October's Best: Top 10 Exciting Things to Do
in New Jersey

Listed here are New Jersey's Best October 2024 Things to Do: Features popular seasonal attractions and hidden gems

You'll find lots of interesting things to do in New Jersey in October. This is a great time of the year to take in many of the fall activities and a great time to plan a weekend getaway or late season vacation.

If you plan to get out an enjoy the beautiful fall foliage colors, especially in northwest New Jersey, the peak fall foliage season runs from October 19th through 29th.

You'll find lots of interesting things to do in New Jersey in October. This is a great time of the year to take in many of the warmer weather activities and things to do as schools are back in session and the crowds at the Jersey shore destinations have dwindled. With the ocean water still warm in southern NJ, popular destinations like Cape May, Wildwood and Ocean City are excellent choices for a weekend getaway or late season vacation.

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1- Take In A Day Trip To An Original,
Historic New Jersey Light House

New Jersey Lighthouses
With 127 miles of coastline, New Jersey Lighthouses have played a significant role in maritime history in aiding the safe navigation of ships since the 1700's. New Jersey has ten original (non-replica) lighthouses that are open the to public and several still in operation. The lighthouses open to the public have been transformed into museums or education centers in celebration of the state's rich maritime heritage.

2- Take in The Fall Colors
With a Biking Trip

Best New Jersey Biking Trips & Trails
Of all the seasons, the autumn is the best time to cycle, especially in the western and northern parts of the state when the leaves are exhibiting their brightest colors. New Jersey has great terrain and scenery and offers a wide variety of trails for a wonderful cycling adventure for beginners to advanced cyclists.

3- Experience the Jersey Shore with a
Weekend Getaway to Cape May

Cape May Things To Do
With pleasant weather and plenty of fall activities taking place, October in Cape may, a seaside town with charming Victorian Homes and good restaurants, is a popular month with many annual events including; Victorian Week, Halloween Events at the Emlen Physick Estate, Historic District Walking Tours, Harvest Festival Crafts & Antiques Show, and more.

4 - Get Out and Enjoy the Fall Colors With
a Scenic Road Trip

Old Mine Road
Starting at the Kittatinny Point Visitors Center that is located just off the last exit from I-80 in New Jersey, the Old Mine Road is an exceptionally scenic bicycle route. It takes you along the historic Delaware River and winds its way through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Beautiful vistas encompass the Delaware River around every turn.

Photo Courtesy Hunterdon County
Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge, Stockton, NJ
A wooden covered bridge over the Wickecheoke Creek In Stockton, NJ near the border between the Hunterdon Plateau and Amwell Valley. It is the last covered bridge in the state of New Jersey, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Established in 1872, it is still in operation today. Also visit Prallsville Mills listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the D & R Canal State Park. This stone grist mill was an important commercial center during the 19th century and continued in operation until the 1950's.

5 - Get Out and Do Some Pumpkin Picking
With The Kids

Pumpkin Pick Your Own Farms
Pumpkin picking is a great fall activity and a memorable experience for families with young kids? Spend a day with the kids in New Jersey farm country picking pumpkins, and time permitting, add on a hay ride or a trip to the corn maze.

6 - Take in a Frightful, Scary or
Not So Scary Halloween Show

Best Halloween Shows
Halloween in New Jersey is a time for many scary and not so scary frightful shows, events, attractions, and parades that can be enjoyed by the whole family. These popular festivals feature events with special themes, good music, food, performers, and fun activities.

7 - Enjoy A Day Out Hiking At One of
New Jersey's Popular Trails

New Jersey Hiking Trails
The best time of the year to enjoy hiking in NJ is in the fall when the leaves are in full color and the weather is at it's best.

8 - Enjoy a Day Out At An Organic Farm
Known For It's Apple Cider

Ironbound Farm
360 County Road 579
Asbury, NJ
At this 108 acre transitional organic farm, known for it's apple cider, you can learn about their regenerative farming practices, get to see pigs, chickens, heritage turkeys, and topping it off with a feast in their cider garden (reservations recommended).with their 30 foot high chimney of an Argentine styled open -fire grill while seated at wooden tables under the covered woodshed where guests get a chance to watch their chefs work around the Mother Fire open fire grills.
Ironbound Farm is one of several destinations on the new Hunterdon 570 Trail, named for Cty Rte 579, which runs from Lambertville to Bloomsbury.

9 - Enjoy a Scenic Trip Through
The Pine Barrens

Pinebarrens, Southern, NJ
The Pine Barrens is a large and heavily forested area stretches across the southern coastal plain of New Jersey and is renowned for its unspoiled nature, abundant, and diverse wildlife.
The Pine Barrens are popular as a destination for a weekend getaway and day trippers who enjoy getting outdoors to experience a pristine environment. For the adventuresome, there are a wide variety of canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, cycling, hunting. horseback riding, and camping activities.
For the more casual or curious visitor, there are a variety of attractions to visit and learn about the region's history, old, abandoned towns, and folklore.

10 - Hike New Jersey's Section Of the Appalacian Trail

The NJ Appalacian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a non-governmental, independently managed recreation facility of the national park system and is the nation's longest marked hiking trail at 2,180 miles.
It traverses 14 states from Maine's Mount Katahdin to Georgia's Springer Mountain over scenic, wooded, pastoral and rugged terrain.
The "AT" as it's called by hikers, is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships.
The New Jersey stretch of the Appalachian Trail is 74 miles long and begins at Abram S. Hewitt State Forest in the northern most point and runs west and south through Wawayanda State Park, High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, ending at Worthington State Forest.