Overview
East Brunswick is a town of 48,000 people (2019) in New Jersey.
4 sights · 8 things to do · 3 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about East Brunswick
Old Bridge Historic District
The historic village of Old Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Brunswick Square Mall
Dozens of shops, restaurants, and Starplex Luxury Cinemas that cater to all needs. On Friday nights and Saturday nights, the mall can be packed, especially with tweens, and may be best avoided.
Bicentennial Park
Great Oak Park
Municipal Pond
Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center
A municipal water park featuring several pools, slides, and a lazy river for all ages. Open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Wettest: Aug and Dec. (climate data from nearby Long Branch)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 22 mi away (major hub). Directions
- TTN Trenton Mercer Airport, Ewing Township — 23 mi away. Directions
East Brunswick can be accessed by Exit 9 off of NJ Turnpike/I-95, U.S. Route 1, and NJ Route 18.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bicentennial Park, Old Bridge Historic District
- Lunch Bombay Gardens
- Afternoon East Brunswick Public Library, Playhouse 22
- Dinner Brothers Pizza
- Evening Brunswick Grove
Day 2
- Morning Farrington Lake, Great Oak Park
- Lunch Golden East Garden
- Afternoon Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center, AMC Theatre
- Evening Hooters
Day 3
- Morning Municipal Pond, East Brunswick Museum
- Afternoon Middlesex County Fair, Brunswick Square Mall
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Some of the best eats are to be found in or near the Route 18 Shopping Center. Nonetheless, there is great food up and down (what locals call) 18.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
When sections of North Brunswick and Monroe split away in 1860, East Brunswick was formed. It was a quiet, sleepy town until a century later when it became a bedroom community for commuters.
Get in
By bus
- New Jersey Transit buses have several stops in East Brunswick, connecting to New Brunswick and other places.
- Suburban Transit bus lines 400, (rush hour:) 500, 600 connect to and from New York City at the East Brunswick Transportation Center and the Tower Center.
By car
East Brunswick can be accessed by Exit 9 off of NJ Turnpike/I-95, U.S. Route 1, and NJ Route 18.
Get around
By bicycle
East Brunswick is somewhat friendly to bicycles. There are areas with bike lanes (which you probably will never get to see, due to rarity), however you will almost always be sharing the roads with cars.
By bus
Despite being a suburban town, it is possible, albeit somewhat inconvenient, to travel by NJ Transit bus (lines 811, 815, 818). There are stops centrally located in key areas (residential, retail, public), but you still may need to walk a distance.
By car
As a suburban town that lacks much public or mass transit, cars are the best way to get around East Brunswick. Virtually every part of East Brunswick is readily accessible by car.
By foot
Although spread out in traditional suburban style, it is possible to walk around East Brunswick. This is particularly true on Route 18, where hotels are located. Nonetheless, walking can also be very dangerous because almost all main roads are county or state highways with high speed limits. Fatalities while crossing these highways do happen.
By horse
In certain (more rural) parts of East Brunswick, locals occasionally travel by horse.
See
There are many parks in East Brunswick.
See Bicentennial Park
See Great Oak Park
See Municipal Pond
- Many more nature trails and playgrounds.
See Old Bridge Historic District
The historic village of Old Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Do
Although locals complain about there being "little to do", there is enough for outsiders to be interested in.
Do Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center (Crystal Springs)
A municipal water park featuring several pools, slides, and a lazy river for all ages. Open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day
Do Farrington Lake
A manmade lake on the Lawrence Brook that allows canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. There are also areas nearby to go hiking and explore nature.
Buy
Route 18 has dozens, if not hundreds of retail establishments. A chain or big box of every variety is on Route 18, as well as many smaller businesses. Beyond it, there are other retail places, but they are more spread out and not as centrally-located.
Eat
Some of the best eats are to be found in or near the Route 18 Shopping Center. Nonetheless, there is great food up and down (what locals call) 18.
Eat Golden East Garden
Chinese. Voted Best Chinese in the region.
Drink
Sleep
Stay Hilton East Brunswick
Located in the Tower Center, the Hilton East Brunswick is on Route 18 and is a major bus connection point to New Brunswick, New York City, other parts of East Brunswick, and other places. It is right next to Exit 9 of the NJ Turnpike.
Stay Studio 6 East Brunswick
Go next
Nearby
North Brunswick
City / town · 3 listings · 4 mi away
New Brunswick
City / town · 14 listings · 5 mi away
Piscataway
City / town · 4 listings · 5 mi away
Highland Park
City / town · 18 listings · 5 mi away
Somerset
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Old Bridge
City / town · 1 listings · 6 mi away
Edison
City / town · 20 listings · 6 mi away
Metuchen
City / town · 2 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
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