FREE and Low-Cost Outdoors Activities for New Jersey Teachers, Students and Families

Before you begin your outdoor adventure, please be mindful of New Jersey’s current air quality and take safety precautions. Keep yourself safe by wearing an N95 mask outdoors and stay indoors if you have asthma, allergies or a chronic lung condition. For more safety advice, please review this article.

One of the best parts about summer is spending as much time as possible outdoors—the perfect antidote to the cold months spent inside.

Luckily, it’s easy to get outdoors in New Jersey.

Our state is full of beautiful natural resources, from miles of the Atlantic Ocean’s coastline to the roaring Paterson Falls and so much more. In addition to experiencing New Jersey’s natural landscape, there are many opportunities to learn more about the state’s past and appreciate its place in American history.

In honor of Great Outdoors Month, we’ve compiled the best free and low-cost activities to do outdoors this summer.

Browse the selection for nearby options or places worth a mini road trip.

Stroll through Rutgers’ Botanical Garden
 

Rutgers Gardens spans 180 acres and includes gardens, plant collections, a student farm, a farmer’s market and many natural habitats. The gardens have existed for more than 100 years, with many new additions built since 2005.

Rutgers Gardens is also one of the few botanical gardens in the United States that does not charge an admission fee. Learn more and plan a trip here.  
 

Visit one of New Jersey’s state parks
 

New Jersey is home to 27 state parks across 430,000 acres, which is around eight percent of the state’s land area. Within the state parks are a number of historical sites, including Fort Mott State Park, where post-Civil War troops were stationed from 1897 until 1922.  

Many parks charge a fee during the weekend and holidays, however, there are some that waive the fee on weekdays and for walk-in or bicycle visits. For people who frequent New Jersey state parks, an annual pass is $50 for residents.

See pricing for all New Jersey state parks here.

Tour Batsto Village
 

Discover more about New Jersey’s history at Batsto Village, which dates back to 1766. Located in Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village is famous for its natural resources, which were utilized by the Batsto Iron Works from 1766 until the mid-1800s.

Batsto Village is the town that housed workers and families, and visitors can see how New Jerseyans lived more than 200 years ago. The grounds include a 32-room mansion, farm, post office, sawmill, gristmill, ice house, general store and more.  

Guided tours are low cost, with adults $3, children 6-11 free and children 5 and under free.

Use this link to learn more about visiting hours.

See live theater at Plays in the Park
 

Middlesex County has offered free, full-scale theater performances in Roosevelt Park since 1963. Running June through August, Plays in the Park features three well-known titles. This summer, audiences can enjoy Rock of Ages (running June 14-24), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (running July 5-15) and Cinderella (running July 326-August 5).

To learn more about Plays in the Park, visit this link.

Visit the Howell Living History Farm
 

Visitors at Howell Living History Farm get a hands-on farming experience. The farm operates year-round, and anyone can stop in for free to learn how to harvest ice, shear sheep, sugar maple syrup and more.

Howell Farm was a gift to Mercer County in 1974 when its last private owner, Inez Howe Howell, passed away. Inez wanted others to experience the memories she cherished while on the farm, writing:

I am offering the farm as a gift to Mercer County … to be used as a Living History Farm, where the way of living in its early days could not only be seen but actually tried by the public, especially children…”

Thanks to Inez’s gift, the Howell Living History Farm is free to all.

To learn about visiting hours, head here.

See an outdoor movie

There are many New Jersey cities that offer free outdoor movies. Bring a blanket and snacks to one of these upcoming showings.

Belmar Movies on the Beach

Bring a beach chair and enjoy a movie on 7th Avenue beach beginning July 5 with Finding Nemo. The series wraps up on Aug. 30 with Enchanted. View the whole schedule here.

Downtown Freehold Family Movie Night

Watch a movie in front of the Hall of Records in downtown Freehold. All films are rated G or PG, with the exception of Men in Black II, which is rated PG-13. Take a look at the summer movie schedule here.

Gloucester County

There are multiple movie nights happening each week throughout Gloucester County. See the family friendly lineup here.

The Highland Park Outdoor Movie Theater

Running May 27 through Sept. 2, The Highland Park Outdoor Movie Theater takes place at the Municipal Parking Lot on Raritan Ave. The summer’s titles—like Alien and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior—are better suited for older children and teens. See the lineup here.

