Originally published in 2014, but currently being updated again for 2023. We continually work to keep this listing of free places to visit in New Jersey updated as well as to add stories about each of these places.
Why drain your wallet to give your kids a fun time?
Check out these free places to visit in New Jersey.
Although admission is free, some may have an additional charge for shows, programs, and parking. We recommend you call ahead to these free places to go in New Jersey to confirm their hours of operation and parking arrangements.
Some of these museums, because of their limited hours, do require advance reservations. There may also be a suggested donation. If you become aware that any of these attractions no longer offer free admission please let us know in the comments below.
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FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey – Free New Jersey Events
Our Calendar of NJ Events for kids and teens is always packed with free events and locations offering free admission days. Use it and keep it in mind when looking for free things to do in New Jersey.
FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey – Free New Jersey Museums
Explore a culture other than your own, a specific time in the past or all kinds of art – for free! There are so many New Jersey museums that offer free admission.
African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey
661 Jackson Road, Newtonville, 609-704-5495 and 2200 Fairmont Avenue in Atlantic City. Atlantic County.
The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey Atlantic City and Newtonville locations are home to unique permanent collections that focus on generations of African American history. Limited-time showings feature rarely-seen work by local artists.
- Current Status: The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey is awaiting word from Stockton’s Noyes Arts Garage regarding a reopening date.
- For more information please visit their website. Donations are requested, all are admitted free on Wednesdays. Read our African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey museum review in this article, Eye Opening Exhibits at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
African Art Museum
23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, 201-894-8611: Bergen County.
The African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers at Tenafly, New Jersey is one of five museums around the world founded and maintained by the Society of African Missions (SMA), an international Roman Catholic missionary organization that serves the people of Africa.
Established in 1980, the Tenafly museum is one of only a rare few in the United States dedicated solely to the arts of Africa. Its permanent collections, exhibited on a rotating basis, offer a unique advantage in the study and research of sub-Saharan sculpture and painting, costumes, textiles and decorative arts, religion and folklore.
- Current Status: The African Art Museum is listed as open 8 am – 5 pm seven days a week, but their phone number is out of service.
- For more information please visit their website.
American Hungarian Museum
300 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, 732-846-5777: Middlesex County.
The Museum’s collections capture the flavor of Hungarian immigrant life with a fine art, folk art and folk life focus. The short- and long-term exhibition area features shows of Hungarian naive art, one-man shows of American and Hungarian artists and photographers, as well as special aspects of Hungarian-American history, art, culture and traditions. Program services include tours for the public, schools and special interest groups, library research, traveling exhibitions and related lectures.
- Current Status: The American Hungarian Museum is closed every July and August. They will reopen September 8.
- For more information please visit their website.
Noyes Museum of Art
4 locations in Southern New Jersey, 609-347-5839: Atlantic County ~ See their list of locations here.
- Current Status: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Noyes Museum of Art in Hammonton and the Noyes Arts Garage in Atlantic City are closed until further notice.
- Read our Noyes Museum of Art museum review in Noyes Museum of Art – Explore Art with Your Kids.
Avalon History Center
215 39th Street, Avalon, 609-967-0090: Cape May County.
- Current Status: The Avalon History Center is temporarily closed.
- For more information please visit their website.
Brigantine History Museum
3607 Brigantine Blvd, Brigantine, 609-266-9339: Atlantic County.
The Brigantine Beach Historical Society was formed to preserve the Island’s past. Through their efforts and the efforts of Brigantine’s town historian, Howard “Fritz” Haneman, the Brigantine Historical Museum opened in 1992 and is located adjacent to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Exhibits include a large collection of photographs from the 19th and early 20th centuries as well as many artifacts from days gone by. Stop in and stroll through Brigantine’s unique past.
- Current Status: The Brigantine Historical Museum has not opened for 2020 yet.
- For more information please visit their website.
Cranbury Museum
6 South Main Street, Cranbury, (609) 860-1889: Middlesex County.
- Current Status: The Cranbury Museum is open on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Starting Sunday, March 15, 2020, The Cranbury Museum will be closed to the public until further notice. We are working to confirm an opening date.
- For more information please visit their website.
