Affordable New Jersey Destinations for Family Fun During Spring Break

Yippee!!! Spring has sprung and, like many New Jersey school children, my kids will have spring break next week. Some of you may even have your kids home from school this week. It has become something of a tradition in our family to make spring break a week of New Jersey day trips. Every day we visit a new place (or sometimes an old favorite) and explore all the fun things to do in New Jersey. It makes spring break a week to look forward to for all of us and we always manage to learn some new things about New Jersey while having lots of fun at the same time.

Of course, these spring break day trips could get expensive if you’re not careful. Fortunately, there are LOTS of free things to do in New Jersey and I’ve got the scoop on them here at Things To Do In New Jersey! Read on for some great free spring break day trips in New Jersey!

Fun & Free Spring Break Day Trips in New Jersey

1. Washington Crossing State Park

Washington Crossing NJ State Park Reenactors - Things to Do In New Jersey — Washington Crossing NJ State Park Reenactors |Photo credit- Tomwsulcer

Washington Crossing State Park is free to visit during spring break. The park features a fabulous Visitors Center Museum which highlights the “Ten Crucial Days” that turned the tide of the American Revolution, an awesome Nature Center (open Wednesday – Sunday), miles of hiking trails, the Johnson Ferry House where George Washington planned the Battle of Trenton as his troops crossed the Delaware (open Wednesday through Sunday), and the Nelson House (open weekends). Washington Crossing State Park is located at 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville, New Jersey. Learn more about a day trip to Washington Crossing State Park here.

2. Rutgers Geology Museum

Kids with Mastodon Skeleton - Rutgers Geology Museum | Find out more at www.thingstodonewjerse.com | #nj #newjersey #newbrunswick #rutgers #geology #museum #dinosaurs #mineral #rocks #daytrips #kids — My boys at the Rutgers Geology Museum | © www.thingstodonewjersey.com

If your kids love dinosaurs or rock collecting, the Rutgers Geology Museum is a must-see spring break destination. This New Jersey museum features dinosaur fossils and models, a full mastodon skeleton found in Salem County, super-cool glow-in-the-dark fluorescent minerals found only in New Jersey, an Egyptian mummy, and more. The Rutgers Geology Museum is located on the second floor of Geology Hall at 85 Somerset Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Learn more about a day trip to the Rutgers Geology Museum here.

3. The Bergen County Zoo

Things to Do In New Jersey - Bergen County Zoo - Van Saun Park — Bald Eagle at Bergen County Zoo – Van Saun Park | Photo credit: Donald Madson

The Bergen County Zoo is free to visit during spring break. No need to drive into the city to enjoy a day at the zoo! New Jersey has some great zoos, including the Bergen County Zoo in Van Saun Park. This zoo features hundreds of animals on display in clean, well-maintained exhibits, hands-on activities, a mini-theater screening wildlife videos and feature films, live animal presentations, and more. The Bergen County Zoo is located within Van Saun Park at 216 Forest Avenue in Paramus, New Jersey. Learn more about a day trip to the Bergen County Zoo here.

4. The Cape May Zoo

Guess what day it is? It's ZOO DAY!!! Visit the Cape May Zoo at the Jersey shore! It's FREE! | Find out more at www.thingstodonewjersey.com | #nj #newjersey #capemay #jerseyshore #zoo #zoos #free #familyfriendly #thingstodo #daytrips #fieldtrips #kids #animals #camel #humpday — Camel at New Jersey’s Cape May Zoo | Photo credit: sneakerdog via Flickr

If you live in South Jersey (or you’re up for a day trip to the Jersey shore), the Cape May Zoo is a great option for a free New Jersey spring break day trip. The zoo features over 550 animals on 85 acres of well-maintained exhibits. Admission to this New Jersey zoo is always free. The Cape May Zoo is located within Cape May County Park at 707 Route 9 North in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. Learn more about a day trip to the Cape May Zoo here.

5. The Princeton University Art Museum

Colorful mosaic pavement from Antioch-on-the-Orontes at Princeton University Art Museum | find out more at www.thingstodonewjersey.com | #nj #newjersey #princeton #mercercounty #art #museums #free #thingstodo #kids #daytrips — The Princeton University Art Museum is world renowned for its collection of colorful mosaic pavements from the great ancient metropolis of Antioch-on-the-Orontes. | ©www.thingstodonewjersey.com

The Princeton University Art Museum is a fantastic free New Jersey spring day trip (especially great for a rainy day!) or for any day that your family would like to explore the world of art. This New Jersey museum has been recognized as one of Fodor’s “15 Best Small Town Museums in the US”. The Princeton University Art Museum’s collections include over 92,000 works of art, ranging from ancient art to contemporary art. Here you can see colorful mosaic pavements from ancient Roman civilizations, mummies from ancient Egypt, Asian jade carvings, Native American art, early Renaissance paintings, modern sculpture, stained glass windows dating to the Middle Ages, works by Claude Monet, Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and much more. The Princeton University Art Museum free, self-guided, interactive family activity books for each area of the museum and museum passports for children. Be sure to pick one up – it will make your visit even more fun! The Princeton , University Art Museum is located in central New Jersey on the Princeton University campus in McCormick Hall and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Learn more about a day trip to the Princeton University Art Museum here.

