There’s an abundance of natural beauty here in The Garden State; places you’ll want to stop and stay awhile. In fact, enjoying a little meal al fresco while taking in New Jersey’s natural splendor sounds just about perfect! Here are 10 of the best parks to have a picnic in New Jersey:
- Van Saun Park
Dave Overcash/Flickr
Flickr/Richard Feliciano This 146-acre park is home to a zoo, walking trails, and the beautiful Washington Spring Garden historic site, making for an epic day trip in The Garden State.
- Liberty State Park
Flickr/Celso FLORES Enjoy spectacular views of Lady Liberty with the New York City skyline as your backdrop at this New Jersey gem.
- Cape May Point State Park, Cape May Point
Flickr/Judith Enjoy a picnic on the beach and stop by the eponymous lighthouse in charming Cape May for some amazing views and a memorable day.
- Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville
Flickr/Chris Martino Enjoy a day on the Delaware, where Washington once crossed. The scenery is spectacular and there is so much to do at this New Jersey state park! Bike, hike, ski, fish - whatever floats your boat!
- Ringwood State Park
Flickr/mpgulley
Flickr/Bob Jagendorf Ringwood State Park is home to both Ringwood and Skylands Manor, gorgeous gardens, the serene Shepherd Lake and trails for almost everything you can imagine. Enjoy hiking, biking or even horseback riding.
- Duke Farms, Hillsborough
Flickr/Peter Miller Duke Farms is the most magical of places! There is so much to enjoy and the scenery is truly magnificent. After your picnic, tour the property by bike and take in the lake, garden, barn and waterfall.
- High Point State Park, Sussex
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli The monument at this park marks the highest point in New Jersey; a breathtaking vista with views of three states. If the views aren’t enough for you, enjoy swimming, boating or hiking.
- Historic Smithville
Flickr/amdougherty
Flickr/amdougherty Take a stroll through this delightful little town that’s filled with old-fashioned shops and unique wildlife. Picnic on the lake and embrace this village’s quaint, hometown vibe.
- Palisades Interstate Park, Englewood Cliffs-Alpine
Flickr/Rik Jones
Flickr/Charles Boyle This park along the Hudson River runs the length of the Palisades Cliffs. Start your picnic near the George Washington Bridge for some city views and head north towards the towers in Alpine for a scenic stroll.
- Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park
Flickr/Anthony Quintano
Flickr/matt2181 After a peaceful picnic you may have room left for a little adventure. This beautiful park offers most every recreational activity imaginable: surfing, scuba diving, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
What do you consider to be the best parks to have a picnic in New Jersey? Did we miss any of your favorite parks? Let us know in the comments below!
Dave Overcash/Flickr
Flickr/Richard Feliciano
This 146-acre park is home to a zoo, walking trails, and the beautiful Washington Spring Garden historic site, making for an epic day trip in The Garden State.
Flickr/Celso FLORES
Enjoy spectacular views of Lady Liberty with the New York City skyline as your backdrop at this New Jersey gem.
Flickr/Judith
Enjoy a picnic on the beach and stop by the eponymous lighthouse in charming Cape May for some amazing views and a memorable day.
Flickr/Chris Martino
Enjoy a day on the Delaware, where Washington once crossed. The scenery is spectacular and there is so much to do at this New Jersey state park! Bike, hike, ski, fish - whatever floats your boat!
Flickr/mpgulley
Flickr/Bob Jagendorf
Ringwood State Park is home to both Ringwood and Skylands Manor, gorgeous gardens, the serene Shepherd Lake and trails for almost everything you can imagine. Enjoy hiking, biking or even horseback riding.
Flickr/Peter Miller
Duke Farms is the most magical of places! There is so much to enjoy and the scenery is truly magnificent. After your picnic, tour the property by bike and take in the lake, garden, barn and waterfall.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
The monument at this park marks the highest point in New Jersey; a breathtaking vista with views of three states. If the views aren’t enough for you, enjoy swimming, boating or hiking.
Flickr/amdougherty
Take a stroll through this delightful little town that’s filled with old-fashioned shops and unique wildlife. Picnic on the lake and embrace this village’s quaint, hometown vibe.
Flickr/Rik Jones
Flickr/Charles Boyle
This park along the Hudson River runs the length of the Palisades Cliffs. Start your picnic near the George Washington Bridge for some city views and head north towards the towers in Alpine for a scenic stroll.
Flickr/Anthony Quintano
Flickr/matt2181
After a peaceful picnic you may have room left for a little adventure. This beautiful park offers most every recreational activity imaginable: surfing, scuba diving, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
And for more outdoor adventures in The Garden State, be sure to check out these 12 incredible day trips.
