Free Things To Do With Kids This Summer
All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey
Got kids who are sports buffs? Check out sports artifacts from pro athletes with ties to southern New Jersey. The museum features stories and trophies from NFL greats, MLB all-stars, MVP heavyweights, and NHL champs who grew up in South Jersey or once resided there.
8 Burt Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Batsto Village Cape May County Park & Zoo
You’ll find an abandoned community with a post office, sawmill, general store, and nature center at Batsto Village, where guided walking tours are free. This historic site in the South Central Pinelands of New Jersey is known throughout the country for both its beauty and its historical significance.
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Here’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Jersey Shore— there are free, no-badge-required beaches you can visit during the season. Lather on some sunscreen at Cape May Point State Park, or travel down the 5-mile Atlantic City Boardwalk and enter the beach for free. North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest are all badge-free beaches where you can plant your umbrella into the sand and relax in your beach chair. Of course, the off-season is always free at the shore.
If the prices at zoos keep you from going, head down to Exit 0, where the Cape May County Park & Zoo has everything from lions to bald eagles to snow leopards on view for free (though donations are always appreciated). The zoo is open year-round, and kids will love spotting their favorite animals in every season. Check out their calendar of events, including free summer concerts and a holiday light show in November and December. Plus, the playgrounds are the ideal spot for the littles to let loose before or after seeing the animals.
707 US-9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Cattus Island County Park Cohanzick Zoo Little Explorers and Little Sprouts Millville Army Air Field Museum Playgroup at McCann’s Farm Create for free Discover glass, art, and seashells Outdoor variety shows
This Ocean County park covers 530 acres and 7 miles of trails. Follow the main path to the beach, or enjoy the views of Barnegat Bay. Cattus Island is also home to the Cooper Environmental Center, which includes a live osprey cam, a habitat tree and tunnel, a bird-viewing area, and a children’s activity corner. There is even a Butterfly Garden to visit.
1170 Cattus Island Boulevard, Toms River, NJ 08753
The Cohnanzick Zoo is the kind of place where you can bring your kids over and over, so much that they will know each of the animals by name. A New Jersey zoo since 1934, Cohanzick Zoo — the state’s oldest—still operates for FREE and spans 15 acres; it’s small enough that you can go around a few times or pop in when the mood strikes during the day. Kids can take a spin around to look at the signs that provide information about the 100 animals that call the zoo home, many of which are rescued or unable to return to the wild.
45 Mayor Aitkin Drive, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Want to find all the fun of a waterpark but without the expensive ticket price? Take a trip to one of the many splash pads in NJ. During hot days, find an aquatic wonderland near you to burn off some energy and cool down at the same time. There are free splash parks all over New Jersey, like Fasola Park Splash Pad to cool your kiddos down.
12 Sycamore Lane, Deptford, NJ 08096
Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary is a home for unwanted farm animals, domesticated animals, and animals. Visiting and parking is free, but donations are always encouraged when you visit the animals on the farm.
6908 Railroad Boulevard, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
This County Park at Berkeley Island in Bayville has a free spray park, and it’s right next to a unique pirate-themed playground. It’s an ideal place to spend the day, with shaded picnic pavilions nearby.
399 Brennan Concourse, Bayville, NJ 08721
In the summer, the Little Explorers Program at the Camden County Environmental Center is a free weekly program offering hands-on, nature-based activities for children. Kids can take guided walks, have sensory experiences, and try projects. The Little Sprouts Explorers program is designed for children ages 3-5. Your kiddos will learn about the wonders of the outdoors through interactive experiences like nature walks, sensory play, and creative environmental projects. Make sure to register for both programs before you head out.
1301 Park Boulevard, Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08002
If aircraft and military history are more your speed, the Millville Army Air Field Museum features vintage and military aircraft and is an excellent place for students, aviation enthusiasts, and history buffs alike.
1 Leddon Street, Millville, NJ 08332
All ages and abilities are welcome to learn all about the farm for free at 10 AM on Fridays. Bring your own snack or spend some time with new friends. Be sure to check Facebook for weekly updates about the program.
1065 Aura Road, Monroeville, NJ 08343
See rooms featuring frogs, turtles, and other creatures, as well as a kids’ play area, a reading nook, and a craft space with toys at this nature center. Outside, there is a nature music wall, climbing stumps, and walking trails.
