8 Most Scenic Drives in New Jersey

Not every fun-filled adventure needs to be an out-of-state vacation. Scenic drives through the cities you know or the nearby cities you do not know can be as enjoyable as booking a plane ticket to fly somewhere far away. New Jersey is home to several routes and byways full of natural wonders and historical landmarks. The eastern state can be so much fun to explore, with some of its most notorious routes taking as little as 19 miles to traverse.

Hop in the car and travel through eight of New Jersey’s most scenic drives.

Palisades Scenic Byway

Above the lapping water's edge are 200 to 540 feet of basalt bluffs standing tall along the west side of the Hudson River in Palisades, New Jersey. This town's incredible views of nature go further, featuring arched bridges, landscaped medians, and forested buffers along the Palisades Scenic Byway. The byway runs 19.1 miles long and provides views of the New York City skyline and the George Washington Bridge. The scenic route is a historic parkway built in the late 1950s that offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating, birdwatching, and so much more.

Along the drive are three lookout points: State Line Lookout, Alpine Lookout, and Rockefeller Lookout. Each spot provides city views and activities like hawk watching and cross-country skiing. About halfway through the drive, you can stop at the Greenbrook Sanctuary in Tenafly, New Jersey, for 165 acres of woodland preserve where red oaks, black birch, dogwoods, tulip trees, and spicebush grow. If you end your journey at the south end of the byway, stop at the Fort Lee Historic Park in Tenafly, New Jersey, to see the reconstructed Revolutionary War Encampment and historical re-enactments.

Route 29

Following along the Delaware River is Route 29, a picturesque drive through New Jersey. Begin your drive in Titusville with a visit to Baldpate Mountain at Ted Stiles Preserve, where you can find 1,200 acres of walking trails, rare plants, and Honey Hollow, the site of a 19th-century settlement. Get in your car and drive a little over six miles north to Lambertville to visit The Howell Living History Farm, a 285-year-old working farm. Your next stop on Route 29 is in Stockton. In this city, you can hang out with the goats at the Gorgeous Goat Creamery and grab a bite to eat at the Dog and Deer Tavern at the Stockton Inn. End your journey in Frenchtown and visit the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge that stands tall over the Delaware River.

Route 519

The Garden State's County Route 519 is one of the most beautiful drives one can take in the state of New Jersey. It is the longest 500 series route in the state, consisting of an entirely two-lane undivided road surrounded by seemingly endless greenery. Almost 90 miles in length, the drive provides many stops along the way, but one of the small villages you must consider stopping in is Harmony. In this small town, the 1755 Van Nest-Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead remains well-intact and is on the National Registers of Historic Places.

Next, check out the Land of Make Believe Amusement Park for fun with the family in Hope. Another town worth visiting on your drive through Route 519 is Newton, where you can pay your respects in an 1867 cemetery called the Newton Cemetary Company. Consider ending your trip in Beemerville, where you can view the Beemerville Volcano's remains that extend 1,020 feet into the sky.

Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway

Approximately 24 miles through Monmouth County is the Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway in Upper Freehold, New Jersey. This journey takes visitors on a tour through historical, environmental, agricultural, and cultural aspects that are unique to the Upper Freehold area. The byway takes you through the Borough of Allentown, where you can visit the historic districts of Allentown and Imlaystown. You can find landmark spots like the Old Yellow Meeting House and the Historic Walnford here. Outdoor adventures along the byway include trails in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area and Union Transportation Railroad.

Warren Heritage Scenic Byway

The Warren Heritage Scenic Byway (Route 57) from Hackettstown to Lopatcong is brimming with fun adventures. Offering recreational opportunities, scenic views of the great outdoors, and historical sites for the history buff. Go paddling in the Morris Canal waters or fishing at the Wild and Scenic Musconetcong River. Take in the sights of the region’s mountain ridges like Point Mountain, Scotts Mountain, and Pohatcong Mountain. Dive into the local history and explore the exterior of Thomas Edison’s famous cement plant and the exhibits at the Jim and Mary Lee Museum. Even though the byway is approximately 19 miles long, many exciting adventures are available for individuals of all ages to enjoy.

Millstone Scenic Valley Byway

Comprised of two roughly parallel roadways, the Millstone Scenic Valley Byway near Princeton, New Jersey, is a 27-mile-long excursion through natural areas, recreational parkland, and historical sites. Partially surrounded by the Millstone River in central New Jersey, the route is in Somerset County and small parts of Middlesex and Mercer Counties.

The driving route begins on 1353 Main Street at the 1860 School House. As you depart, you can see the field where the British Army under General Charles Cornwallis camped in June 1777. Several historical spots are throughout the drive. The route offers views of the two waterways, the Millstone River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal, where you can get out and go kayaking or canoeing. Driving will take you south on Millstone River Road, where you can see the Van Doren house, where George Washington stayed in 1777. Continue the drive to Canal Road and stop at the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site for a walk or bicycle ride. The byway will loop around and bring you back to the start of your adventure.

Delaware River Scenic Byway

Embark on an expedition where George Washington and other Revolutionary War figures camped on the Delaware River Scenic Byway in Stockton, New Jersey. This historical route takes visitors through Trenton and the riverside towns of Titusville, Lambertville, Stockton, and several others.

To stand where George Washington and his Revolutionary Army traversed, begin your trip down the byway in Titusville at the Washington Crossing State Park. Continue your journey into the past by surveying the Prallsville Mills, a surviving 18th, 19th, and 20th Century American village industrial complex in Stockton. Take the byway to Trenton to tour the Old Barracks Museum. Initially built in 1758, the Colony of New Jersey created the facility to house troops, but it now functions as an educational center for early American history.

The byway also goes through West Amwell, Delaware Township, Raven Rock, Byram, Kingwood, Frenchtown, and Milford, running a total of 34 miles in length.

Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway

Fun for families, the Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway covers Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties. Throughout the nearly 122-mile journey are fun-filled adventures, views of dunes and coastal marshes, and one-of-a-kind monuments.

Attractions for the whole family await in Bridgeton, New Jersey, at the Cohanzick Zoo in the Bridge-ton Historical District. Traverse 1,100 acres of nature and walking trails, eat at the designated picnic areas, and play in the 7,500-square-foot splash park. About halfway through the route, stop in Greenwich to visit a unique landmark, the Greenwich Tea Burning Monument. The pillar commemorates the tea burning of 1774. Also, in this city, individuals can view an extensive collection of Native American artifacts at the Cumberland County Prehistorical Museum.

Take in the coastal views of Fortescue State Marina and Fortescue Beach in Fortescue, New Jersey. In the sand, you can find horseshoe crabs, mussels, and sea glass. Follow the byway to Port Norris, New Jersey, to learn about the state’s maritime history at the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Visitors can enjoy fresh, shucked oysters while sailing an oyster schooner.

New Jersey offers so many possibilities for exploring and relaxing. The Palisades Scenic Byway provides views of basalt buffs and distinctive city sights at the State Line and Rockefeller Lookouts. Route 29 leads to an almost 300-year-old working farm. On Route 519, you can stop in Beemerville to view New Jersey’s volcano. The Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway leads travelers to historic sites like the Old Yellow Meeting House and Historic Walnford. You can paddle in the Morris Canal waters in the Warren Heritage Scenic Byway. More historic sites await in the Millstone Scenic Valley Byway, like a schoolhouse built in 1860. Explore the Delaware River Scenic Byway to stand where George Washington once stood. Have fun with the whole family at the Cohanzick Zoo in the Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway. The breathtaking drives in New Jersey can be a great way to get outside and explore the state.