, New Jersey is jam-packed with arts and entertainment, museums, monuments, and plenty of outdoor recreation. Whether you want to visit Revolutionary War sites in the state capital of

Trenton

, or head to the world-famous Jersey Shore—you will find a family-friendly adventure suitable for any budget.

Here to guide you through some of New Jersey’s top kid-friendly destinations is

Jerry

, the

super app

for

car insurance

. This list of fun local attractions for the family will give you plenty of ideas for your next East Coast road trip!

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Best museums in New Jersey for kids

New Jersey State Museum

Age range: All ages

Location: 205 West State Street,

Trenton

, NJ 08608

Phone: 609-292-6464

Located down the street from the beautiful

Capitol Building

, the

New Jersey State Museum

hosts world-class art, science, and history collections. Don’t be misled by its unassuming appearance: there is plenty for the kids to do, from planetarium shows to educational STEM classes.

The Small Explorers series offers children aged six months through five years old something special to do through stories, crafts, and play. The program is 45-minutes long and takes place on the second Saturday of every month.

Howell Living History Farm

Age range: All ages

Location: 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, NJ 08530

Phone: 609-737-3299

Howell Living History Farm

isn’t just any museum: it’s a working farm that gives visitors the chance to experience life in 1900. The kids will love walking around the grounds and visiting the animals (draft horses, and pigs, and chickens, oh my!) or exploring the various farm buildings.

There are often special events on weekends, from maple sugaring in the winter to old-time baseball games in the summer, that the whole family can take part in.

Liberty Science Center

Age range: Ages 2 and up

Location: 222 Jersey City Blvd.,

Jersey City

, NJ 07305

Phone: 201-200-1000

Looking for adventure? Visit the

Liberty Science Center

Liberty State Park

. Located on the Hudson River, the park offers guests stunning views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty without ever leaving the Garden State.

Inside the Science Center, you’ll find 12 exhibition halls with everything from naked mole rats and monkeys to a 35-foot climbing gym. If you have a whole weekend free, sign the kids up for a

camp-in

, so they can stay the night and sleep under their favorite exhibit.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Age range: All ages

Location: 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone: 973-736-0550

Take a step back in time to the former home and laboratory of America’s greatest inventor. The

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

is where Thomas Edison lived and worked from 1886 until he died in 1931, and almost everything is untouched and in its original condition.

Visitors can explore all three laboratory levels, watch various films, tour the chemistry lab, and visit the inventor’s home. Children under 16 are free.

MORE:

Odd roadside attractions for your summer road trip

Best outdoor activities in New Jersey for kids

Six Flags Great Adventure

Age range: Ages 3 and up (some rides have height limits)

Location: 1 Six Flags Blvd.,

Jackson

, NJ 08527

Phone: 732-928-2000

You might not guess it, but the World’s Ultimate Thrill Park is hiding in the middle of Central New Jersey.

Six Flags Great Adventure

is home to 14 roller coasters, including Kingda Ka, the tallest coaster in the world.

There are plenty of ride options for children of all ages (Bugs Bunny Land is perfect for the under-5 set), food, games, a

drive-through safari

, and more. If you visit during the summer months, stop by

Hurricane Harbor

(right next door) to ride the waves!

Seaside Heights Boardwalk

Age range: All ages

Location: Boardwalk,

Seaside Heights

, NJ 08751

Phone: n/a

One of the most popular destinations in the state, the

Seaside Heights Boardwalk

is the place to be once school lets out. Kids love the boardwalk rides, arcades, miniature golf, ice cream stands, and more. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the boards, stroll down to the beach and enjoy the sand between your toes and the sparkling ocean water.

Pro Tip Keep an eye on the
Seaside Heights calendar
for family-friendly events all season long, including Arts & Crafts by the Sea, Movies on the Beach, Kites in the Heights, and much more.

