the year you'll find fresh honey, fall sunflowers, and other attractions.
Best known as an acclaimed farm market, Durr's Bluebox Produce doubles as a quaint u-pick flower farm. They grow a wide range of flowers and offer several options for designing your own bouquet, so it's a perfect place to stop to pick up a gift for that special someone as well as farm-fresh fruits and veggies.
If there's a first name in NJ flowers, it's definitely Holland Ridge Farms. One of the biggest tulip farms in the United States, this Cream Ridge institution becomes a massive attraction in April when the fields are most abundant. Visit, take some incredible photos, and pick your own tulip bouquet!
Let's shift gears to a more laid-back flower destination. Greenway Meadows in Princeton is one of the state's best-hidden parks, and this urban gem is filled with small trails, carved benches, and charming wildflower fields that are especially beautiful when the sun hits them in the evening.
The most majestic botanical garden in New Jersey, Rutgers Gardens is open to anyone whether they go to the University or not. It's a massive park featuring dozens of unique gardens - including this stunning azalea path - as well as charming works of public art. You can easily spend all day here exploring the trails.
Daffodil Days at Reeves-Reed Arboretum may happen in early April, but the park and its massive daffodil fields are well worth visiting later in the season. Not only are the daffodils still beautiful, but they're joined by a diverse collection of plants and wildflowers. Combined with the historic buildings and exhibits, it's a must-see destination.
Another well-hidden gem found in a small county park, the Brookdale Park Rose Garden is one of my favorite spots. It features over a hundred species of roses, including many the average person has never heard of. This means the garden is covered in unique shades of red in-season, and it feels like one of the most romantic spots around.
Let's end with a laid-back, 5.7-mile hike through Ringwood State Park. Five Ponds Loop takes you past several small bodies of water and some ancient rock formations, but during the spring it's especially gorgeous. You'll frequently come across little beds of wildflowers in full bloom, and this trail is rarely crowded.
Have you visited any of the destinations on this spring flower road trip in New Jersey? Let us know what you thought in the comments section! If you're feeling more like a staycation, consider checking into one of these eight gorgeous waterfront Airbnbs in New Jersey. And if the last spot on this trip makes you want to explore some more trails, you definitely might want to subscribe to AllTrails + - this subscription-based service is perfect for avid hikers, making it easier to stay connected in remote areas with downloadable trail guides and step-by-step directions.
