Nightlife
After a long day of exploring Elizabeth’s sights, you may want to rest up at your hotel before going out.
Day Trips & Nearby
While you enjoy your stay with us, you may want to travel around to see some of the nearby attractions.
With the help of the NJ Transit System, NYC is just 30 minutes away, and Newark is only 10. Elizabeth has a relaxing, small-town feel while still being a short rail trip away from regional attractions like Times Square and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Local and Regional Guide
At GoElizabethNJ, we help visitors explore the rich, 350-year history of Elizabeth, and we find that the information we provide often inspires people to learn more. For more information about our regional history and the figures of the American Revolution, we recommend a day trip to Trenton or Morristown, which are major cities involved with the Crossroads of the American Revolution.
If visiting the City of Brotherly Love is on your list, Philadelphia is only an hour and a half away! On the way to Philadelphia, you can check out our state’s famous beaches or “Jersey Shore” destinations. The beaches along the New Jersey coast are just some of the many outdoor attractions in the area.
Book a Hotel in Elizabeth!
When visiting our beautiful part of the country, we encourage travelers to use Elizabeth as a base of operations while exploring surrounding destinations. Centrally located, Elizabeth is the gateway to the state of New Jersey! Easily accessible by rail, bus, air, or car, Elizabeth has a selection of hotels that are perfect for an early morning flight or extended stay. Whether you value luxurious amenities or pet-friendly policies, we have hotels and accommodations to fit your needs.
Let GoElizabethNJ Be Your Guide!
For Elizabeth and beyond, GoElizabethNJ helps by providing transit maps, lists of daily events, and other tools to help you make the most of your stay. Explore the local destinations and events with our Trip Planner, which allows you to keep track of all the events and attractions you don’t want to miss.
Explore New York City
Do you love New York City? During your visit to Elizabeth, it’s easy to add a day trip or overnight stay in New York City to your itinerary. All you have to do is hop on a train at the Midtown Elizabeth Train Station. You’ll arrive in New York City’s Penn Station in just about 30 minutes, ready to take on the hustle and bustle of the city! From Penn Station, you can walk to famous places like the towering Empire State Building and the majestic New York Public Library. And it’s just a short cab or subway ride to Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and countless other attractions!
Take the Train to Newark
If you’d rather stay in New Jersey, the NJ Transit System can connect you to just about anywhere you need to go in the state. The city of Newark is just 10 minutes away by train, where you can enjoy a show or concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which attracts leading performers from around the globe. If you’re a sports fan, then you’ll also love to catch a hockey game at Prudential Center, home of the NJ Devils.
Enjoy the Jersey Shore
If you’re looking to hit the iconic beaches of the Jersey Shore, there are plenty of options for getting there. NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line passes through Elizabeth, so you can take a train heading down the coast to countless shore towns including Long Branch, Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, and Bay Head. There are also buses heading south, and you can easily reach these towns by car if you take Exit 11 on the New Jersey Turnpike, which connects you to the Garden State Parkway.
Visit Atlantic City
If you continue driving further south, you can pay a visit to Atlantic City, which is about a two-hour drive from Elizabeth. When you arrive, enjoy spending some time in the casinos that line the beach, playing the slots, or joining in a fast-paced game of blackjack. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the award-winning restaurants like Morton’s Steakhouse or Dock’s Oyster House. After dinner, you can see a concert or show, walk the boardwalk, or spend a little more time at the casino.
Plan a Trip to Philadelphia
If you’re eager to visit the City of Brotherly Love, you’re in luck, because Elizabeth is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Philadelphia! It’s also possible to do the trip by taking a NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line train from Elizabeth to Trenton Transit Center. At Trenton, you can transfer to the SEPTA regional rail line, which takes you to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. The station is located right in the middle of the city, so you don’t have to travel far to explore the historical sites, check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art, run up the Rocky steps, and enjoy a mouthwatering Philly cheesesteak at Pat’s or Geno's.
Thanks to its central location, Elizabeth offers easy access to many places, including New York City, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore. Take a daytrip to any of these nearby cities, and then make your way back to your home base of Elizabeth, NJ. These are just some of the exciting destinations you can easily explore during your stay in Elizabeth.
Explore More
Outdoors
You can enjoy the great outdoors in Elizabeth, year-round … yes, even winter.
Sports & Recreation
Elizabeth’s vast green spaces and access to the water make it a sports lover’s paradise.
Music, Arts & Culture
Elizabeth is unlike any other city thanks to our unique culture, and you’ll notice that as soon as you lay eyes on our historic city by the bay.
Free Things to Do
If you’re on the lookout for free things to do in New Jersey, you’ll find plenty of options in Elizabeth.
Shopping
Elizabeth is big on retail therapy. Our city is home to an outlet mall, a vibrant shopping district, and even a famous furniture store known for its Swedish meatballs.
Attractions
More than 350 years since its founding, Elizabeth, NJ has many notable attractions from historic to contemporary, including a Ferrari dealership right off Elmora Avenue.
Family Fun
Museums, outlet shops, and splash pads—there’s a little something for the entire family in and around Elizabeth.