New Jersey has dozens of scenic roads and 8 designated scenic byways. These byways are located across the state, from Sussex County to the Delaware Bay. You can traverse the Pinelands or drive through beautiful Monmouth County farmland but one of my favorites is the Palisades Scenic Byway.
While all our byways are breathtaking, the Palisades Scenic Byway is short and social-distance friendly.
Some byways have attractions along the way that you'll want to stop at. While that's typically wonderful, we're looking for something that's all about the drive...
And the views! There are numerous scenic overlooks on the 13-mile journey. The State Line Lookout is located on the highest point on the Palisades Cliffs (532 feet). Hiking trails are open for passive recreation.
Interested? The Byway consists of two main roads - the Palisades Interstate Parkway located atop the cliffs and Henry Hudson Drive, located between the Parkway and the Hudson River.
These roads were made for driving! The Palisades Interstate Parkway was designed to provide motorists with a scenic and aesthetic driving experience. Henry Hudson Drive was also designed as a pleasure drive, allowing passengers to enjoy exceptional views. The Palisades Scenic Byway will take you from the GWB to the Tappan Zee in the most peaceful way possible. There are cafes and seasonal outdoor eateries along the way but we'll need to wait a bit for those. Learn more about the drive here.
As fall arrives, my thoughts often turn to the Jersey Shore. As much as I love the place, it can be a bit much in the summer - between the crowds and the heat. But in early fall, most of the beach towns are still rolling on the weekends, with beaches and attractions open. The crowds have lessened, the weather is beautiful, and the sights are stunning. That makes it the perfect time for a Jersey Shore road trip, and we've come up with a road trip itinerary that will take you to five of the best shore towns in Central New Jersey while only having to drive for around an hour. That will give you plenty of time to explore these beautiful beach destinations and take in all they have to offer.
The beach towns in Central New Jersey don't often get as much attention compared to the likes of Cape May and Atlantic City, but these smaller destinations have a ton of charm and attractions for all ages. You'll only be on the road for an hour, but you can expect some amazing stops.
Red Bank might not be on the shore per se, but its proximity to the stunning Navesink River makes it an honorary first stop on the tour. This charming town of around 12,000 is known for being one of the state's best hubs of the arts thanks to the beautiful Count Basie Theater. It's also a great dining destination - whether you want the state's most creative pork roll sandwiches, or a delicious scratch-made Italian dinner. The kids will love the town's chocolate shop and retro arcade - and if a few hours here isn't enough, check into the Molly Pitcher Inn for a night in the lap of luxury.
The largest town on our list with around 15,000 people, Asbury Park is a world-famous beach destination that's one of the best offseason towns on the shore. Its Crown Jewel is The Stone Pony, an amazing music venue that just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The town's historic architecture also helped to put it on the map - just check out this stunning abandoned carousel. Looking for culture here? There's a paranormal museum and a pinball museum, only minutes away from each other. And of course, you can't leave without some famous Boardwalk fries and lemonade.
Belmar is a more laid-back town than the last two, with a population of just under 6,000 and a focus on the beautiful shoreline. Its diverse collection of restaurants, beautiful parks system, and close proximity to the river make it one of the best shore towns around, especially if you're looking to fish or just soak up the sun. There's also a great place to eat right by the water - Klein's Fish Market, which features a massive outdoor patio as well as a still-operating fish market.
Manasquan might just be one of the most beautiful towns on the Jersey Shore. With a population of under 6,000, this is primarily a residential area without too many attractions - which makes it a must-visit for nature-lovers. The Manasquan Reservoir features a gorgeous loop trail that is easy to walk and shows you the most beautiful spots by the town's waterfront, and the local restaurant scene is known for its amazing burgers. If you're here in the summer, you might witness one of the town's most stunning sights - bioluminescent waves!
5. Point Pleasant Beach
Point Pleasant Beach Palms -01
We'll wrap things up at one of the most iconic beach towns and one of the friendliest towns in New Jersey. Point Pleasant Beach is best known for the massive Jenkinson's Boardwalk complex, which is home to an amusement park, a truly bizarre funhouse, an acclaimed aquarium, and the largest tiki bar in New Jersey. If you're staying for dinner, the town is home to plenty of acclaimed restaurants, including the watefront gem The Shrimp Box and the top-notch French bistro The Poached Pear.
Have you visited any of the towns on this Jersey Shore road trip? Let us know what you thought, and what your favorite shore towns to visit are in the comments section! If you're getting to Point Pleasant Beach at the end of the day and don't want to drive all the way back home, you can check into The White Sands Oceanfront Resort & Spa, the town's premiere luxury destination - perfect if you're planning a late dinner on the water.
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!