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Address: Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652, USAAddress: Jersey City, NJ 07304, USAAddress: Cape May Point State Park, Light House Ave, Cape May Point, NJ 08212, USAAddress: Washington Crossing State Park, NJ, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560, USAAddress: Ringwood State Park, 1304 Sloatsburg Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456, USAAddress: Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844, USAAddress: High Point State Park, 1480 NJ-23, Sussex, NJ 07461, USAAddress: Smithville, Galloway, NJ 08205, USAAddress: Palisades Interstate Pkwy, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USAAddress: Island Beach State Park, 2401 Central Ave, Seaside Park, NJ 08752, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Parks To Have A Picnic IN New Jersey April 05, 2021 Sarah What are some must-visit New Jersey parks? The Garden State has an abundance of picture-perfect parks; places you’ll truly want to stop and stay awhile. In fact, New Jersey has over three dozen state parks and forests, each incredible in its own way. You’ll find opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and even a few historic sites in our state park system! There is so much to explore, and tremendous beauty to be found. Double Trouble State Park in Bayville is a total hidden gem where you can get up-close with New Jersey’s cranberry bogs, and a partially restored historic village. It’s well worth spending a whole afternoon here! Wharton State Forest in Hammonton is positively perfect. This beautiful state forest is home to several historic villages, including the ever-popular Batsto Mill. You’ll find an incredible mix of nature and history here. And over in Cape May and Cumberland Counties, Belleplain State Forest is 20,000 acres of pure Garden State splendor. Enjoy swimming in Lake Nummy and camp in one of the many available yurts, or even enjoy a stay at East Creek Cabin. What are the best day trips to take in New Jersey? While New Jersey may be small, it’s big on opportunities for truly amazing road trips. If you’re seeking adventure, you’re in the right state. And, perhaps best of all, you can travel almost anywhere within a day! Some of our favorite day trips in New Jersey include Grounds For Sculpture, a 42-acre outdoor oasis for art lovers, Cape May, New Jersey’s ultimate seaside getaway, and Clinton, a charming little town complete with an iconic red gristmill. Where can I find the most scenic places in New Jersey? There’s no shortage of scenic splendor in The Garden State: we have mountains, lakes, woodlands, waterfalls, and so much more! For awesome wildlife viewing, Columbia Wildlife Management Area in Knowlton offers views of fields, forests, mountains and the magnificent Delaware River. Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown is an enchanting, 52-acre garden that’s open all year-round, and free to visit. And if you’re craving epic beach views, Stone Harbor is ideal! Take a stroll on the beach, visit the Wetlands Institute, or explore the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary at this beautiful place.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Parks To Have A Picnic IN New Jersey
April 05, 2021
Sarah
What are some must-visit New Jersey parks? The Garden State has an abundance of picture-perfect parks; places you’ll truly want to stop and stay awhile. In fact, New Jersey has over three dozen state parks and forests, each incredible in its own way. You’ll find opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and even a few historic sites in our state park system! There is so much to explore, and tremendous beauty to be found. Double Trouble State Park in Bayville is a total hidden gem where you can get up-close with New Jersey’s cranberry bogs, and a partially restored historic village. It’s well worth spending a whole afternoon here! Wharton State Forest in Hammonton is positively perfect. This beautiful state forest is home to several historic villages, including the ever-popular Batsto Mill. You’ll find an incredible mix of nature and history here. And over in Cape May and Cumberland Counties, Belleplain State Forest is 20,000 acres of pure Garden State splendor. Enjoy swimming in Lake Nummy and camp in one of the many available yurts, or even enjoy a stay at East Creek Cabin. What are the best day trips to take in New Jersey? While New Jersey may be small, it’s big on opportunities for truly amazing road trips. If you’re seeking adventure, you’re in the right state. And, perhaps best of all, you can travel almost anywhere within a day! Some of our favorite day trips in New Jersey include Grounds For Sculpture, a 42-acre outdoor oasis for art lovers, Cape May, New Jersey’s ultimate seaside getaway, and Clinton, a charming little town complete with an iconic red gristmill. Where can I find the most scenic places in New Jersey? There’s no shortage of scenic splendor in The Garden State: we have mountains, lakes, woodlands, waterfalls, and so much more! For awesome wildlife viewing, Columbia Wildlife Management Area in Knowlton offers views of fields, forests, mountains and the magnificent Delaware River. Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown is an enchanting, 52-acre garden that’s open all year-round, and free to visit. And if you’re craving epic beach views, Stone Harbor is ideal! Take a stroll on the beach, visit the Wetlands Institute, or explore the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary at this beautiful place.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Garden State has an abundance of picture-perfect parks; places you’ll truly want to stop and stay awhile. In fact, New Jersey has over three dozen state parks and forests, each incredible in its own way. You’ll find opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and even a few historic sites in our state park system! There is so much to explore, and tremendous beauty to be found. Double Trouble State Park in Bayville is a total hidden gem where you can get up-close with New Jersey’s cranberry bogs, and a partially restored historic village. It’s well worth spending a whole afternoon here! Wharton State Forest in Hammonton is positively perfect. This beautiful state forest is home to several historic villages, including the ever-popular Batsto Mill. You’ll find an incredible mix of nature and history here. And over in Cape May and Cumberland Counties, Belleplain State Forest is 20,000 acres of pure Garden State splendor. Enjoy swimming in Lake Nummy and camp in one of the many available yurts, or even enjoy a stay at East Creek Cabin.
What are the best day trips to take in New Jersey?
While New Jersey may be small, it’s big on opportunities for truly amazing road trips. If you’re seeking adventure, you’re in the right state. And, perhaps best of all, you can travel almost anywhere within a day! Some of our favorite day trips in New Jersey include Grounds For Sculpture, a 42-acre outdoor oasis for art lovers, Cape May, New Jersey’s ultimate seaside getaway, and Clinton, a charming little town complete with an iconic red gristmill.
Where can I find the most scenic places in New Jersey?
There’s no shortage of scenic splendor in The Garden State: we have mountains, lakes, woodlands, waterfalls, and so much more! For awesome wildlife viewing, Columbia Wildlife Management Area in Knowlton offers views of fields, forests, mountains and the magnificent Delaware River. Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown is an enchanting, 52-acre garden that’s open all year-round, and free to visit. And if you’re craving epic beach views, Stone Harbor is ideal! Take a stroll on the beach, visit the Wetlands Institute, or explore the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary at this beautiful place.
