Highest-rated free things to do in New Jersey, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in New Jersey, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in New Jersey.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in New Jersey using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Branch Brook Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (254 reviews)
- Address: Park Avenue, Lake St. Newark, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Cape May Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (470 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Tropicana Casino
- Rating: 4/5 (950 reviews)
- Address: 2831 Boardwalk Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Downtown Jersey City, New Jersey - Waterfront 9/11 Memorial - #8
- Rating: 4.5/5 (409 reviews)
- Address: Waterfront Walkway Hudson River Jersey City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. The Playground at Caesars
- Rating: 3.5/5 (1,423 reviews)
- Address: 1 Atlantic Ocean Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Bally's Atlantic City Casino
- Rating: 3.5/5 (1,516 reviews)
- Address: 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Princeton University Art Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (730 reviews)
- Address: Elm Drive Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Duke Farms
- Rating: 4.5/5 (493 reviews)
- Address: 1112 Dukes Pkwy West Hillsborough, NJ Hillsborough, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Empty Sky - 9/11 Memorial
- Rating: 4.5/5 (526 reviews)
- Address: Liberty State Park Jersey City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
- Rating: 4.5/5 (202 reviews)
- Address: 112 North Main St. Windsor Robbinsville, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Historic Smithville
- Rating: 4.5/5 (539 reviews)
- Address: 615 East Moss Mill Road Smithville, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. North Wildwood Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (598 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Tanger Outlets Atlantic City
- Rating: 4/5 (835 reviews)
- Address: 2014 Baltic Ave. Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Washington Street Mall
- Rating: 4.5/5 (589 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (548 reviews)
- Address: 208 Broadway Barnegat Light, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Hoboken Waterfront Walkway
- Rating: 5/5 (641 reviews)
- Address: 340 Sinatra Drive Hoboken, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Asbury Park Boardwalk
- Rating: 4/5 (1,001 reviews)
- Address: 1300 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Sunset Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (604 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. The Quarter at Tropicana
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,303 reviews)
- Address: 2821 Boardwalk Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Caesars Atlantic City Casino
- Rating: 4/5 (2,480 reviews)
- Address: 2100 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Princeton University
- Rating: 5/5 (1,006 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Wildwood Boardwalk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,517 reviews)
- Address: 3500 Boardwalk Wildwood, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. The Mills at Jersey Gardens
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,614 reviews)
- Address: 651 Kapkowski Road Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Borgata Casino
- Rating: 4/5 (2,551 reviews)
- Address: 1 Borgata Way Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Wildwood Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,920 reviews)
- Address: 1st East Glenwood Ave. Wildwood, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Jersey Shore Alpacas
- Rating: 5/5 (722 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Liberty State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,508 reviews)
- Address: 1 Audrey Zapp Drive at Exit 14B-New Jersey Turnpike Extension Jersey City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Cape May County Park & Zoo
- Rating: 5/5 (1,653 reviews)
- Address: 707 North Route 9 Cape May Court House, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Ocean City Boardwalk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,920 reviews)
- Address: 400 Boardwalk Ocean City, New Jersey
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Atlantic City Boardwalk
- Rating: 4/5 (5,685 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