The Alan Ewing Carman Museum of Prehistory in Cumberland County
1461 Bridgeton Road, Greenwich 856-455-8580: Cumberland County.
To visit the museum is to enter the world of the Indians who inhabited the lower Delaware Valley. At the end of the last Ice Age, the Paleo (Clovis) Indians were the first primitive people to penetrate this region. Many subsequent Indian cultures followed in their wake, leaving physical evidence of their passing in the earth’s archives. This salvaged evidence is exhibited in the form of stone and bone artifacts, pottery and native crafts. When combined, they illustrate the evolution of the Indian societies who occupied southern New Jersey. – Alan Ewing Carman Museum website
- Current Status: The Alan Ewing Carman Museum of Prehistory in Cumberland County will reopen on July 8, 2020. To schedule an appointment for the Prehistory Museum please call 856-455-8580.
- For more information please visit their website.
Friar Mountain Railroad Museum
240 Demarest Rd, Sparta, 973-579-9833: Sussex.
- Current Status: The Friar Mountain Railroad Museum is closed until further notice.
- For more information please visit their website. For more information please visit their website.
Hancock House
3 Front Street, Hancocks Bridge 856-935-4373: Salem County.
- Current Status: The grounds of the Hancock House are open but the house itself is currently closed.
- For more information please visit their website.
Heritage Glass Museum
25 E. High Street, Glassboro 856-881-7458: Gloucester County.
- Current Status: The museum is closed until further notice.
- For more information please visit their website.
Historical Society of Moorestown
12 High Street, Moorestown, 856-235-0353: Burlington County.
- Current Status: Smith-Cadbury Mansion is closed.
- For more information please visit their website.
Hopewell Museum
28 East Broad Street, Hopewell, 609-466-0103: Mercer County.
- Current Status: The Hopewell Museum is currently closed.
- For more information please visit their website.
Keyport Fire Museum
86 Broad Street, Keyport, 732-739-5362: Monmouth County.
- Current Status: The Keyport Fire Museum is currently closed.
- For more information please visit their website.
Keyport Steamboat Museum
Broad Street Facing the bay, Keyport, 732-739-7379: Monmouth County.
- Current Status:
- For more information please visit their website.
Maywood Station Museum
269 Maywood Avenue, Maywood: Bergen County.
- Current Status:
- For more information please visit their website.
Meadowlands Museum
91 Crane Avenue, Rutherford, 201-857-7070: Bergen County.
- Current Status:
- There is a suggested donation. For more information please visit their website.
Millville Army Air Field Museum
104 Ledden Street, Millville, 856-327-2347: Cumberland County.
The mission of the Millville Army Air Field Museum is to preserve and promote the WWII aviation and military history of “America’s First Defense Airport”, located at Millville Airport in Millville, New Jersey. It serves to recognize and commemorate all aspects of American aviation history, document and honor the lives of American veterans, be the proprietor of historic buildings and structures of the WWII period that exist on site, honor and promote the invaluable role of the P-47 Thunderbolt pursuit/fighter plane and its pilots during WWII, accrue, research, preserve, display and educate with collections of valuable historic materials, and to perpetuate these goals for all of posterity.
- Current Status: The Millville Army Air Field Museum reopened Tuesday, July 7, 2020 and is open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesdays through Sundays.
- For more information please visit their website.
National Guard Militia Museum
Sea Girt Avenue & Camp Drive, Sea Girt: Monmouth County.
- Current Status:
- For more information please visit their website.
New Jersey Maritime Museum
528 Dock Rd, Beach Haven, 609-492-0202: Ocean County.
The New Jersey Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey maritime history. Their collection includes rare documents, antique navigational equipment, over ten thousand rare and historic photographs, logs, video and artifacts spanning over one hundred years of maritime history!
- Current Status: The New Jersey Maritime Museum is open June – July – August: daily 10 am to 4 pm. September – May, Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays: 10 am to 4 pm.
- Click over to read more about our visit to the New Jersey Maritime Museum or visit their website.
New Jersey Museum of Boating
800 Bay Ave, Point Pleasant, 732-606-7605: Ocean County.
- Current Status:
- For more information please visit their website.
New Jersey State Museum
205 West State Street, Trenton, 609-292-6464: Mercer County.
- Current Status: As of March 12, the New Jersey State Museum was closed to the public until further notice. We have reached out for a reopening date.
- For more information please visit their website.