Lakota Wolf Preserve

Age range: All ages

Location: 89 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Columbia, NJ 07832

Phone: 877-733-9653

The

Lakota Wolf Preserve

, located near the beautiful Delaware Water Gap, offers visitors the experience of a lifetime. Guided educational tours allow guests to view four different wolf packs as they play and interact, plus foxes, bobcats, and more. In addition, 2-hour private photography sessions are also available for guests aged 16+.

New Egypt Speedway

Age range: Ages 4 and up

Location: 720 County Rd. 539, New Egypt, NJ 08533

Phone: 609-758-1900

Got a need for speed? The

New Egypt Speedway

is a 7/16-mile dirt track hosting drag racing, motocross, demolition derbies, and car shows. On the fan’s side of the fence, games, contests, prizes, and theme nights are as much a part of a Saturday night as the races themselves. The Ralphie the Racer Kids’ Club caters to the younger set with a friendly dog mascot, pit tours, and structured activities.

Big Bear Gear River Tubing

Age range: Ages 6 and up

Location: 2876 River Dr., Kingwood, NJ

Phone: 609-460-4784

Tubing the Delaware River is one of those iconic childhood activities that everyone participates in growing up in New Jersey. You can find tube rentals up and down the river, but

Big Bear Gear River Tubing

is a long-time local favorite.

Trips can take anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours and include lots of beautiful scenery (and a few tiny rapids). Bring coolers with lunch and drinks, and tie them to your tubes!

Best zoos and aquariums in New Jersey for kids

Cape May County Zoo

Age range: All ages

Location: 707 U.S. 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

Phone: 609-465-5271

The

Cape May County Zoo

is a major attraction for locals and tourists alike, who come from miles around to view the collection of more than 550 animals on 85 acres. Favorites include the ringtail lemur family and red pandas. In addition to walking around the park, kids love summer concerts in the park, animal encounters, and the

Jr. Zoo Keeper

program.

The park is open every day except Christmas, and admission is free.

Adventure Aquarium

Age range: All ages

Location: 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ 08103

Phone: 844-474-3474

Adventure Aquarium, located on the scenic

Camden

waterfront, features nearly 15,000 aquatic animals and the most extensive collection of sharks in the Northeast. USA Today voted the attraction a Top 10 Aquarium in the country—perhaps because it’s the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos and one of only six in the US to house Little Blue Penguins. Your kids are sure to love it (and vote it one of their top 10 favorite weekend destinations).

Popcorn Park Animal Refuge

Age range: All ages

Location: 1 Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731

Phone: 609-693-1900

Popcorn Park Animal Refuge

isn’t a traditional zoo, but a refuge for animals that are sick, elderly, abandoned, or abused. The small 7-acre sanctuary is home to more than 200 exotic and farm animals and birds, and residents include four Bengal Tigers, seven cougars, several types of monkeys, and more. Best of all (and true to the zoo’s name) kids can purchase buckets of popcorn to feed the animals!

Bergen County Zoological Park

Age range: All ages

Location: 216 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652

Phone: 201-634-3100

Located in the popular

Van Saun County Park

, the

Bergen County Zoo

is a green oasis in a busy urban area. In addition to the dozens of New World animals (animals from North or South America only), kids love the Education and Discovery Center, Train and Carousel, Pony Rides, and Budgie Exhibit. Zoo Boo, which happens every year the weekend before Halloween, is an especially fun event where kids can enjoy trick-or-treating and scary stories.

MORE: 8 pro tips for long car rides with kids

Best historic sites in New Jersey for kids

Old Barracks Museum

Age range: All ages

Location: 101 Barrack St., Trenton, NJ 08608

Phone: 609-396-1776

Relive some of Trenton’s revolutionary past at the

Old Barracks Museum

—the spot where George Washington turned the tides of war in America’s favor. Today, visitors can tour the Barracks and learn about the Battle of Trenton and other local history. In addition, children aged 9 to 12 can spend a night in the soldiers’ bunks for overnight camp-ins, where they’ll have scavenger hunts, campfires, musket demonstrations, and more 18th-century fun.

