New Jerey Zoos and Animal Preserves

The attractions on this page are grouped by geographical area, arranged from north to south. Please click the map or a link to choose the area in which you are interested. Where possible, an attraction is linked to its home page.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the listings on this page. However, conditions do change and it is always advisable to check with the attraction you are planning to visit.

All attractions listed on this page are for information only. No endorsement is given or implied, except where expressly stated.

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Southern Shore

Lower Delaware Valley

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Northeast

Bergen County Zoological Park, Paramus

216 Forest Ave.
Paramus, 07652
(201)262-3771

Open Daily (weather permitting) 10AM-4:30PM

Zoo in Bergen County's Van Saun Park offers animals in natural habitat and 19th-century farmyard.

From Parkway:
Northbound, Exit 161, merge onto NJ 4 East and continue 1 1/2 miles, exit to Forest Ave/Maywood/ Westwood; at end of ramp, turn right on Forest Ave. (Westwood), cross over NJ 4 and continue 1 1/4 miles through two lights to zoo at Van Saun Park.
Southbound, Exit 165, follow signs for Oradell, merge onto Oradell Ave. and continue 3/4 mile to second light; turn right on Forest Ave. and continue 2 miles to zoo at Van Saun Park.

Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange

560 Northfield Ave.
West Orange, 07052
(973)731-5800

Open Monday thru Saturday, 10AM-4:30PM; Sunday 11AM-5:30PM
Admission Adults $7, Children 2-12/Seniors $3

Zoo containing animals in natural surroundings, picnicking.

From Parkway: Exit 145, merge onto I-280 West; continue west 2 1/2 miles to Exit 10, then follow I-280 Westbound directions below.

From I-280:
Eastbound, Exit 7, turn left and go 2 1/4 miles on Pleasant Valley Way to second light; turn left and go 1/4 mile on Northfield Ave. (Co. 508) to zoo entrance.
Westbound, Exit 10, turn left on Northfield Ave. (Co. 508) and go 2 1/2 miles, exit to Pleasant Valley Way; turn left on Pleasant Valley Way, then turn left on Northfield Ave. and go 1/4 mile east to zoo entrance.

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Lakota Wolf Preserve, Columbia

89 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
Columbia, 07832
(877)SEE-WOLF

Wolf Watch, Daylight Savings Time, Daily, 10:30AM and 4PM, Standard Time, Daily, 10:30AM and 3PM. Reservations necessary Monday thru Friday.
Admission Adults $15, Children under 12 $7. Fee includes picnicking, swimming, hiking facilities at adjacent Camp Taylor.

Wolf preserve in rural setting allows observation of four wolf packs as well as bobcats and foxes.

From I-80:
Eastbound, Exit 4C, Westbound, Exit 4, merge onto NJ 94 North, continue north 2 1/2 miles to Hainesburg; turn left and go 1 1/2 miles on Mt. Pleasant Rd. to Camp Taylor.

Pequest Fish Hatchery, Liberty Township

605 Pequest Rd.
Oxford, 07863
(908)637-4125

Open Daily 10AM-4PM
Admission Free

State fish hatchery and education center

From I-80:
Eastbound, Exit 4B, continue 13 miles on US 46 East to hatchery entrance, 3 miles past Buttzville.
Westbound, Exit 19, turn left onto Co. 517 South; continue south 5 miles into Hackettstown; at light, turn right on US 46 West and go 8 miles through Vienna and Great Meadows to hatchery entrance on left.

Rockport Pheasant Farm, Rockport

700 Rockport Rd.
Hackettstown, 07840
(908)852-3461

Open Daily 7:30AM-dusk

State game farm where pheasants are raised for distribution around the state's fish and game lands. Hiking trail. Pens hold exotic pheasants, turkeys and deer.

From I-80: Exit 19, turn left (south) onto Co. 517 South, continue 5 miles to light at US 46 (Main St.) in Hackettstown; continue diagonally across Main St. onto Grand Ave. (Co. 629) and go 3 1/2 miles to farm.

Space Farms Zoo and Museum, Beemerville

Route 519
Beemerville, 07461
(973)875-5800

Open Apr. 14 thru Oct. 31, Daily, 9AM-5PM
Admission Adult $12.45, Seniors $11.45, Children $8

Extensive natural habitat zoo features wide assortment of animals. Museum has substantial collections of artifacts in the areas of cultural, political and natural history

From I-80:
Eastbound, Exit 4C, merge onto NJ 94 North, continue north 21 miles to Newton; follow signs around town square for US 206 North; continue north 7 miles on US 206 to Branchville; at light, turn right on Co. 519 North into Branchville; continue north 6 miles on Co. 519 to zoo.
Westbound, Exit 34B, merge onto NJ 15 North, continue north 18 miles on NJ 15 to end; continue north 3 miles on US 206 North to Branchville; turn right on Co. 519 North into Branchville; continue north 6 miles on Co. 519 to zoo.