Jersey City and Hoboken

Those in and around the Jersey City and Hoboken areas have plenty of options to choose from this summer. Viewing locations range from parks to even a pier. See the film lineups and locations here.

Palmer Square Princeton

This summer, Palmer Square is showing Freaky Friday on July 14 and Luca on Aug. 4. See more Palmer Square events here.

Passaic County

All Passaic County parks will host free, family friendly outdoor movie nights this summer. Browse the films, dates and locations here.

The Yard at College Ave

Enjoy a movie right in the middle of Rutgers’ historic College Avenue campus. Every Sunday at 4 p.m. in June, there will be a different family friendly film. See movies and more events here.

Go lighthouse chasing
 

New Jersey is home to 11 lighthouses, all with their own unique history. Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the state’s oldest, being lit for the first time in 1764.

Most lighthouses are free to view, with some charging a slight fee to tour the grounds.

Plan a trip to one or all of New Jersey’s lighthouses:

Cape May Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse
Twin Lights
Sandy Hook Lighthouse
Sea Girt Lighthouse
Tucker’s Island Light
Absecon Lighthouse
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
East Point Lighthouse
Finn’s Point Rear Range Light
Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse

Learn more about New Jersey’s lighthouses here.

Visit Cape May County Park and Zoo
 

Get up close with more than 550 animals at Cape May County Park and Zoo, which was founded in 1978 within Park Central.

Stroll around the 85-acre zoo and 135-acre park for free. Most notable are the zoo’s snow leopards, which have welcomed seven cubs over four years.

The zoo is also one of the best in the country, as it was voted the third-best zoo in the nation by Trip Advisor in 2012.

To learn more about the zoo, visit this link.

Stroll through The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
 

Free to the public, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum boasts 124 acres of woodlands, meadows and gardens. The arboretum also hosts a number of educational opportunities, including a self-led cellphone tour, where visitors can use their phones to interact with their surroundings.

Head here to plan a visit.

Learn about birds of prey at The Raptor Trust
 

New Jersey is home to more than 480 bird species, and The Raptor Trust exists to help protect these feathered friends. The bird rehabilitation and education center’s story begins in 1968, four years before the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act began protecting hawks and owls.

Founder Len Soucy purchased a home on 14 acres so he could care for injured raptors part-time. Being one of the very few places that rehabilitated birds, demand for Soucy’s services grew. By the late 1970s, Soucy was bringing in hundreds of bird species a year.

In 1982, The Raptor Trust received nonprofit status, which helped it to grow and help educate the community. Currently, The Raptor Trust is open seven days a week for free, self-guided tours and offers regular educational events.

Visit this link to plan a trip.

Marvel at the Paterson Great Falls
 

Some of New Jersey’s most significant history happened at this 77-foot waterfall.

Paterson Great Falls was America’s first planned industrial city and relied on Great Falls for waterpower, which resulted in the first water-powered cotton mill. In 1967, Paterson Great Falls was designated as a National Natural Landmark.

Learn more and plan a trip here.

Spend a day at the beach

New Jerseyans are lucky to have the beach just a short drive (or walk) away, and many New Jersey beaches are free.

Enjoy a cost-free day at the following beaches:

Atlantic City 
Cape May Point State Park 
Ideal Beach
Jennifer Lane Beach
Keansburg Beach
Leonardo Beach
Ocean County Park 
The Wildwoods
William Morrow Beach

Explore Duke Farms
 

With 2,700 acres to explore, 523 plant species to discover and 247 bird species to spot, there are many outdoor adventures to be had at Duke Farms. The property boasts 20 miles of trails for people to hike and bike on and is a leader in conservation and sustainability.

In 1925, Doris Duke inherited the land from her father, James Buchanan Duke, who spent years transforming the property. In Doris’ will, she requested Duke Farms be a place to serve and protect wildlife.

The farm has stayed true to Doris’ wishes by encouraging the public to explore its grounds, hosting a seasonal farmers market, providing a Bald Eagle cam and more.

General admission for the farm is always free, however, due to high demand, a parking pass is required for any Saturday visits between April and October. To learn more head here.
 

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