Many new homebuyers move to New Jersey for its family-friendly towns and excellent living opportunities. Especially for those moving from neighboring states and bustling cities, the quiet charm of The Garden State is certainly alluring. Excellent education systems, close proximity to NYC, and plenty of recreational opportunities make the area a great place to live and work.
Finding your dream home in New Jersey requires more than checking out the neighborhood and the fully-customized floorplan. You might also be looking for things to do in the area, places to visit, nearby sightseeing, and recreation. Many new home seekers are looking for a dream house near a public park to enjoy day trips or a weekend adventure. If this sounds like you, choose a home nearby one of the top ten state parks in New Jersey.
1. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Located 67 miles from Jersey City, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park preserves nautical stories of the past. Visitors to the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County enjoy birdwatching, fishing, and walking along the Maritime Forest Trail. The park is home to one of New Jersey’s last remaining maritime forests, which is another name for a shoreline estuary growing along coastal barrier islands. Maritime forests support a vast array of diverse plant and animal life, making them a great place to take a breath and engage with the beauty of nature.
The Barnegat Lighthouse is open daily to the public for a small entrance fee. From the top of the lighthouse, visitors enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Island Beach, Barnegat Bay, and Long Beach Island.
2. Island Beach State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Encompassing ten miles of sandy beach, lush maritime forests, tidal marshes, and soft sand dunes, Island Beach State Park is a peaceful home to diverse wildlife and a variety of plant species. Popular activities for visitors include swimming and surf fishing, as well as wildlife viewing and island exploration. The park is located at the southern terminus of Route 35, only a short drive from Seaside Heights. From the southern edge of the park, visitors can catch a beautiful sight of Barnegat Lighthouse across the inlet.
3. Liberty State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Located in Jersey City, Liberty State Park offers the most dramatic backdrop for a stunning scene. It features a vibrant green space situated in the heart of Metropolitan northern New Jersey on the shores of the Hudson River. The Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island make a brilliant panoramic view for this unforgettable park.
Liberty Walk is a two-mile promenade linking the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal; it includes two picnic areas, playgrounds, and the Nature Center. Miles of walkways and an outdoor performance area break up the open fields and provide opportunities for entertainment in the warmer months. The state-of-the-art Liberty Science Center on the western side of the park also offers opportunities for learning and exploring year-round. With its ideal location on the river, Liberty State Park is the only place in the state that offers Ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
4. Cape May Point State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Just 72 miles from Philadelphia and a short bike ride from Cape May, the 244 acres that make up Cape May Point State Park are chock full of freshwater meadows, ponds, dunes, lush forests, and sandy beaches. The park is best known as a popular bird-watching site for migratory birds through North America in the fall, sights of the Cape May Lighthouse, a World War II gun battery and fire control tower, brilliantly beautiful migratory monarch butterflies, and Cape May diamonds. Visitors who climb the 199 steps of the famous lighthouse enjoy breathtaking views of the peninsula. With several winding trails, the site is popular for hiking, picnicking, surf fishing, swimming, and wildlife watching.
5. High Point State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Located 40 miles from Newark and encompassing the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge, High Point State Park lives up to its name as the highest elevation in the state. At 1,803 feet above sea level, the park offers unparalleled views of three states and panoramic landscape of diverse plant and animal species. At the top of the ridge is the High Point Monument, which is dedicated to New Jersey’s veterans. Visitors to the park often enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking, wildlife watching, and sightseeing as well as snowshoeing and skiing in the winter.
6. Hacklebarney State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
A prominent feature of Hacklebarney State Park is the bubbling Black River that cuts its own path through the rocky terrain, cascading around boulders to land in the natural ravine lined with gorgeous hemlocks. Located about 35 miles east of Newark, Hacklebarney was once an iron ore mine site and now is a favorite among hikers, birdwatchers, and anglers. Winding trails offer a great experience to explore the park by land while the river and tributaries wind through the area in a graceful pattern. Fall in the park brings about beautiful color changes and picturesque views of the marvelous leaves and stunning forest backdrops.
7. Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
40 miles south of Newark, Monmouth Battlefield State Park is a historical site with deep roots in American history. In 1778, one of the largest battles of the American Revolution occurred in the fields of this modern-day park. This battle marked a pivotal point in the war as the Continental Army, led by George Washington, won back the field. The park preserves the same landscape as it held in the 18th century of hilly farmland and miles of hiking and equestrian trails, picnicking areas, and a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse. Educational tours are offered as well as a pick-your-own orchard.
8. Double Trouble State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Visitors travel from all over to dip their toes into the beautiful waters of Cedar Creek and take in the pine barrens ecosystem. Only an hour outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Double Trouble State Park is a haven for many animals seeking refuge and humans looking for a quiet and peaceful time away from it all. The park is very popular among canoeists and kayakers who enjoy the gushing Cedar Creek, as well as hikers, mountain bikers, equestrian riders, and photographers looking for the perfect spot.
9. Corson’s Inlet State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Corson’s Inlet State Park was created in 1969 to preserve one of the last undeveloped stretches of land along the state’s oceanfront. About 70 miles from Philadelphia, PA, the area is now a special site for the protection of certain birds and other wildlife species. Popular activities frequented by park visitors include boating, canoeing, and kayaking, fishing, crabbing, and hiking. Many migratory and residential species inhabit the area, so it’s worth a visit for even simply wildlife watching at different points of the year.
10. Fort Mott State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
A piece of history not easily forgotten, Fort Mott played a significant role in the defense of the Delaware River in the early 20th century. Located only 28 miles from Philadelphia, Fort Mott State Park now hosts a museum house where visitors can learn all about the historical sights and sounds that have inhabited this area for centuries. Aside from historical importance, the park also offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, fishing, and even some sledding in the winter months.
The Garden State
Interested in moving to New Jersey? Learn more about real estate opportunities in the region by exploring some of our other articles, including the best places to live, the safest cities, and how to build a house in New Jersey. And when you’re ready to discover your new home, you can find new gorgeous listings every day at NewHomeSource.
All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, google ratings, and the number of google reviews.
Melanie Theriault is a writer, counselor, and lifelong learner. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Southwestern University, where she discovered her passion for fostering human connection through storytelling.
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