New Jersey State Police Museum
1020 River Road, Ewing Township, 609-882- 2000: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Ocean City Historical Museum
1735 Simpson Ave, Ocean City, 609-399-1801: Cape May County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Pascack Historical Museum
19 Ridge Ave, Park Ridge, 201-573-0307: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Princeton University Art Museum
McCormick Hall, Princeton, 609-258-3788: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Rutgers Geology Museum
85 Somerset St, New Brunswick, 848-932-7243: Middlesex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
The Schoolhouse Museum
Ridgewood, 201-447-3242: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Shippen Manor Museum
Oxford, 908-453-4381: Warren County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Somerville Fire Department Museum
23 N Doughty St, Somerville, 908-526-7098: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Southern New Jersey All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
Burt Ave Rec Center Bridgeton, 856-451-7300: Cumberland County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Stone Harbor Museum
9410 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, 609-368-7500: Cape May County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Toms River Seaport Society and Maritime Museum
Hooper Ave, Toms River, 732-349-9209: Ocean County.
- For more information please visit their website.
West Milford Museum
1477 Union Valley Rd, West Milford, 973-728-1823: Passaic County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Zimmerli Art Museum
71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, 848-932-7237: Middlesex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Click over for our listings of all museums in New Jersey.
Free New Jersey Gardens & Arboretums
Any season is a good time to see what’s in bloom. Get outside and enjoy a garden or arboretum, for some of the more beautiful free places to visit in New Jersey.
Barton Arboretum
Medford Leas, 609-654-3000: Burlington County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Cedar Brook Park Shakespeare Garden
Plainfield, 908-527-4900: Union County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Colonial Park Arboretum
Somerset, 908-722-1200: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary
Short Hills, 973-376-3587: Essex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Cross Estate Gardens
Bernardsville, 973-539-2016: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
David C Shaw Arboretum
Holmdel Park, 44 Longstreet Road Holmdel, 732-946-9562: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Egg Harbor Twp Arboretum
Egg Harbor Twp, 609-926-4093: Atlantic County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Morristown, 973-326-7603: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Herrontown Woods Arboretum
Princeton, 609-303-0700: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Hunterdon County Arboretum
1020 State Route 31 Lebanon, 908-782-1158: Hunterdon County.
- Read about our experiences at the Hunterdon County Arboretum in this story.
- For more information please visit their website.
Leonard J. Buck Garden
Far Hills NJ, 908-722-1200: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
New Jersey Botanical Garden
Ringwood, 973-962-9534: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Rutgers Gardens
112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, 732-932-8451: Middlesex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Avenue Summit, 908-273-8787: Union County.
- There is a suggested donation. For more information please visit their website.
Theilke Arboretum
Glen Rock, 201-444-1270: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Wagner Farm Arboretum
197 Mountain Avenue, Warren, 908-350-7383: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Willowwood Arboretum
Chester, 973-326-7600: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Click over for our listing of all Gardens and Arboretums in New Jersey.
New Jersey Nature Centers with free admission
The Garden State is of course filled with nature! Whether it’s beach, country or woods, a visit to these nature centers is a great free thing to do in New Jersey.
Albert J. Kolonich Jr. Nature Trail
Bridgeton, Cumberland County.
- For more information visit their website.
Alloway Creek Watershed
Elsinboro, 888-627-7437: Salem County.
- For more information visit this website.
Basking Ridge Environmental Education Center
190 Lord Stirling Road Basking Ridge, 908-722-1200: Somerset County.
- For more information visit this website.
Cape May Bird Observatory
701 East Lake Drive Cape May Point, 609-400-3868: Cape May County.
- For more information visit their website.
Closter Nature Center
Closter, 201-750-2778: Bergen County.
- For more information visit their website.
Cooper Environmental Center
1170 Cattus Island Boulevard Toms River, 732-270-6960: Ocean County.
- For more information visit their website.
Demarest Nature Center
Demarest, 201-403-3183: Bergen County.
- For more information visit their website.
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center
Englewood, 201-567-1265: Bergen County.
- For more information visit their website.
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
32 Pleasant Plains Road Basking Ridge, 973-425-1222: Somerset County.
- For more information visit their website.
Hawk Rise Sanctuary
1811 Lower Road Linden, 908-766-5787 ext 41: Union County.
- Read about our visits to the Hawk Rise Sanctuary in this story.
- For more information please visit their website.
Huber Woods Environmental Center
Middletown, 732-872-2670: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Jakes Branch Nature Center
Beachwood: Ocean County.
