From the Highlands and Delaware River to the Shore and Pinelands, these 15 routes make it easy to find fall foliage in every part of the state.
New Jersey residents do not have to drive to New England or cross into the Poconos to see fall foliage. Mountain ridges, river valleys, preserved farmland, historic villages and more than 800,000 acres of Pinelands give nearly every part of the state its own autumn landscape.
The accompanying Google Earth maps features 5 scenic drives in North, Central and South Jersey. Each route includes numbered stops, mileage estimates and turn-by-turn directions, allowing drivers to choose anything from a 10-mile afternoon trip to a full-day journey.
North Jersey
1. Palisades Scenic Byway
The mapped route begins at Fort Lee Historic Park and follows the Palisades Interstate Parkway north to Rockefeller Lookout, Alpine Lookout and State Line Lookout. The roughly 11-mile drive combines fall foliage with elevated views of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge and the New York skyline.
The parkway is one of two roads that comprise the official Palisades Scenic Byway. The second, Henry Hudson Drive, travels closer to the river but is subject to seasonal and temporary closures. Drivers interested in exploring both should check the Palisades Interstate Park advisories before leaving.
2. Western Highlands Scenic Byway
This approximately 43-mile route begins near Stockholm and follows Route 23 through Hamburg, Franklin and Sussex before climbing to High Point State Park. Mountain ridges, lakes, forests and historic communities make the corridor one of New Jersey’s most varied foliage drives.
High Point adds a worthwhile detour at the northern end. At 1,803 feet above sea level, it is the highest elevation in New Jersey; the monument area provides views across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Access to the monument road can vary with weather and park operations.
3. Old Mine Road and the Delaware Water Gap
Old Mine Road runs through one of the least-developed parts of New Jersey. The area was originally purchased by the federal government as part of a planned dam and reservoir on the Delaware River. When those plans fell through, the land was given to the National Park Service and is now part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area. The mapped 39-mile route connects Millbrook Village, Walpack Center, Flatbrookville and Kittatinny Point, combining dense forest with streams, historic structures and views of the Delaware River.
The road is narrow and rough in places, making the slower pace part of the experience. Drivers should also check current conditions before visiting. As of October 2026, a 3.5-mile northern section between Route 560 and Route 206 is closed for rehabilitation; the mapped route uses the central and southern portions of the road.
4. County Route 519 from Wantage to Belvidere
County Route 519 provides a long look at the farms and small communities of Sussex and Warren counties. The approximately 42-mile drive begins near Route 23 in Wantage and travels through Newton, Johnsonburg and Hope before ending in Belvidere.
The scenery is less dramatic than High Point or the Delaware Water Gap, but that is part of its appeal. Rolling fields, old barns, stone walls and wooded hills make this one of the strongest routes for seeing New Jersey’s rural landscape in fall.
5. Warren Heritage Scenic Byway
The Warren Heritage Scenic Byway follows Route 57 for approximately 23 miles from Hackettstown toward Phillipsburg. The road runs through the Musconetcong Valley, passing farmland, historic communities and remnants of the Morris Canal.
The corridor also tells part of New Jersey’s transportation history. The Morris Canal once carried coal and other goods across the state using a system of locks and inclined planes; portions of the former canal remain visible in Warren County.
Central Jersey
6. Delaware River Scenic Byway
Route 29 follows the Delaware River for approximately 34 miles from Trenton to Frenchtown. Washington Crossing State Park, Lambertville, Stockton and Prallsville Mills provide natural stopping points along a drive framed by the river, D&R Canal and wooded hillsides.
This route offers more than foliage. Drivers can walk through several historic river towns, visit shops and restaurants or use sections of the canal towpath. The combination of scenery and walkable destinations makes it one of the most complete day trips on the list.
7. Millstone Valley Scenic Byway
The 28-mile Millstone Valley loop follows local roads through Kingston, Rocky Hill, Griggstown, Blackwells Mills and East Millstone. Much of the route runs beside the Millstone River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Several villages retain their historic scale and character, while canal locks, bridge tender’s houses and old mills provide reminders of the region’s transportation past. The route also passes farmland and portions of the D&R Canal State Park, giving drivers frequent opportunities to stop and walk.
