Looking for free spots in New Jersey to see and smell the flowers? Here’s my guide to 17 stunning gardens and arboretums across New Jersey where you can wander and enjoy the outdoors. Please note that, while each place offers free admission, some greatly appreciate and accept donations. Be sure to also check out my Ultimate Guide to Flower Fields in New Jersey 2024 for more floral spots!
1. Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit
Address: 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ 07901
Arboretum Grounds Hours: Open daily year-round. Open November 1st to March 31st from 9 AM – 4 PM and April 1st to October 31st from 7 AM – 7 PM.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for the daffodil bowl and cherry blossoms, summer for blooming flowers, or fall for vibrant foliage. Plan your trip by visiting their website here.
2. Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown
Address: 152 Red Hill Rd, Middletown, NJ 07748
Park Hours: Opens at 8 AM and closes at dusk daily, year-round.
Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early summer for the peak of floral displays. April is a good time to see the cherry blossoms and tulips, while early summer in June is good to see the rose garden. More info here.
3. Linwood Arboretum, Linwood
Address: 1410 Wabash Ave, Linwood, NJ 08221
Park Hours: Open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset.
Best Time to Visit: Anytime for a peaceful stroll, but spring brings out great blooms. Learn more by visiting the website here.
4. Duke Farms, Hillsborough
Address: 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Hours: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (closed Sundays & Mondays). The Farm Barn Orientation Center is only open Thursdays through Saturdays.
Best Time to Visit: late spring to early fall for pleasant weather and diverse flora. Duke Farms is home to 2,700 acres of land and offers a plethora of outdoor activities such as walking and bike trails. The conservatory is also home to over 500 plant species! Visitors can easily spend a few hours exploring the grounds here! A parking pass is required on Saturdays from March to October but are free to reserve.
5. Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Montclair
Address: 474 Upper Mountain Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
Garden Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM (closing time may change depending on the time of year)
Best Time to Visit: May for the breathtaking iris blooms. The iris bloom season is projected this year between Saturday, May 11th, and June 2nd, 2024. Presby does not have on-site parking. Street parking can be found along Upper Mountain Avenue on the garden side but is limited. Learn more here.
6. Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick
Address: 112 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Garden Hours: open Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 AM to 7 PM. Closed Mondays.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, or summer for colorful gardens. Learn more here.
7. Sayen House and Gardens, Hamilton
Address: 155 Hughes Dr, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690
Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Best Time to Visit: Late March to April for cherry blossoms and other spring flowers, and summer for even more vibrant blooms. Enjoy walking trails and wandering the gardens here. On-site parking is available and there are facilities on the property.
8. Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown
Address: 353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960
Arboretum Hours: open daily 8 AM to sunset.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, or summer for lush greenery. Explore the park’s picturesque 124 acres of property. Learn more here.
9. Beach Plum Farm, West Cape May
Address: 140 Stevens St, West Cape May, NJ 08204
Farm Hours: open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM. The kitchen closes at 2 PM.
Best Time to Visit: Late spring and all summer for blooming flowers or farm-to-table events. Beach Plum Farm offers cottages that guests can stay at and is also a wedding venue. I recommend doing breakfast or lunch here as they have a nice farm stand in the gardens that dishes up fresh bites.
10. Van Vleck House & Gardens, Montclair
Address: 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Garden Hours: open daily year-round from dawn to dusk.
Best Time to Visit: typically early to mid-May for the wisteria blooms. Visiting during the spring or summer is overall great for stunning garden views. More info can be found here.
11. Cross Estate Gardens, Bernardsville
Address: 61 Jockey Hollow Rd, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Garden Hours: open daily year-round from 8 AM to Dusk.
Best Time to Visit: May for the wisteria and rhododendron blooms, and summer for lush greenery and flowers. Check out their website here.
12. Willowwood Arboretum, Chester
Address: 300 Longview Rd, Chester, NJ 07930
Arboretum Hours: Open daily year-round from dawn to dusk.
Best Time to Visit: Late spring to mid-summer for blooming flowers. Learn more here.
13. Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne
Address: 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470
Arboretum Hours: Open daily year-round from 8 AM to dusk.
Best Time to Visit: spring and summer for vibrant blooms, or fall for foliage. Check out their website here.
14. Thielke Arboretum, Glen Rock
Address: 460 Doremus Ave, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
Arboretum Hours: open daily from 7 AM to dusk.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer for blooming flowers. There are also walking trails here along with educational programs. Learn more here.
15. Colonial Park Gardens, Somerset
Address: 156 Mettlers Rd, Somerset, NJ 08873
Park Hours: open daily year-round from dawn to dusk. Check Google for specific hours.
Best Time to Visit: April for cherry blossoms, tulips, and daffodils, and summer for colorful displays including their award-winning rose garden.
16. Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
Address: 11 Layton Rd, Far Hills, NJ 07931
Hours: Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, & Sundays from 12 PM to 5 PM.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer for the peak of floral displays.
17. New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Address: 2 Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456
Garden Hours: open from 8 AM to 8 PM during Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and 8 AM to 6 PM during Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, and summer for lush gardens. The NJBG is a part of Ringwood State Park. Visitors can easily spend a few hours here and the property is quite large. This is also a popular wedding venue spot in North Jersey.
Parking: On summer Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, there is a State parking fee (cash only) of $5 for NJ-registered vehicles and $7 for non-NJ-registered vehicles. This is the only spot mentioned in this article that can potentially have a fee.
Please check the website or online for each spot you plan to visit ahead of time to familiarize yourself with any rules. All of these gardens are free to enter and free to park except the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, which charges a small parking fee at certain times of the year. Happy exploring, and comment below sharing your favorite NJ gardens to visit!