- Read about our experiences at the Jakes Branch Nature Center in this story.
- For more information please visit their website.
James McFaul Environmental Center Garden
Wyckoff, 201-891-5571: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Lorrimer Sanctuary
790 Ewing Avenue, Franklin Lakes 201-891-2185: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Nature Center of Cape May
1600 Delaware Avenue Cape May, 609-898 -8848: Cape May County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
Howell, 732-751-9453: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Meadow Wood Environmental Facility
Maurice River: Cumberland County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Palmyra Nature Cove
1335 Route 73 South, Palmyra, 856-829-1900: Burlington County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Pequest Trout Hatchery
1270-1272 Route 46 Great Meadows, 908-637-4125: Warren County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Plainsboro Preserve
Cranbury, 609-427-3052: Middlesex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Poricy Park
Middletown, 732-615-2260: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Rancocas Nature Center
Mt Holly, 609-261-2495: Burlington County.
- For more information please visit their website.
The Raptor Trust
Millington, 908-647-2353: Morris County.
- There is a suggested donation.
- For more information please visit their website.
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
Bernardsville, 908-396-7409: Somerset County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Schiff Nature Preserve
Mendham, 973-543-6004: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Scotland Run Park Nature Center
Clayton, 856-251-6710: Gloucester County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Stony Brook Millstone Water Shed
31 Titus Mill Road Pennington, 609-737-3735: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Tenafly Nature Center
313 Hudson Avenue Tenafly, 201-568-6093: Bergen County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Trailside Nature and Science Center
452 New Providence Road Mountainside, 908-789-3670: Union County.
- Read about our experiences at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in this story.
- For more information please visit their website.
Warren E. Fox Nature Center
109 Boulevard Route 50 Mays Landing, 609-625-1897: Atlantic County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Wells Mills Nature Center
905 Wells Mills Road Waretown, 609-971-3085: Ocean County
Click over for our listing of all Nature Centers in New Jersey.
FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey – Free Zoos in New Jersey
Seeing animals can brighten anyone’s day. Seeing them for free is even better! There are two to choose from on our list of free places to visit in New Jersey.
Cape May County Park Zoo
4 Moore Road Cape May, 609-465-5271: Cape May County.
- Current Status: The Cape May County Zoo is open every day 10 am – 4:30 pm.
- For more information please visit their website.
Cohanzick Zoo
45 Mayor Aitken Drive Bridgeton, 856-453-1658: Cumberland County.
- Current Status: The Cohanzick Zoo is open every day 10 am until 3 pm.
- For more information please read our Cohanzick Zoo review or visit their website.
Click over for a list of all zoos in New Jersey.
New Jersey Historical Landmarks with free admission
We have so much history throughout our great state. Imagine you’re George Washington, or a 19th century landowner, or even a lighthouse keeper at one of these free places to visit in New Jersey.
The Bloomfield Historical Society Museum
90 Broad St, Bloomfield: Essex County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Boonton Historical Society and Museum
210 Main St, Boonton, 973-402-8840: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
C.A. Nothnagle Log House
406 Swedesboro Road Gibbstown, (856) 423-0916: Gloucester County.
Califon Historical Society
Academy St & Railroad Rd, Califon: Hunterdon County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Colonial House Museum
653 1/2 Washington St, Cape May, 609-884-9100: Cape May County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Denville Historical Society and Museum
113 Diamond Springs Rd, Denville: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Drake House Museum
602 West Front Street, Plainfield, (908) 755-5831: Union County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Dr. William Robinson Plantation
Madison Hill Road, Clark: Union County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Fleming Castle Museum
5 Bonnell St, Flemington, 908-782-4607: Hunterdon County.
- For more information please visit this website.
Fort Hancock Historic District
128 South Hartshorne Drive Highlands, (732) 872-0115: Monmouth County.
- No fees in the off season.
- For more information please visit their website.
Hamilton Van Wagoner House
971 Valley Rd, Clifton, 973-744-5707: Passaic County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Historic Walnford
62 Walnford Rd, Upper Freehold, 609-259-6275: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Kuser Farm Mansion
390 Newkirk Avenue Hamilton, (609) 890-3630: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum
Landing, 973-398-2616: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Old Schoolhouse Museum
681 Petersburg Rd, Dennisvillle, 609-861-1899: Cape May County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Sea Girt Lighthouse
9 Ocean Avenue Sea Girt, (732) 974-0514: Monmouth County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Somers Point Mansion
100 Shore Road Somers Point (609) 927-2212: Atlantic County.
- For more information please visit their website.
