Things to do with kids in Jersey City
The perk of living in Jersey City: the Statue of Liberty is on your side of the river, parking is free, and Liberty State Park and Liberty Science Center sit side by side, one for sun and one for rain.
On sunny days, fly a kite on the lawns at Liberty State Park and walk the waterfront facing Manhattan, a light-rail ride away; on rainy days, the preschool area and planetarium at Liberty Science Center. To cross the river, PATH to World Trade Center puts you at the palm-filled Winter Garden in Brookfield Place and the Rockefeller Park playground, then north along Hudson River Park to Pier 25.
- 16 places
- 12 free
- 16 stroller-friendly
- closest is 15 min away
16 places
Travel times from Jersey City, by subway or car
Hudson River Park (around Pier 25)
5.0Manhattan · 15 min away
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 1 to Franklin St or A/C/E to Canal St, then an 8-minute walk
Battery Park City: Rockefeller Park and Teardrop Park
5.0Manhattan · 15 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 1/2/3 to Chambers St, then an 8-minute walk
Liberty State Park
5.0Jersey City · 15 min away
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park station; free parking if you drive
Liberty Science Center
5.0Jersey City · 15 min away
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Getting there: PATH to Exchange Place, then Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park; paid parking if you drive
Brookfield Place Winter Garden
4.0Manhattan · 15 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway E to World Trade Center or 1 to WTC Cortlandt, connected by underground passage
Little Island
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway A/C/E/L to 14 St–8 Av, then a 10-minute walk to Pier 55
Imagination Playground (blue blocks)
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z to Fulton St, then an 8-minute walk (South Street Seaport)
Staten Island Ferry (free Statue of Liberty views)
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St; the terminal is right outside
Ride the NYC Ferry East River route
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Board at Wall St/Pier 11 or E 34th St; buy a $4.50 ticket in the app, strollers roll straight on
Brooklyn Bridge Park piers
5.0Brooklyn · 20 min away
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway A/C to High St or F to York St, then an 8-minute walk; NYC Ferry to DUMBO
Jane's Carousel glass pavilion
5.0Brooklyn · 20 min away
1 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Subway F to York St or A/C to High St, then an 8-minute walk; NYC Ferry to DUMBO
Governors Island
5.0Manhattan · 20 min away
4 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Ferry from the Battery Maritime Building (10 minutes); free before 11am on weekends, otherwise $5 round trip and free under 12
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 playgrounds
5.0Brooklyn · 20 min away
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall, then a 12-minute walk; NYC Ferry to Pier 6
The High Line
4.0Manhattan · 20 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway A/C/E/L to 14 St–8 Av; the Gansevoort St entrance has an elevator
Jefferson Market Library (Gothic clock tower)
4.0Manhattan · 20 min away
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway A/C/E/B/D/F/M to W 4 St, then a 3-minute walk
NYPL Stavros Niarchos Library children's floor
5.0Manhattan · 25 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway B/D/F/M to 42 St–Bryant Park or 7 to 5 Av; right outside the station
💡 Good to know
- Parking at Liberty State Park is free on weekends but it's windy; Liberty Science Center is cheaper online, and weekend mornings are quiet.