Best Weekend Trips from Jersey City

June is the unofficial start of summer, and what better way to kick off the season than by taking a trip? While there are plenty of great things to do in our city, sometimes it’s nice to get out of town and shake things up. Here are some of the best inexpensive weekend trips you can take any weekend during the summer– all within 3 hours of Jersey City so that you can spend less time on the road and more time having fun! 

Don’t feel like battling traffic to get out of town for the weekend? Don’t worry! We’ve also included plenty of fun things to do without leaving Jersey City. Read on for our guide to the best inexpensive weekend trips and activities to enjoy this 2022 summer.  

 

Fun in the Sun in Wildwood

Wildwood, NJ (2.5-hour drive) 

Memorial Day Weekend Wildwood trip
Photo credit https://wildwoodsnj.com/

With two miles of boardwalk filled with shop after shop and a variety of restaurants, plus an amusement pier with over 100 rides, there’s something for everyone in Wildwood. And with the beaches just steps away from the action, you can soak up the sun and enjoy all that the town has to offer as you kick off the summer, though make sure you “watch the tram car, please!”

Don’t miss the 36th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, taking place from May 28-30, 2022. This event will be a sight to behold, featuring hundreds of colorful kites of all shapes and sizes filling the sky, plus a “Boardwalk on the Beach” featuring food vendors. 

 

Explore Asbury Park 

Asbury Park, NJ (1-hour drive)

Memorial Day Weekend Asbury Trip
Photo credit https://visitnj.org/

For those looking for a trendy beach locale, head to Asbury Park for Memorial Day Weekend, where you’ll find a cute beach-side town filled with boutique shops, delicious restaurants (Porta has a location here!), and of course, a fantastic beach and boardwalk with more shops and restaurants to explore. Asbury Park also has a thriving music scene, so check the calendar at venues like the Stone Pony, House of Independents, or Asbury Lanes to see if you can catch a show while there! Asbury Park is reachable by car or NJ Transit. 

 

Serene Escape in Island Beach State Park 

Seaside Park, NJ (1.5-hour drive)

Memorial Day Weekend Seaside Park
Photo credit nj.gov

This state park, located just south of Seaside, has almost 10 miles of pristine sandy beaches, sand dunes, marshes, and wildlife galore. While it’s close to many popular Jersey Shore towns, there’s no boardwalk, so it’s a quieter spot to enjoy some R&R away from the rush of Memorial Day Weekend crowds while still getting a beach day in! Bring your bike to explore the 8-mile road through the park, pack a picnic (and plenty of snacks!), and prepare for a day of relaxation as you soak up the sun and watch the waves roll in. 

 

Scope out the Sculptures at Storm King Art Center

New Windsor, NY (1-hour drive)

Photo source stormking.org/

Located just an hour away in New Windsor, NY, the Storm King Art Center is a 500-acre park and open-air museum featuring miles of hiking trails and larger-than-life sculptures for you to explore. Wander the meandering paths of the grounds as you encounter works of art tucked into the meadows and rolling hills. Getting here is super easy – take a quick drive up the New York Thruway, hop on an NJ Transit or Metro-North train, or take a Coach USA bus for a scenic and relaxing ride to the park. After your visit, head to the charming nearby town of Beacon for a lovely dinner or an overnight stay in a boutique hotel. 

 

Choose Your Own Adventure at American Dream 

East Rutherford, NJ (15-minute drive) 

Photo source @americandreamofficial

At American Dream, there’s no limit to the fun you can have. With dozens of thrilling attractions to choose from, the most difficult part will be deciding what to do first! Head to the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park to enjoy a variety of exciting rides, including roller coasters, or splash the day away on the water slides at Dreamworks indoor Water Park. You can even cool down with a visit to Big SNOW, North America’s first and only year-round indoor ski slope featuring real snow. Don’t miss the newly opened Dream Wheel, a luxurious Ferris Wheel that towers over the Meadowlands, offering stunning views of the glittering Manhattan skyline. 

 

Hit the Hudson with Urban Paddle

Jersey City, NJ 

Photo source urban-paddle.com

Looking to escape the heat but don’t want to leave town? Kayaking on the Hudson River is the perfect activity to get outside as you celebrate the return of summer in the city! Urban Paddle offers rentals and guided tours, and no experience is necessary to get out on the water. Choose from a variety of tour options, so you can enjoy stunning daytime or sunset views of the Manhattan skyline as you paddle up the river, or swing by Liberty Island to say hi to Lady Lib herself!  

 

Hands-on Fun at Liberty Science Center 

Jersey City, NJ 

Photo source King of Hearts on en.wikipedia.org

For a day of learning made fun, take the family to the Liberty Science Center, an interactive science museum and learning center located inside Liberty State Park for Memorial Day Weekend. Here, budding scientists can play their way through over 20 exhibits designed to make science exciting. Learn about the aquatic residents of the Hudson River in the Our Hudson Home exhibit, experience a fossil excavation like a real-life paleontologist in the Dino Dig Adventure, or immerse yourself in the newly opened Minecraft: The Exhibition experience. LSC is also home to the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the country’s largest planetarium and features multiple shows daily. 

 

Rev Your Engines at RPM Raceway

Jersey City, NJ 

Photo source www.tripadvisor.com

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The race is on at RPM Raceway, Jersey City’s own thrilling go-kart track. Up to 10 racers at a time can compete on a European-style track to find out who is the fastest of all. Once the race is over, you can head to the Play area to enjoy state-of-the-art VR experiences, arcade games, and even bowling! RPM Raceway’s facility is packed with activities for a thrilling day out with family or friends. 

So, if you’re looking for plans this Memorial Day weekend, consider one of these great locations. Let us know which spot you choose – we’d love to hear about your adventures!

Kelsey Wasilewski
Author: Kelsey Wasilewski

Kelsey is an events and marketing professional. In her free time, she loves to go to concerts, explore local restaurants, and ski - in the winter, you'll find her on the mountains almost every weekend. She also loves to travel and is always planning another trip, usually in hunt of her next "best meal ever"!