New Jersey State House
125 West State Street Trenton, (609) 633-2709: Mercer County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Tuckerton Historical Society
35 Leitz blvd, Little Egg Harbor, 609-294-1547: Ocean County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Twin Lights Historic Site
Lighthouse Road Highlands, (732) 872-1814: Monmouth County.
Washington Twp Historical Museum
6 Fairview Ave, Long Valley: Morris County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Whitall House at Red Bank Battlefield Park
100 Hessian Avenue, National Park: Gloucester County.
- For more information please visit their website.
Click over for our listing of all New Jersey lighthouses.
FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey – Free Farms in New Jersey
Looking for more animals in a natural habitat? There are many farms in New Jersey and these are a few that will let you visit – for free of course! Farms on our list of free places to visit in New Jersey:
Historic Longstreet Farm
44 Longstreet Rd, Holmdel, 732-946-3758: Monmouth County.
- Current Status: Historic Longstreet Farm has reopened; the farmhouse remains closed. They are currently operating on a summer schedule open daily from 9 am – 5 pm through Labor Day.
- Read about our experiences at the Historic Longstreet Farm in this story.
- For more information please visit their website.
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane Lambertville, 609-737-3299: Hunterdon County.
- Current Status: Pre-registered “Share The Harvest” tours are now available on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons! The farm is still closed for general admission, and you MUST register for your tour at the Mercer County CommunityPass portal.
- For more information please visit their website.
Click over for our listing of all New Jersey farms with children’s activities.
Free New Jersey Beaches
New Jersey is known for its extensive shoreline but a day at the beach in the summer can require beach tags at most New Jersey beaches. If you’re looking for free beaches in New Jersey that offer some ocean fun, head to these three free places to visit in New Jersey!
- Atlantic City Beaches, Atlantic County
- Somers Point Municipal Beach, Atlantic County
- Wildwood Beaches, Cape May County
Click over for our listing of all New Jersey beaches.
FREE Places to Visit in New Jersey – More free places to go in New Jersey
Historic Batsto Village
Route 542 Washington Township, 609-561-0024: Burlington.
- Current Status: The grounds of Historic Batsto Village are open. It is not clear if the Visitor Center is.
- Read about our visits to Batsto Village in this story. For more information please visit their website.
The Korean War Memorial
Atlantic City Boardwalk (Behind Claridge): Atlantic County.
The NJ Korean War Memorial was created to ensure that future generations remember and honor the pride and dedication of those who served, the legacy they continued, and the freedom they preserved.
- Current Status: The New Jersey Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City is open daily.
- For more information please visit their website.
Click over for our extensive list of Splash Pads and Spraygrounds in New Jersey (many with free admission)
Click over for our reviews of New Jersey Parks and Playgrounds.
Do you know of a great free place to go in New Jersey? Let us know in the comments below!
Don’t forget to pin me for later.
estaservice.us
Tuesday 18th of February 2020
There's so much to explore in New Jersey and it should be on every traveler's list while planning a visit to US. You have share some really good information and in detail. Thanks for sharing it with us, it was really helpful!
Melissa Benno
Sunday 16th of February 2020
Grover Cleveland Birth Place (Caldwell - Essex County https://presidentcleveland.org/) Fort Nonsense (Morristown - Morris County https://www.nps.gov/morr/index.htm) Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Gardens The gardens at Macculloch Hall. Sixty varieties of roses can be found among the seasonal blooms. (Morristown - Morris County www.maccullochhall.org) The museum is not free. The gardens are free. Tours of The Seeing Eye SeeingEye.org (Morristown - Morris County)
NJ Traveller
Sunday 11th of November 2018
Paterson great falls is a amazing place...
Also we had a great time at the Audubon's Plainsboro Preserve.
Kevin C Wolbach
Tuesday 4th of September 2018
Fort Mott and Hancock house are two other great museums to include.
Melanie C.
Wednesday 3rd of October 2018
Thanks Kevin! We've added Hancock House to our list.
Jim
Friday 10th of August 2018
Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, Gloucester County is free as well.
Melanie C.
Monday 13th of August 2018
Thank you! We've added the Whitall House at the Battlefield Park.