United States · Regional guides
New Jersey
Home base. The Garden State is where my road trips start and where I fly out of Newark, with wine country and the Shore closer than most people think.
Know before you go
Best time & quick facts
- Best time
- May–June and September–October for mild weather; July–August for the Jersey Shore
- Time zones
- Eastern (ET)
- Budget
- $150–$300 USD/day (estimate)
- Getting around
- NJ Transit trains and buses for New York City and the commuter towns; a car for the Shore, wine country and the rest of the state. Newark Liberty (EWR) is the main airport.
Get oriented
The overview
New Jersey is home for me, so it’s where most of my trips begin. Newark Liberty (EWR) is the airport I know best, and my road trips start here too, like the 4 AM departure for our drive to Niagara Falls.
It’s also a state worth exploring on its own. November is New Jersey Wine Month, and I wrote about the NJ Wine Expo at Bell Works in Holmdel, with more than 30 of the state’s wineries in one place. If you’re flying through Newark, check my TSA notes first.
I’ll add more New Jersey guides as I write them up.
Explore New Jersey
Guides & stories
Discover more from this destination, one place and one story at a time.
TSA Gateside: Go to the Gate Without a TicketTSA’s new Gateside by TSA PreCheck program lets eligible visitors enter secure airport terminals without a plane ticket. Here’s how it works, who qualifies, which airports are participating, and what travelers should know before applying.Explore the guides 
Celebrate New Jersey Wine Month at the NJ Wine Expo 2024Join me as I explore the NJ Wine Expo 2024 at Bell Works in Holmdel. With over 30 wineries from across the state, it’s a must-attend event for wine enthusiasts! Discover award-winning wines, meet winemakers, and savor local culinary delights.Explore the guides
Highlights
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), my starting point for trips
- The NJ Wine Expo at Bell Works in Holmdel
- Road trips that start in New Jersey, like our drive to Niagara Falls
Weather in New Jersey
New Jersey has a humid continental to humid subtropical climate, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. Approximate monthly averages are based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Newark Liberty International Airport.
Best time to visit: May–June and September–October for mild weather; July–August for the Jersey Shore.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
Map of New Jersey
Places from this trip — tap a pin for details