Gloucester is a charming township conveniently located eight miles east of Philadelphia and 50 miles west of Atlantic City.
This 24-square-mile suburban community is home to over 66,000 residents per the 2020 U.S. census.
At the same time, this town in Camden County is one of Southern New Jersey’s fastest-growing municipalities.
Exciting activities include hiking, biking, playing sports, dining, shopping, visiting historic sites, and attending festivals.
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, these are the best things to do in Gloucester, New Jersey.
Helen89 / Shutterstock.com
For avid shoppers, shop ‘til you drop at Gloucester Premium Outlets and spend a day going through each store.
You will find your favorite premium brands like Nike, American Eagle Outfitters, Polo Ralph Lauren, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade New York.
You can’t miss out on these brands since this outlet mall offers excellent discounts of up to 65% daily.
Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com
With over 90 stores, you’ll find everything you need, from apparel and fashion accessories to home furnishings and other specialty items.
After shop hopping, eat snacks or meals at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Friendly’s, or choose from the food selections at the food trucks.
Gloucester Premium Outlets is on Premium Outlet Drive, near New Jersey Route 42, and easily accessible from Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
For a dose of history, take a tour of the Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House, a tavern built in 1756 in the Glendora section of Gloucester Township.
This historic three-story brick and fieldstone tavern is a fine example of vernacular Georgian style and the only gable end house in the township.
It was constructed near Big Timber Creek to accommodate travelers and boatmen who used the creek to transport goods to Philadelphia.
When it ceased being a tavern in 1768, it became a hospital during the Revolutionary War and home to some of the township’s Revolutionary War veterans.
Today, the Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House operates as a historic house museum, giving the public a glimpse into colonial life through tours and other free fun events.
Located right next to a police station on Chews Landing Road, Veterans Park is a place you can’t miss out on while visiting Gloucester Township with kids.
Children of all ages will enjoy the large fenced-in, brightly colored playgrounds featuring slides, swings, rock climbing walls, a fire truck structure, and other features.
The park has basketball courts, a vast field, a gazebo, picnic tables, a parking lot, bathrooms, benches, and grassy areas with shade from the trees.
Likewise, you can leisurely walk or work out on a half-mile loop trail and see a memorial for the township veterans.
Fun, family-friendly events are also hosted at Veterans Park, such as summer concert series, movie nights, and the popular Gloucester Township Day in June.
Enjoy the great outdoors while biking, walking, or jogging along the Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail.
Formerly known as the Blackwood Railroad Trail, it was renamed to reflect the township’s commitment to promoting fitness in the community.
The paved bicycle/pedestrian path was built on an abandoned railroad and spans 2.7 miles.
The Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail starts at Brown and East Atlantic Avenue.
Then it passes through wooded areas, neighborhoods, and several points of interest before it ends at Main Street near Grenloch Lake.
One of the attractions you’ll encounter along the way includes a restored railroad caboose found south of Church Street commemorating the railroad’s history.
The fall colors are unique, too!
Regarding golfing and events, you can’t go wrong with Ron Jaworski’s Valleybrook Country Club, one of the best public courses in South Jersey.
Boasting picturesque views, the country club features a classic 18-hole course layout with flat and hilly terrain, tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, and water hazards.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, its challenging design is ideal for you.
Besides the rewarding play and beautiful scenery, it has a driving range, a pro shop with various merchandise, and a pub to enjoy great food and drinks with friends.
They also offer golf lessons and host various events such as tournaments, weddings, and corporate meetings.
Head off to Golfview Drive in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township.
Find Ron Jaworski’s Valleybrook Country Club for a golfing experience.
The Gloucester Township-Blackwood Rotary Public Library on South Black Horse Pike in Blackwood is the township’s branch of the Camden County Library.
In 1957, the Gloucester Township Library was established in an old Gloucester Township School room.
It was moved to a few locations.
Then, it became a part of the Camden County Library System in 1976 before opening a branch in its current location in 1989.
Today, its modern facility includes computers for public access, larger areas for children and teens, and displays featuring various collections.
When you’re in the township, add the library to your list of places to visit, especially with kids.
Enjoy reading your preferred books or join various family-friendly activities at the Gloucester Township Library.
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The prestigious National Register of Historic Places listed the Blackwood Historic District in 1989 due to its importance in community development and commerce.
It is nestled in the central part of Gloucester along Black Horse Pike, Elm Street, Church Street, Central Avenue, Baptist Lane, and East Railroad Avenue.
The 42-acre historic district boasts a collection of contributing buildings, structures, and sites within the boundaries.
See a three-story Greek Revival frame farmhouse, a three-story Italianate-style brick building, and a two-story Colonial Revival commercial building.
Then, check out Blackwood First Methodist Episcopal Church, a Greek Revival/Italianate-style church built in 1856.
Explore the fascinating district to see the remnants of the 18th to early 20th centuries.
One of Gloucester’s most exciting and awaited seasons is pumpkin season, usually in October.
Presented by the Mainstage Center for the Arts, the annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival is a family-friendly event that started in 1992.
The fall festival draws over 10,000 people yearly to enjoy various fun attractions.
These include amusement rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, a petting zoo, hayrides, moon bounces, scarecrow building, shopping, live entertainment, contests, music, a parade, and more.