8. Sourland Mountain Loop
The mapped 38-mile loop begins in Hopewell Borough and passes Mount Rose Preserve, Sourland Mountain Preserve, Neshanic Station and Ringoes. It combines the wooded Sourland ridge with quieter roads through preserved farms and small Hunterdon and Somerset County communities.
Unlike the state-designated byways, this is a custom route assembled around the region’s natural features. The Sourlands’ forests, streams and boulder fields provide a different setting from the nearby Delaware River corridor, while Hopewell and Ringoes offer convenient places to begin or end the trip.
9. Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway
Upper Freehold’s scenic byway travels through one of Central Jersey’s largest concentrations of preserved farmland. The mapped 17-mile loop connects Historic Walnford, Allentown, Imlaystown and Cream Ridge before returning to Walnford.
Fall color appears here against open fields, farm buildings and historic villages rather than mountain overlooks. Allentown provides a walkable stop with shops and restaurants; Historic Walnford preserves a former mill village along Crosswicks Creek.
10. Navesink and Highlands River Loop
This approximately 19-mile loop begins in Red Bank and follows Navesink River Road toward Hartshorne Woods Park and the Twin Lights. It then turns south through Highlands and Sea Bright before returning through Rumson.
The route combines riverfront roads, wooded hills and coastal views in a relatively short trip. Drivers can stop at Hartshorne Woods for a hike or visit the Twin Lights, where the elevated grounds look across Sandy Hook and the Atlantic Ocean.
South Jersey
11. Pine Barrens Scenic Byway
The full Pine Barrens Scenic Byway covers approximately 130 miles and contains several branches. The mapped 86-mile touring route connects Hammonton, Batsto Village, Green Bank, Tuckerton, Smithville, Mays Landing, Estell Manor, Belleplain State Forest and Dennisville.
South Jersey’s fall landscape differs from the hardwood forests farther north. Red maples, oaks and Atlantic white cedar add reds, oranges and browns between the region’s evergreen pines; rivers, wetlands and historic settlements break up the forest along the way.
Because of its length, this route works best as a full-day trip or a series of shorter drives. Batsto Village, Tuckerton Seaport, Estell Manor Park and Belleplain State Forest provide logical places to divide it.
12. Batsto to Chatsworth through cranberry country
Drivers who want the Pinelands experience without committing to the full byway can take this approximately 20-mile route. It follows County Route 542 east from Batsto Village through Green Bank before turning north on County Route 563 toward Chatsworth.
The road crosses Wharton State Forest and the Mullica River before reaching the heart of New Jersey’s cranberry country. Batsto’s preserved buildings and industrial history give the drive a strong starting point; Chatsworth offers a glimpse of the communities that developed around the forest and cranberry industry.
13. Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway
The Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway follows the Delaware Bay through Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. The mapped 115-mile route connects Salem, Greenwich, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, East Point Lighthouse, Mauricetown and Cape May Point State Park.
This is not a conventional forest drive. Its scenery comes from marshes, tidal rivers, working farms, wildlife areas and small historic communities. The route also passes through an important migration corridor for shorebirds, giving the drive a character found nowhere else in New Jersey.
The full trip requires most of a day. It can also be divided into a Salem and Cumberland County section ending near the Maurice River or a southern section continuing toward Cape May Point.
14. Route 49 from Salem to Tuckahoe
Route 49 crosses South Jersey from Salem to its eastern terminus at Route 50 in Tuckahoe. The approximately 56-mile drive passes through Quinton, Bridgeton, Millville and Mauricetown while connecting farms, forests, river communities and wetlands.
The road provides a useful cross-section of the region. Bridgeton’s large historic district, Millville’s arts and glassmaking destinations and Mauricetown’s maritime history offer several reasons to stop before the route reaches the edge of the Pinelands.
15. Southern Forests and Farmland Drive
This route covers approximately 75 miles from Buena Vista to Parvin State Park. It connects Estell Manor Park, Tuckahoe, Belleplain State Forest, WheatonArts in Millville, Bridgeton City Park and Parvin State Park.
This drive is designed to show the range of South Jersey’s fall scenery in one trip. Forest roads and lakefront parks are paired with farms, wetlands and historic downtowns; Belleplain’s Lake Nummy and Parvin Lake provide two of the route’s strongest foliage views.