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Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville

11 Hardscrabble Rd.
Bernardsville, 07924
(908)766-5787

Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 9AM-5PM; Sunday, 12Noon-5PM; trails open daily until 5PM

Sanctuary is home to numerous varieties of birds, small mammals, deer and coyotes in the Somerset hills; trails pass through forests and open areas.

From I-287: Exit 30B, merge onto N. Maple Ave. and continue to traffic light; cross US 202 and continue on Childs Rd.; at fork, bear right onto Hardscrabble Rd. and continue 1 mile to sanctuary.

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Jenkinson's Aquarium, Point Pleasant Beach

300 Ocean Ave.
Point Pleasant Beach, 08742
(732)892-0600

Open Monday thru Friday, 9:30AM-5PM; Saturday, Sunday, 10AM-5PM
Admission Adults $9, Seniors/Children 3-12 $6

Marine life and bird exhibits

From Parkway:
Northbound, Exit 90, turn right on Co. 549 South and continue south 1 1/2 miles to sixth light; turn left on NJ 70 East and continue east 1/2 mile to second light, after crossing Metedeconk River; make gentle right onto NJ 88 East and continue 4 1/2 miles to end; follow signs for NJ 35 North and continue 3/4 mile to third light; turn right on Purple Heart Blvd. (Arnold Ave.) and continue 1/2 mile to first light, just before boardwalk; turn left and go 2 blocks on Ocean Ave. to aquarium.
Southbound, Exit 98, follow signs for NJ 34 South; merge onto NJ 34 and continue 1/2 mile to Allaire Rd. traffic circle; take second exit off circle and continue on NJ 34 South 3 1/2 miles to third light; continue straight on NJ 35 South 1 mile through 2 lights and across Manasquan River into Point Pleasant Beach; continue 1/2 mile on NJ 35 South (Richmond Ave.) to third light; turn left on Purple Heart Blvd. (Arnold Ave.) and continue 1/2 mile to second light, just before boardwalk; turn left and go 2 blocks on Ocean Ave. to aquarium.

From I-195: Exit 35A, merge onto NJ 34 South, then follow Parkway Southbound directions.

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Cape May Whale Watcher, Cape May

Second Ave. and Wilson Dr.
Cape May, 08204
(800)786-5445 or (609)884-5445

Open March thru December, 1-3 tours daily
Admission Adults $25-$35, Children 7-12 $15-$23, Children under 6 free (1 per paid adult)

Tours aboard 110-foot boat view ocean life in Delaware Bay, including whales, dolphins, sea birds and turtles; additional tours (Adults $75/$99) view lighthouses in Delaware Bay.

From Parkway: Southbound, At end of Parkway, continue straight and go south 1/2 mile on NJ 109; after crossing Cape May Canal, continue 1/2 mile on Lafayette St.; turn right on Second Ave. to end.

Cape May County Zoo, Cape May Court House

Route 9 & Crest Haven Rd.
Cape May Court House, 08210
(609)465-5271

Open Daily, Summer, 10AM-4:45PM; rest of year, 10AM-3:45PM

Municipal zoo features over 170 species of animals.

From Parkway: Exit 11 (at-grade intersection), Northbound, turn left, Southbound, turn right, continue 1/4 mile on Crest Haven Rd. to zoo at Route 9 intersection.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center & Museum, Brigantine

3625 Brigantine Blvd.
Brigantine, 08203
(609)266-0538

Hours vary; please call
Donation

Treatment center for injured sea mammals; museum with exhibits on marine mammals

From Parkway:
Northbound, Exit 38, merge onto Atlantic City Expwy. Eastbound and continue 7 miles to Exit 1, then follow Atlantic City Expwy. directions below.
Southbound, Exit 40, merge onto US 30 East and continue 8 1/2 miles; exit on left to Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector and continue 3/4 mile to end; merge onto Brigantine Blvd. (NJ 87 North) and continue 2 miles across Absecon Channel bridge to center, on left just before Lighthouse Circle.

From Atlantic City Expwy: Exit 1 (Convention Ctr/Marina/Brigantine), merge onto Brigantine Connector and continue 2 miles to end; merge onto Brigantine Blvd. (NJ 87 North) and continue 2 miles across Absecon Channel bridge to center, on left just before Lighthouse Circle.