794 Rancocas Rd., Westampton, NJ 08060
Visit Gloucester County’s historic park on the waterfront of the Delaware River. Not only did this park play a crucial role in the Revolutionary War when the Hessians attacked Fort Mercer on October 22, 1777, but the Whitall House on the property also offers tours and programs throughout the year that focus on the park’s history. Make sure to visit the historic gardens and butterfly house while you are there.
100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063
Spend the day on the water where your crew can paddle a canoe or hop in a kayak during the weekend for free at Scotland Run Park in Clayton, NJ, from June to September. The boats are first-come, first-served, and an adult must accompany all children 14 or younger (life jackets and paddles are provided).
980 East Academy Street, Williamstown, NJ 08094
This island has a unique history: It began as a place of hope for parents of sick children during the depression when tuberculosis was spreading, and now it is a distinctive outdoor playground with a carousel, a covered slide, and swimming pools. This recreation area is designed for kids 12 and under only and includes a kiddie pool (1-2 ft) and a larger pool. They even serve free snacks and lunch at noon (soup, crackers, and milk).
1718 Front Street, West Deptford, NJ 08086
If you’ve got a train-loving kid, you don’t have to pay a high price to take a ride—you can ride the rails on one of the coal-powered miniature trains built on a 1/8th scale. These open-air locomotives are built by members and maintained with donations from visitors. Each car accommodates 18 passengers, making for a memorable and intimate experience (the trains are currently closed for maintenance but expected to reopen soon).
11 Oak Lane, Bass River, New Jersey 08224
More for free
On the first Saturday of each month, kids ages 5-12 can participate in a hands-on learning workshop to create a project using step-by-step instructions. At The Home Depot Kids Workshops, participants can work with tools and paint their projects, all for free. They also receive an apron, an achievement pin, and a certificate for their hard work. Bonus: Every Kids Workshop Kit comes with a related STEAM activity to encourage more learning, problem-solving, and spark their imagination. Lowe’s also offers free workshops where kids can receive kits and earn badges to become Junior or Senior Builders, honing their problem-solving and math skills.
Whether you want to see the history of glass, fine art, or fossils, there’s a free place to do it in NJ. Check out the Heritage Glass Museum in Glassboro, a community nonprofit that collects, preserves, and curates historic southern New Jersey glass, artifacts, photographs, and documents to preserve New Jersey’s glass-making heritage. Take a trip down south to visit the Noyes Museum of Art in Hammonton and Atlantic City, or inspect thousands of species of seashells and ancient fossils in one place at the Discovery Seashell Museum in Ocean City.
Do you have a fourth grader? If you do, you can visit national parks in the United States for free. Through Every Kid Outdoors, a federally funded government initiative, your fourth grader and their guests can get a free pass to explore all of America’s federal lands and waters, spanning millions of acres. In New Jersey, check out the Jersey Pinelands National Reserve and Thomas Edison National Historical Park, all of which are included in the pass.
Did you know you can take in some fantastic views from several lighthouses in NJ that are free in the off-season? Sneak in some exercise at “Old Barney,” known as the Barnegat Lighthouse, as you make your way up the 217-step lighthouse and are rewarded with sweeping ocean views (there is a fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day).
South Jersey counties offer outdoor family fun shows for kids all summer long. Gloucester County has several shows from June through August. There are also shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9am at Berlin Park through the end of July. Check out upcoming shows and events in Camden County.
Museum admissions can be costly, especially if the whole family is going. But there’s a little secret in your wallet you may not be aware of —your NJ library card can get you free admission to a museum. That’s right, the card gives you free admission to museums like Battleship NJ or Insectropolis in Toms River for up to 4 people. Most passes are loaned for 3 days, including the day you pick them up. While not every library participates, it’s best to check with yours to see if they do (here’s what they offer at the Ocean County Library). Another way to visit museums for nothing? If your bank is Bank of America, you can sign up for free museum days at more than 225 museums across the United States, including those in New Jersey.
When the temperatures turn warm, grab a blanket or some chairs and find the perfect spot on the beach, in a park, or even downtown to watch an outdoor movie. In South Jersey, Margate hosts “Thrilling Thursdays,” where you can watch a film behind the Bloom Pavilion and arrive early for a variety of family-friendly activities.
