The Best Things to Do on a Road Trip from Camden, New Jersey and West Orange, New Jersey

Camden and West Orange in the state of New Jersey offer a wide range of cultural, historic, and natural attractions for travelers to explore. Embarking on a road trip from Camden to West Orange is an amazing journey wherein you can experience the beauty and essence of the state. While you might face a bit of traffic as you get near major cities, the journey from Camden to West Orange only takes around 1hr 15mins. The halfway point of Hightstown, NJ offers great pit stops for rest, food and gas. Here are some must-visit places during your road trip.

The Top Five Things to Do

Adventure Aquarium

Known for its impressive exhibit of sharks, Adventure Aquarium is located in Camden, New Jersey. Perfect for families, you'll feel like you're walking amongst the sea creatures with no glass barrier between you and the shark tank. You can find over 15,000 sea creatures, including sea turtles, penguins, stingrays, and the world's smallest hippos! Not only can you enjoy watching underwater animals swim around, but you can also experience touch tanks where you can pet and feed various animals.

Interesting fact: The aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast, including sand tiger, sandbar, and nurse sharks.

Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture is located in Hamilton, NJ. It's a 42-acre open-air museum that features over 270 contemporary sculptures nestled among beautiful gardens. The park is full of surprises with amazing sculptures that are quirky, playful and stunningly beautiful. The collection of art is diverse; from bronze figures to abstract modern forms, everyone will find something they like.

Interesting fact: The sculptures are constantly changing as new works of art are added and old ones are refurbished.

Washington Crossing State Park

The Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ is part of the National Park Service and has many historical and natural attractions to visit. It's a great place for children to learn about American history, as you can witness the actual site of Washington's Cross. The landmark is where George Washington and his army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776 to surprise and defeat the Hessian forces. In addition to that, the park has 14 miles of hiking trails, several picnic areas, and various wildlife species, including bird watching.

Interesting fact: This is the only state park in New Jersey that showcases the historical significance of George Washington's crossing.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

The Thomas Edison National Historical Park is located in West Orange, NJ, and celebrates the inventor's life and work. They offer a great tour which includes visiting Edison's laboratory, mansion, and garden. You get to witness how the inventor, Thomas Edison, perfected his inventions and lived his life, including his workshop, his movie theater and library with over 10,000 volumes of books. It's an educational and inspiring experience.

Interesting fact: There are over 300,000 artifacts in the museum's collection, including motion picture films, phonographs, and light bulbs.

Liberty Science Center

The Liberty Science Center is an interactive museum located in Jersey City, NJ. There are plenty of exhibits, such as the Touch Tunnel, Infinity Climber, and Skyscraper exhibits, that cater to all ages. You'll learn about the human body, the universe, how science affects our daily lives, and numerous other topics. It's a great place to take children, as they'll have a chance to do some hands-on experiments and engage with the exhibits.

Interesting fact: The Liberty Science Center is a frequent visitor, with over 2.1 million visitors annually, and has exhibits that make up 23,000 square feet of space.

Conclusion

The road trip from Camden to West Orange is an ideal way to explore the great attractions available in the state of New Jersey. Starting from the Adventure Aquarium in Camden and ending with the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, there is no shortage of activities to participate in and sites to visit. While in between, you can visit the Washington Crossing State Park, Grounds for Sculpture, and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park to experience New Jersey's history and nature. The trip is only 1hr 15mins long, and there are plenty of places to stop along the way, making it a perfect short trip!