Popcorn Park Zoo, Lacey Township

Humane Way, Box 43
Forked River, 08731
(609)693-1900

Open Daily, 11AM-5PM; Holidays, 11AM-2PM
Admission Adults $4.25, Seniors/Children $3.00

Zoo located in South Jersey's Pinelands provides a haven for abandoned, hurt and abused animals.

From Parkway:
Northbound, Exit 74, turn left on Lacey Rd. and go 6 1/2 miles; turn right on Humane Way.
Southbound, Exit 80, stay left on ramp; turn right on Double Trouble Rd. (Co. 619) and proceed to light; turn left on Dover Rd. (Co. 530 West) and continue 3 miles to junction with Pinewald-Keswick Rd., where Co. 530 turns right; continue straight on Dover Rd. 4 miles; turn right on Lacey Rd. and go 3/4 mile; turn right on Humane Way.

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Adventure Aquarium, Camden

1 Riverside Dr.
Camden, 08103
(856)365-3300

Open Daily, 9:30AM-5PM
Admission Adults $17.95, Seniors/Children 2-12 $14.95
Admissions are scheduled every hour beginning at 9:30AM; tickets are required and advanced registration is recommended

Redesigned New Jersey state aquarium offers new exhibits featuring sharks, hippos, penguins, seals and many other aquatic creatures and birds.

From Turnpike: Exit 3, merge onto NJ 168 North and go 1 mile, exit to I-295 South/Walt Whitman Bridge/Delaware Memorial Bridge; merge onto I-295 South and continue 2 miles to Exit 26; merge onto I-76 West and continue 2 miles on I-76 to Exit 2; continue north 3 miles on I-676 to Exit 5A; stay in right lane on ramp and merge onto Mickle Blvd. and continue 1 mile (name changes to Martin Luther King Blvd.); turn right on Third St. and continue to second light; turn left on Market St. and continue to end; turn left on Delaware Ave. to parking area on right.

From I-295: Exit 26, then as above.

Animal Kingdom Pet Store and Zoo, Jacksonville (Burlington Co.)

1800 Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd.
Bordentown, 08505
(609)267-3111

Open Monday thru Friday, 9AM-7PM; Saturday, 9AM-6PM; Sunday, 9AM-5PM
Admission Adults $9, Children $7

Zoo in semi-rural area features exotic and familiar animals; house pets are also sold at store.

From Turnpike:
Northbound, Exit 5, turn right on Co. 541 South and continue 1 1/4 miles, exit to Woodlane Rd. just before second light; turn left on Woodlane Rd., cross Co. 541 and continue 1 1/4 miles to first light; turn left on Jacksonville Rd. and continue 3 miles to first light, in Jacksonville; turn right on Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd. (Co. 670 East) and continue 1/4 mile to zoo on right.
Southbound, Exit 7, merge onto US 206 South (McGuire AFB/Fort Dix) and continue 6 miles to fourth light; turn right on Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd. (Co. 670 West) and continue 1 3/4 miles to zoo on left.

From I-295: Exit 52A, merge onto Columbus Rd and continue 3/4 mile to second light; turn right on Jacksonville Rd. and go 1 3/4 miles to first light, in Jacksonville; turn left on Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd. (Co. 670 West) and continue 1/4 mile to zoo on right.

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Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton

c/o Bridgeton City Hall
181 E. Commerce St.
Bridgeton, 08302
(856)455-3230

Open Spring/Summer, 10AM-6PM, Fall/Winter, 9AM-4PM
Admission Free

New Jersey's first zoo has over 200 animals on its grounds.

From Turnpike:
Northbound, Exit 1A, merge onto NJ 49 East and go 26 miles to Bridgeton; turn left on Atlantic St. and continue into Bridgeton City Park on Mayor Aitken Dr.
Southbound, Exit 3, merge onto NJ 168 North and go 1 mile, exit to I-295 South (Walt Whitman Bridge/Delaware Memorial Bridge); merge onto I-295 South and go 2 miles, exit to NJ 42 South/Atlantic City (after Exit 26); merge onto NJ 42 South and continue 2 miles, exit to NJ 55/Deptford/Glassboro/Vineland; merge onto NJ 55 South and continue 28 miles to Exit 32B; merge onto NJ 56 West and go 7 miles to end; turn left on NJ 77 South and go 3 miles into Bridgeton; turn right on Commerce St., cross river, take first right onto Mayor Aitken Dr. and proceed 1 mile into Bridgeton City Park.

From I-295:
Northbound, Exit 1A, follow Turnpike northbound directions.
Southbound, exit to NJ 42 south (after Exit 26), then follow Turnpike southbound directions.

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