Washington Crossing State Park

Age range: All ages

Location: 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd., Titusville, NJ 08560

Phone: 609-737-0623

Right down the road is historic

Washington Crossing State Park

, where General Washington crossed the Delaware River from

Pennsylvania

to New Jersey. The park is home to several museums and monuments, including the Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum, the Swan Historical Foundation Collection (more than 700 18th-century artifacts) and the Johnson Ferry House (an 18th-century farmhouse furnished with local period pieces).

Black River & Western Railroad

Age range: All ages

Location: 245 John Ringo Rd., Ringoes, NJ 08551

Phone: 908-782-6622

Located in scenic Hunterdon County, the

Black River & Western Railroad

will thrill conductors big and small. Antique passenger car coaches (and a real steam engine) take riders on a beautiful 75-minute ride through the countryside, ending in either Flemington or Ringoes. Special events include RailFest, The North Pole Express, and the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch.

Batsto Village

Age range: All ages

Location: 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

Phone: 609-561-0024

Historic

Batsto Village

, located in the heart of New Jersey’s pine barrens, was once a bustling bog iron and glassmaking industrial complex. Today, the well-preserved 19th-century company town consists of over 30 buildings, a grist mill, water wheel, general store, blacksmith shop, and more.

Some of the many family-friendly activities include the museum and library, nature center, mansion tours, and working blacksmith demonstrations. In addition, a short trip around the lake will reveal plenty of leftover slag and colored glass (worn smooth by the water).

Best unique adventures in New Jersey for kids

American Dream

Age range: All ages

Location: 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073

Phone: 833-263-7326

Fantasy, fashion, food, family, fun—that’s the motto of New Jersey’s

American Dream

entertainment and shopping complex. The five-floor, 3 million square foot center is home to

DreamWorks Water Park

Nickelodeon Universe

, LEGOLAND Discovery Center,

SEA LIFE Aquarium

, and countless retail and dining attractions.

There’s no way to fit it all into one day with so much to do. Luckily, if you decide to make a weekend of it, American Dream has a list of

preferred hotels

where you can get unpublished rates and exclusive offers.

Cowtown Rodeo

Age range: All ages

Location: 780 Harding Highway, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098

Phone: 856-644-7058

Take the kids to a real live rodeo right in the heart of New Jersey.

Cowtown

has given visitors a glimpse of life in the old west since 1929 with bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and more.

The rodeo is open every Saturday night from Memorial Day through the end of September. While adults and children of all ages are welcome, shows typically don’t end until about 10 pm, so it might be late for the little ones.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Age range: All ages

Location: 149 Polito Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

Phone: 888-935-6878

Who will win the battle to rule the kingdom? Find out with a trip to

Medieval Times

! Tour the castle, explore the hall of arms, and experience almost two hours of jousting, swordsmanship, and hand-to-hand combat. During the show, guests feast on bread, soup, chicken, corn, potatoes, and more—without using utensils! It’s an experience your child will never forget.

MORE:

Tips for holiday road trips with kids

Getting the right car insurance before hitting the road

Before you hit the highway for these ultimate family day trips in New Jersey, make sure you have the best

car insurance

to protect you and your family on the road.

Planning on traveling out of state or spending time away from home? With a home or renters insurance policy with

Jerry

, you can ensure your personal belongings are protected whether they’re at home, in a storage unit, or traveling abroad with you.

Jerry is an insurance super app that finds you the best home or renters insurance coverage for your needs. Download the app, answer a few questions, and Jerry will take care of the rest—finding you extra coverage at the right price.

“When we added a new car to our family, we were shocked at how high our current insurer was going to hike our rates. We used
Jerry
for some comparison shopping and are now saving around $1000 a year. Thank you, Jerry!” —Darius P.