Explore New Jersey's Parks for Free in 2023 | Island Beach, D&R Canal, Worthington, Allaire & More

Memorial Day Weekend usually marks the start of fee collection at most New Jersey State Parks, but not in 2023. The NJ State Budget was passed earlier this year to include another year of free park entry. This is especially exciting for those headed down the shore this summer. If you are not from NJ, we here in the Garden State pay to get on the beach. Yes, I know, but we do. Island Beach State Park will be free of charge, making it one of the only free beach options in the state. Below we list our top parks based on our favorite summer activities.

Best Beach/Swimming

Island Beach State Park is the most beautiful beach in New Jersey. Many people don’t know this beach exists, as it is tucked away south of Seaside Park. While many families with kids will seek out beaches with boardwalks, I much prefer to enjoy a day at Island Beach State Park and head north in the evening to get our boardwalk fix. Seaside Heights is just minutes away, but since we head north to go home anyway, we prefer to head to Jenkinson’s at Point Pleasant Beach. We find this boardwalk to be more family-friendly and if you visit on a Thursday you can catch their fireworks display.

Best Biking

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is our favorite state park for family bike rides. The flat, packed gravel trail is ideal for little ones learning how to ride and parents towing child carriers. We enjoy stopping in Lambertville or walking across the bridge to New Hope for lunch. There is even a small playground just off the trail south of Lambertville.

Sunset on the Delaware River at Worthing State Park Campground

Best Camping

Worthington State Park is hands down our favorite place to camp in New Jersey. We tent camp here and I highly recommend securing a riverfront site for stunning views of the Delaware River. Many of these sites also have rustic trails to the river, but be careful, many are steep, rocky, and not easily navigated. For swimming in the area, we recommend heading north to Turtle Beach. If you prefer adventure over relaxing at the campground, we enjoy heading over the bridge to Pennsylvania to explore Dingmans Falls, check out the Pocono Snake and Animal Farm, or take in the sweeping views from Big Pocono State Park.

Allaire State Park is our next favorite spot for camping. We tent camped here while friends of ours opted to rent one of the cabins. The cabins come equipped with two sets of bunks beds, a table, and a wood-burning stove for colder weather. The bathrooms were large and clean and we enjoyed many activities in the surrounding area. You can visit the historic village, enjoy miles of bike trails, or take a ride on the train that runs through the park. Allaire is also close to our favorite family boardwalk in Point Pleasant, making it easy to grab a bite to eat, take a walk on the boards, hit up arcade Happy Hour, or enjoy the fireworks at Jenkinson’s every Thursday during the summer.

Best Hiking

Stokes State Forest is our favorite spot for hiking with little ones. The Stony Lake area has a playground, spots to explore the shoreline and an easy trail that circles the lake that includes passing over the stream and some small waterfalls. There are picnic tables in this area as well. If you are looking for a big payoff with no hiking, drive up to Buttermilk Falls, which is steps from a parking lot. There are options for hikes in the immediate area, but sometimes you just need a little quick and easy nature.

Best Playground

Liberty State Park is home to our favorite state park playground. If you are familiar with NJ State Parks, most have the same green and yellow playground structures, which are fine, but when you visit as many parks as we do, your kids get bored of the same old thing. Liberty State Park’s playground is much bigger than typical state park playgrounds and has many unique play features. Pack a lunch and make a day of it. Explore the park’s many paved walking paths and have a picnic on the lawn overlooking the New York City skyline.

Best View

High Point State Park has the best views in New Jersey and beyond! You can drive to the top of the mountain and take the small, but steep walk to the monument. Here you have sweeping views of New Jersey’s Skylands Region, New York, and Pennsylvania. There is also an option to hike from the lower section of the park to the peak if you are more ambitious. There is a lake that has seasonal lifeguards and a picnic area with a playground. This park can get especially crowded when lifeguards are on duty and during peak leaf peeping, but it is worth getting there early.

Best Waterfall Hike

Hacklebarney State Park holds a special place in my heart, as I grew up regularly visiting this park and still have a chipped tooth and scar on my face from a run-in with a rocky path there. After entering the park, head down the steps and cross the river. From there you can follow the small waterfalls on Trout Brook to the bottom of the park where Trout Brook joins with the Black River. This is an especially great spot in warmer weather because the park has a ton of tree cover.

I struggled with this post as I worked down the list of state parks, and recalled our adventures through my camera roll. There are so many great options in New Jersey and I have yet to go to a park I would not return to. They are all beautiful and unique in their own right. With fees waived, I encourage you to take advantage of this budget-friendly option and explore as many parks as you can. And don’t limit yourself to the summer season. The fall season is a must-see, especially in the northwestern part of the state. And don’t sleep on the shore region during the winter months. Anytime we get warmer winter days, we are down the shore enjoying the quiet and wide open spaces.

Be sure to follow us on social media for all of our New Jersey State Park adventures and more! Summer road trip season kicks off this weekend, we will have a lot of exciting trips for you including the Adirondacks, an East Coast road trip, and plenty of New Jersey day trips.

New Jersey State Parks are FREE in 2023