Overview
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County which is in the northeast part of New Jersey. Formerly known as the township of Boiling Springs, East Rutherford was renamed on May 23, 1893 when it was purchased by the Borough officers of the East Rutherford Borough. There was no change in the territory, only in the government and name. East Rutherford holds a population of approximately 10,000 residents. The small town occupies approximately 3.9 square miles and also houses hundreds of businesses and restaurants. It is still somewhat overshadowed by MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets as well as a venue for various concerts and events.
2 sights · 5 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about East Rutherford
Meadowlands Museum
Metlife Stadium
Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment
American Dream
Waterfront Cafe Miniature Golf
Carlstadt, course features 17 golfing holes. Food is close by at their built-in cafe.
New York Giants
One of the oldest teams in the NFL, the Giants have amassed four NFL titles before the introduction of the Super Bowl, as well as four Super Bowls, including 2007 and 2011 with Eli Manning under Center defeating Tom Brad…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby New York City)
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.
- TEB Teterboro Airport, Teterboro — 2 mi away. Directions
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
Be wary of the drivers as you come into NJ. They are apathetic to newcomers and will cut you off while you're looking around or lost. Also, be wary of the lack of stop signs in intersections and sharp turns on the highway.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $22 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Metlife Stadium, American Dream
- Lunch Segovia Restaurant
- Afternoon Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, New York Giants
- Dinner Chef Chan Restaurant
- Evening The New Park Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Meadowlands Museum, Waterfront Cafe Miniature Golf
- Afternoon New York Jets
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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.
Get in
By car
- From north/northeast: Follow I-95 South until New Jersey Turnpike South then take I-80 West and finally the exit NJ-17 South.
- From south/southwest: You can do the same thing after taking I-95 North.
- From west: Take I-80 East and then follow the directions above.
Be wary of the drivers as you come into NJ. They are apathetic to newcomers and will cut you off while you're looking around or lost. Also, be wary of the lack of stop signs in intersections and sharp turns on the highway.
By train
If you are outside the area, take the Acela Express or a local Northeast Corridor line to get to New York's Penn Station. From there take NJ Transit. East Rutherford is within walking distance of the train station.
Get around
East Rutherford is small and hard to drive through. When entering the heart of the town it is easier to get around on foot because the narrow streets are hard to drive through. Be aware that there are meters everywhere if you do decide to leave your car.
- The Downtowner Bus this service is free for all residents. The transit operates Monday through Friday. The last bus runs until 3:58PM.
See
- Meadowlands Complex made up of the Meadowlands Racetrack, the MetLife Stadium, and the Izod Center which hosts games and concerts annually. This draws in about a million fans with each year. Home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
See Waterfront Cafe Miniature Golf
Carlstadt, course features 17 golfing holes. Food is close by at their built-in cafe.
Do
Do New York Giants
One of the oldest teams in the NFL, the Giants have amassed four NFL titles before the introduction of the Super Bowl, as well as four Super Bowls, including 2007 and 2011 with Eli Manning under Center defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. While some New Yorkers still resent their "abandoning" the city for greener pastures (or meadows) in New Jersey, their on-field success has endeared them to many people in the area, even though their regular season play can be mediocre at times. If they make it to the post-season all bets are off and upsets are a bit of a specialty for the modern era Giants.
Do New York Jets
The other New York football team are the most successful "challenger" to the Giants for the hearts and minds of New Yorkers. While they were a charter member of the upstart AFL under the name "Titans" (Titans being bigger than Giants and all that) and the first AFL team to beat an NFL team in the Super Bowl, they have since failed to return to the big game and often play second fiddle to the Giants. The fact that they share a common home stadium may not have helped in that.
Eat
Eat Segovia Restaurant
Spanish cuisine. It offers a casual and friendly atmosphere. It specializes in seafood plates and appetizers. The restaurant can seat up to 160 people at a time and does parties for groups of 40 or more. The only downside to this place is that the decor is simple and the seats in the restaurant are too close together.
Eat Chef Chan Restaurant
Chinese cuisine. This place consistently has the best take out and the portions are huge. One dinner can feed up to three people so keep this in mind! Although it does not have a seating area, Chef Chan's makes up for it in taste. Make sure to have cash with you because this place does not take credit cards. They also deliver, the delivery is always prompt and correct. Don't forget to tip your driver!
Drink
Drink The New Park Tavern
A nice friendly atmosphere for friends to sit down and have a few drinks. The pizza is very good!
Sleep
Stay Fairfield Inn East Rutherford Meadowlands
Stay Homestead Suites Meadowlands-Ruthford
It is on the cheaper side but the hotel is clean and decent for its price.
Go next
Unless you are coming from there (and in some cases even then) the most logical place to go from here is New York City
Nearby
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My experience
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