There is nothing like the views of Manhattan’s skyline, and some of the best views you can get are right in Liberty State Park. This popular New Jersey destination offers green space in the metropolitan area of Northern New Jersey, along with lots of activities for all ages. The park also offers views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Liberty State Park brings in over four million visitors every year. Take a look at some of the things to do at Liberty State Park.

Getting to the Park

Liberty State Park sits at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey. It’s accessible by car from the New Jersey Turnpike. Admission is free, and there are several parking lots. Most of the lots have free parking, but one lot charges a fee. This lot is intended for visitors who plan to take the ferry or park for more than two hours in the lots near the terminal. Before your visit, check the map to make sure you park in a free lot if you plan to just explore the grounds for a little while.

What Is Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is the only state park in Hudson County. It overlooks New York Harbor with the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway running along three sides of the rectangular park. Visitors can enjoy views of the Hudson River, Caven Point Beach, and the Morris Canal Big Basin.

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the park office offering hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Visit The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal

The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal sits at the end of the park. The terminal was built in 1889 when immigrants started arriving in New York, and once served thousands of immigrants that came to the United States through Ellis Island. After they were processed at Ellis Island, they went to the terminal to purchase train tickets either to other parts of New Jersey or other parts of the country to settle down.

A visit to the terminal is a must when you go to Liberty State Park. Inside, it still looks like an old-fashioned railroad station.

Take A Ferry to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island

Liberty State Park provides ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island throughout the year. The Statue City Cruises offers cruises and tours, so you can make it an experience.

Visit the “Empty Sky” 9/11 Memorial

The “Empty Sky” 9/11 Memorial honors people with ties to New Jersey that died on Sept. 11. Jessica Jamoroz and Frederic Schwartz designed the memorial, and it was dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the tragic day. The structure has two stainless steel walls that stretch for 210 feet, the width of each of the World Trade Center Towers. The walls reach up to 30 feet tall and stand parallel to each other with a 12-foot paved path.

As you walk through, you’ll find the 750 names on the brushed walls of the memorial. Each name is four inches tall and deeply engraved so visitors can run their hands along them.

Visit the Nature Center at Liberty State Park

The Interpretive Center is a must during a visit to Liberty State Park. It sits on Freedom Way and stays open all year round. The nature center features exhibits that showcase the ecology of the Hudson River and educate visitors about the natural history of the area.

Some of the programs available at the Interpretive Center include:

Tiny Trails

This is an hour-long program for young children. They will talk about the small creatures that live along the trails in the park and then go for a short walk.

Save A Place For Wildlife

This program teaches kids all about what a habitat is and the importance of having suitable habitats for different types of wildlife.

Pond Study

This program has students explore a pond community. You’ll use dip nets to see the different varieties of life in the pond.

Go Fishing or Crabbing

There is lots of fishing in the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay. The fishing pier offers a great place to drop a line, where you can catch anything from striped bass to bluefish, shad, and blue claw crabs. Make sure to check the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Laws for fishing and crabbing regulations.

Explore the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area

The 36-acre Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area sits adjacent to the nature center offering nature paths to explore and lots of wildlife viewing. The area is mostly salt marsh and one of the few tidal marshes left on the Hudson River Estuary.

Walk Along the Liberty State Park Grounds

The two-mile promenade that runs along the river is one of the main attractions of the park. It’s perfect for taking a long walk, biking, jogging, and more. You can enjoy the beautiful views of the water, stop to see the Statue of Liberty, and take in the Freedom Tower. There are benches along the promenade where you can sit and enjoy the views and watch the boats go by on the river.

The park has acres of green space where you can relax with a picnic lunch or toss a football or Frisbee around. Its location on the Atlantic Flyway makes this park a popular spot for bird-watching all year round. When the snow flies in the winter, you’ll even see some sledders on the hills near the Interpretive Center and the 9/11 memorial.

Let the Kids Play at the Playgrounds

There are several playgrounds at the park for the kids. The largest one has connecting climbing structures, bouncy bridges, and several low slides for the little ones. The big kids can use up some of their energy on the rock walls, ladders, monkey bars, and balance steppers, and you can sit at one of the benches to watch them play or use one of the picnic tables.

Stop by New Jersey State Auto Used Cars to find reliable transportation to get you to Liberty State Park. We have a large selection of used autos from a variety of manufacturers.