Join the festivities and engage with the community of entertainers, shoppers, families, volunteers, and hundreds of vendors selling various foods, arts, and crafts.
Ditch the city and surround yourself with unspoiled nature at Timber Creek Park, an oasis bounded by Somerdale and Chews Landing.
This popular park spanned 128 acres and was formerly a horse farm locally known as Slim’s Ranch.
It has plenty of recreational amenities that delight visitors, such as pavilions, a playground, an outdoor amphitheater, and nature and cross-country trails.
If you’re traveling with dogs, don’t miss the chance to visit the nine-acre fenced-in off-leash dog park, a haven for dogs and their fur parents.
You will also find Big Timber Creek’s north branch on the park’s north side.
Likewise, you may spot birds and wildlife in various habitats, such as woodlands, fields, small lakes, ponds, and ravines.
Other amenities at Timber Creek Park include an accessible walking track, parking spaces, water fountains, and indoor restrooms.
The Gloucester Township Community Park is another beautiful park that offers many features for the enjoyment of its users.
It has multiple playing fields and courts for basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, football, and lacrosse.
There are playgrounds for children of varied ages, including rock climbing walls, jungle gyms, slides, and toddler/infant swings.
Take advantage of the trails by walking, jogging, or riding your mountain bikes to exercise.
The park is on Turnerville Hickstown Road, and you can even enjoy watching people playing sports in the fresh air.
Whether you want to break a sweat, relax, or enjoy the outdoors, the Gloucester Township Community Park is worth a visit.
Lamp Post Diner & Bakery is a family restaurant that serves customers American comfort food from breakfast to dinner.
Start your day with breakfast specials like golden brown pancakes, egg-dipped French toast or breakfast sandwiches, specialty pancakes, waffles, and omelets.
Feast on chicken parmigiana, cheesesteak, stuffed flounder, pork roll, and corned beef exceptionally stacked with Coleslaw, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing for lunch or dinner.
You can also try their signature salads and enjoy their baked goods, from cookies and pies to muffins, and their signature Lamp Post Brownie Cheesecake, with a cup of coffee.
Besides the delightful meal, customers commend Lamp Post Diner & Bakery’s reasonable prices, outstanding service, and clean, pleasant atmosphere.
For a satisfying dining experience, head to this popular restaurant on Little Gloucester Road.
Another fun event you might want to attend is the annual Gloucester Township Food and Craft Beer Festival.
During the festivity, you can stroll down Black Horse Pike and eat delicious food from a fantastic lineup of food trucks.
Check out the beer and wine garden for excellent craft beer from popular breweries, tasty wine, and live music.
Bring your family and friends, meet new people, and enjoy food, beverages, and live entertainment.
The Gloucester Township Food and Craft Beer Festival happens every October in the Blackwood section of the township.
If you’re visiting around that time, save the date for this event.
Featuring loads of attractions, it’s no wonder why Fun City Adventure Park along NJ-42 N in Blackwood is an entertainment destination for families.
While this indoor amusement park is perfect for the kids, adults are welcome, too!
Its 40,000 square feet facility features over 20 arcade machines, a playground, a battle beam, a basketball, a foam pit, an airbag, bumper ball, dodgeball, airbag, and parkour.
There’s a large area of trampolines, a ropes course, a ninja course, and bumper cars.
You can even book this incredible place for your memorable events like parties!
Jump, play, and enjoy thrilling adventures at Fun City Adventure Park.
Relive the past at the Museum of American History at Deptford, NJ, formerly the South Jersey Museum of American History.
Its foundation, a non-profit institution, was established in 1993 to preserve the rich historical heritage of South Jersey.
The museum opened in Berlin, New Jersey, in 1996 and moved to Glassboro, New Jersey, ten years later.
Then, it transferred to its current location along Andaloro Way in Deptford, New Jersey, in 2017.
See the fascinating exhibits, including Precolumbian, Fossil, Farmstead, Colonial and Pine Barrens, Glass and Ceramic, and 19th and early 20th Antique Tools and Equipment.
The Museum of American History at Deptford, NJ, also offers special exhibits, art shows, toy train shows, and field trips.
The museum is only ten minutes from Gloucester, New Jersey.
From the Blackwood section of the township, drive nine minutes to Fasola Park in Deptford.
It boasts a beautiful, colorful playground with slides, swings, climbing walls, monkey bars, see-saws, a spider web structure, a sensory musical play area, a spinning globe, and more.
Besides playing in the playground, children can also enjoy the splash pad open in the warmer months.
Athletic fields and courts are for softball, baseball, football, tennis, and pickleball.
It also has a reservable pavilion for outdoor parties or other private events.
Likewise, you’ll find a lake with a fountain, walking trails, and workout stations for the fitness conscious.
Moreover, several family-friendly events like the Family Fun Shows and Fasola Park Food Truck and Craft Festival occur at Fasola Park.
Gloucester, New Jersey, is well worth a visit for its several parks, family-friendly events, and historical attractions.
You can also enjoy shopping, dining, and spending quality time with your family and friends.
While planning your next trip, remember this list of the best things to do in Gloucester, New Jersey!
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