6. The Tenafly Nature Center

White-tailed deer | Tenafly Nature Center | Things To Do In New Jersey | #tenafly #nj #newjersey #deer #bergencounty #naturecenters #fieldtrips #nature — White-tailed deer – Photo Credit: Dendroica cerulea via Flickr

Explore the outdoors in this peaceful , wooded area nestled in the middle of bustling Bergen County. The Tenafly Nature Center has over seven miles of hiking trails and catch a glimpse of the many creatures that call this beautiful preserve their home. You may see white-tailed deer, a red fox, or even a flying squirrel! The Tenafly Nature Center also features a small natural history museum within the Visitors Center, an aviary housing birds of prey, and a salamander and amphibian pond. The Tenafly Nature Center is located at 313 Hudson Avenue in Tenafly, New Jersey. Learn more about a day trip to the Tenafly Nature Center here.

7. The New Jersey State Museum

Hadrosaurus foulki - New Jersey State Museum | Things to Do In New Jersey — Hadrosaurus foulki – New Jersey State Museum | ©www.thingstodonewjersey.com

Here’s another great indoor New Jersey day trip for a rainy spring break day. The New Jersey State Museum has tons of things to do and see. Explore the world of science at the Nano exhibit, see fossils of dinosaurs and other creatures that roamed prehistoric New Jersey, learn about Native Americans who made New Jersey their home, and explore the world of fine art. The New Jersey State Museum is also home to a planetarium; there is a small charge for admission to the planetarium. The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, New Jersey and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the New Jersey State Museum is free for children. While not mandatory, there is a suggested donation of $5 per adult. Learn more about a day trip to the New Jersey State Museum here.

8. The Howell Living History Farm

Things to Do In New Jersey - Howell Living History Farm - Newborn Lamb — Newborn lamb at Howell Living History Farm | Photo credit: Stacie via Flickr

Experience what life was like in a 19th century New Jersey farming community at the Howell Living History Farm. This awesome Mercer County spring break destination offers a self-guided tour where you can see working beehives, horses, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens, hogs, and oxen. Visit the apple orchard, the ice house, the farm house, and the barn. You may even get to help milk a cow or gather freshly laid eggs! Springtime visits to the Howell Living History Farm are an especially magical time as they often include the special treat of getting to meet newly hatched chicks or newborn lambs. The Howell Living History Farm is located at 70 Wooden’s Lane in Lambertville, New Jersey and is open Tuesday through Sunday during spring break. Learn more about a day trip to Howell Living History Farm here.

9. Monmouth Battlefield State Park

Annual Reenactment of Battle of Monmouth - Monmouth Battlefield State Park - Manalapan, NJ | Find out more at www.thingstodonewjersey.com | #nj #newjersey #monmouthcounty #historicsites #stateparks #revolutionarywar #reenactments #battles #manalapan #thingstodo #fieldtrips #daytrips — Annual Reenactment of Battle of Monmouth | Photo Credit: Zhengxu via Flickr

Explore the rolling farm fields and secluded woodlands where one of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place. The Battle of Monmouth took place over two sweltering hot June days in 1777 and resulted in as many deaths from heatstroke as from losses due to enemy fire. It was the first time that the Continental Army regiments demonstrated that they could stand against British regulars. The Battle of Monmouth was also where Molly Pitcher became famous. The Visitors Center at Monmouth Battlefield features a museum which contains weapons, historical artifacts, mannequins in period uniforms, specially commissioned paintings, and maps (including a new electric map illustrating troop movements using colored lights over a model of the battle’s terrain). The 105-seat auditorium shows an informative 11-minute orientation film throughout the day. The park features a large picnic area, miles of hiking trails, and a large playground for the children. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is also an excellent place for observing wildlife – you may see wild turkey, red-tailed hawks, deer, red fox, and many species of birds. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is located at 6 Business Route 33 in Manalapan, New Jersey. Learn more about a spring break New Jersey day trip to Monmouth Battlefield State Park here.

Do you know of any other awesome FREE spring break day trips in New Jersey? Comment below! I’d love to hear about it!

Featured Photo Credit: Famartin via Wikimedia Commons