The Garden State’s Most Marvelous Sites Await on This New Jersey Road Trip

Palisades Interstate Park is home to dramatic, sheer cliffs that tower hundreds of feet over the Hudson River. These breathtaking basalt formations were formed more than 200 million years ago and then carved out by the power of the Hudson.

The park announces the natural beauty of New Jersey with authority and, thus, makes an excellent starting point for our road trip. Take some time in the park to enjoy some of the overlooks and get out to stretch your legs on one of its scenic trails.

Not far from the Palisades, in Paterson, you’ll find one of the tallest waterfalls in all of Jersey: the Great Falls of the Passaic River. It’s almost shocking to see such a rugged and dramatic cascade in such an urban setting, and it’s not something to be missed. The falls are protected and preserved by Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, which also provides trails and viewpoints that offer a variety of jaw-dropping perspectives of the falls.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the Garden State. Formed when the Delaware River sliced a valley into the Appalachian Mountains, the Gap features dramatic mountain terrain, sweeping views of the Delaware Valley, and some excellent hiking.

Much of the park is a fee area, so be sure to have your America the Beautiful Pass handy. Hike the Red Dot Trail to Mt. Tammany for some of the most iconic vistas in the Delaware Water Gap.

It’ll take some driving to get to Cape May (your final stop for the day) from Mt. Tammany, but I promise, it’s worth it. When you arrive, take some to explore this historic and charming beach town. Stroll the cobblestone streets of the historic downtown area, and linger on the beach as the sun sets behind you, its light sliding slowly off the waves before you.

You can continue enjoying the beach views from the Grand Hotel of Cape May, where you’ll be spending the night. A classic Jersey Shore beach resort, you’ll enjoy a laid-back experience at a hotel with contemporary rooms and all the amenities you could hope for, including dining options.

Be sure to book your room well in advance if you plan to go between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Off-season prices and availability tend to be much better. 

When you’re ready to pull yourself away from the beach, hop into your Bronco and head about an hour north of Cape May to one of the state’s most interesting historic sites: Batsto Village. Now a well-preserved ghost town, Batsto was once a thriving community renowned for its iron works and, later, for glassmaking. Although not entirely abandoned, many of the structures in Batsto are now part of a state historic site.

No road trip celebrating the Garden State’s natural beauty would be complete without a visit to the iconic Pinelands (or Pine Barrens), which are just minutes away from Batsto. Head to the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, where you can learn more about this vast expanse of coastal conifers and how it came to be. Take some time to hike the reserve’s trails and explore this natural wonder of New Jersey.