Liberty State Park is a waterfront state park in Jersey City, with a two-mile promenade, open spaces and ferry service to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
From Newark, you can connect to the park by transit or make the journey by car; once there, combine a walk along the Hudson River with a visit to the Nature Center or a ferry trip.
- Location: 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
- Park gate: Daily, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Entrance fee: None
- Waterfront route: Two miles along the Hudson River
How do you get from Newark to Liberty State Park?
You can travel from Newark to Liberty State Park by connecting PATH service with the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, or drive to the Jersey City entrance.
NJ TRANSIT’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail serves a Liberty State Park station, and the PATH connects Newark with Jersey City, where you can transfer to the light rail. A Newark guesthouse can put you within the city before you make that connection.
The park is at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive. Its office is inside the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) Terminal Building.
If you are planning the transit leg from Newark, Newark public transport and subway connections can help you understand the city’s network.
What can you see on the waterfront walk?
The park’s two-mile Hudson River Waterfront Walkway connects picnic and playground areas, the Nature Center and the CRRNJ Terminal. Views along the route take in the Hudson River, and the wider park includes the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial, Liberty Landing Marina, Liberty Science Center and the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area.
For a simple outing, walk the promenade and link it with a picnic area or playground. The Nature Center is open seven days a week, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., year-round, with exhibits about the natural history and ecology of the Hudson River Estuary.
The park gate is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the park office keeps shorter hours, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.
How do ferries and island visits work?
Statue City Cruises runs ferries from Liberty State Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island throughout the year. You can buy tickets at the window inside the CRRNJ Terminal; ticket rates and schedules come from Statue City Cruises.
Access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island is by Statue City Cruises ferry only. The National Park Service gives the islands’ park entrance hours as 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily, with the last entrance into the Statue at 4 p.m.
It recommends taking a ferry that departs before 1 p.m. if you want time to visit both islands; passengers on the last departure from Liberty State Park can visit only one.
For a different harbor connection, Liberty Landing Ferry serves Liberty State Park, Warren Street in Jersey City and Brookfield Place in New York City throughout the year. Fares are collected onboard. This ferry is separate from the Statue City Cruises service to the islands.
What should you know about facilities and access?
Liberty State Park has picnic areas, playground areas, a Nature Center and a marina, alongside the promenade and its historic terminal. There is no park entrance fee. Check the official site before you go for current details, including parking fees.
The state describes the park’s recreational facilities as partially accessible to people with disabilities. Contact the park office about specific access needs before your visit. Swimming, alcohol, smoking and vaping, and drone flights are prohibited; pets must be on leashes no longer than six feet.
What can you pair with a Jersey City stop?
Liberty State Park already combines several kinds of outdoor stops: the waterfront path, picnic and playground areas, the Natural Area, the memorial, the marina and the ferry area. You can keep the day within the park, or use the Liberty Landing Ferry to connect with Warren Street in Jersey City or Brookfield Place in New York City.
For a day built around the islands, take an earlier Statue City Cruises departure and leave time for both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. For a lower-key park visit, stay on the promenade and add the Nature Center during its 8 a.m.–4 p.m. opening hours.
FAQs
Is there an entrance fee for Liberty State Park?
No, the park has no entrance fee. Check the official site for current details about other fees, including parking.
Can you take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty from the park?
Yes. Statue City Cruises ferries to Liberty Island and Ellis Island depart from Liberty State Park throughout the year. Tickets and schedules are available from the operator, and tickets can also be bought at the window inside the CRRNJ Terminal.
How long is the waterfront walk?
The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is two miles long and links picnic and playground areas, the Nature Center and the CRRNJ Terminal.
Are pets allowed in Liberty State Park?
Pets are allowed on leashes no longer than six feet. The park prohibits swimming, alcohol, smoking and vaping, and drone flights.