Overview
Freehold is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Freehold is a great day or weekend trip for those who love history, architecture, shopping, and food.
10 sights · 4 things to do · 6 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Freehold
Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County
Mount's Corner Historic Shopping Center was the place where one of New Jersey's earliest Jewish families resided. The Solomons had lived in the property since roughly 1720, where they owned a large piece of farmland. Dur…
Maplewood Cemetery
Cemetery that was established in the Late 19th century. There is a chapel and mausoleum on the premise.
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Historic battlefield site on the site of the longest battle of the American Revolution. The location is now preserved as an 18th-century rural setting with wooded areas, fields, orchards, and wetlands with miles and mile…
Craig House
One of many 18th-century farmhouses that have been preserved at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. The family of the home (the Craigs) were Patriots, but the home was raided and used as a hospital by the British during the…
Covenhoven House
18th-century farmhouse of great importance to the Battle of Monmouth. The Covenhoven family were loyal supporters of the Crown, and it was utilized as General Clinton's headquarters during the Battle of Monmouth.
Monmouth County Courthouse
The County Courthouse for Monmouth. The courthouse was built in neoclassical architecture.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 26°F. Wettest: Aug and Dec. (climate data from nearby Asbury Park)
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.
- TTN Trenton Mercer Airport, Ewing Township — 28 mi away. Directions
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 30 mi away (major hub). Directions
There is no designated station for Freehold; the nearest train station is Aberdeen-Matawan, which runs along the North Jersey Coast Line towards New York City/Hoboken and Bay Head. The station situates on the intersection of Main Street & Atlantic Avenue in Matawan, approximately 10 miles/20 minutes away along Route 79. The two towns are separated by Marlboro Township.
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 Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, Craig House, Monmouth Battle Monument
- Lunch All Seasons Diner II
- Afternoon Oakley Farmstead, iPlay America
- Dinner Charkol
- Evening 618
Day 2
- Morning Maplewood Cemetery, Covenhoven House, Monmouth County Historical Association
- Lunch El Meson
- Afternoon Downtown Freehold, Wemrock Orchards
- Dinner Metropolitan Cafe
- Evening Court Jester
Day 3
- Morning Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Monmouth County Courthouse
- Lunch Federici's Pizzeria
- Afternoon St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Battleview Orchards
- Dinner Jersey Freeze
- Evening Moore's Tavern
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.
Understand
Freehold is the seat of Monmouth County, and one of the original townships of Monmouth County. Freehold is a city which contains much 18th-century history, as it was here where the Battle of Monmouth was waged. In the 19th century, many quaint Victorian houses were built, along with the Freehold Raceway.
The city is a bedroom community of New York City, home to the Freehold Raceway Mall (the third largest mall in the state) and steps away from trendy dining spots, bars, taverns, museums, and art galleries on Main Street.
Get in
By train
There is no designated station for Freehold; the nearest train station is Aberdeen-Matawan, which runs along the North Jersey Coast Line towards New York City/Hoboken and Bay Head. The station situates on the intersection of Main Street & Atlantic Avenue in Matawan, approximately 10 miles/20 minutes away along Route 79. The two towns are separated by Marlboro Township.
By car
U.S Route 9, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 18, Route 33, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 195, and County Routes 522, 524, 527, and 537 all provide access to Freehold:
- U.S. Route 9 runs through the 'heart' of Freehold. Freehold Raceway and Freehold Raceway Mall are located across from each other on US-9. Many strip malls, restaurants, and car dealerships are also dotted along US-9.
- State Route 18 briefly runs in the northeast section of Freehold Township at a junction with County Route 537. The route is a vital link for the Jersey Shore and Raritan Valley region in Central New Jersey. The route can also be accessed in Marlboro via Route 79 and in Old Bridge via US-9.
- State Route 33 passes through near the center the city. It is further divided into two sections:
- Freehold Bypass is the freeway section of Route 33 that bypasses the urban commercial areas of Freehold Borough
- Route 33 Business is the 'old' section of Route 33 that travels through the urban commercial areas of Freehold Borough
- State Route 79 runs through the 'heart' of Freehold, from US-9 near Freehold Township into Freehold Borough briefly running concurrent with County Route 537, before heading northwest towards northern sections of Freehold into Marlboro.
- County routes 522, 524, 527, and 537 traverse the municipality.
Other major roads provide access to the area:
- Garden State Parkway is 10 miles east in Tinton Falls (Exit 100)
- Interstate 195 is in bordering Millstone, Jackson, and Howell Townships
- New Jersey Turnpike Interstate 95 is 10 miles west in East Windsor Township (Exit 8)
By bus
New Jersey Transit provides bus service between Freehold and New York City from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan via bus routes 131, 135 and 139. The Academy Bus Line provides bus service between Freehold and New York City from Wall Street in Manhattan.
By plane
- Old Bridge Airport (3N6) Public-use airport 5 miles (9 km) south of the Old Bridge CBD in Old Bridge, Middlesex County. The privately owned airport is roughly a 15-minute drive to/from Freehold and is next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The city is also served by several nearby international and domestic airports
* Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) * John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) * LaGuardia Airport (LGA). * Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) * Atlantic City Airport (ACY) provides some minor domestic service.
See the New Jersey article for more detailed information on these airports and services.
By boat
Ferry service is available through the SeaStreak service in Highlands (near Middletown). The ferry slip is roughly a 30-minute drive to/from Freehold. Some residents (particularly residents in the northeastern section of town, near Route 18) opt to commuting to New York City via SeaStreak, as it offers ferry service to Pier 11 (on the East River at Wall Street) and East 35th Street.
Get around
While public transportation is provided, most residents and visitors get around by car.
See
See Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County
Mount's Corner Historic Shopping Center was the place where one of New Jersey's earliest Jewish families resided. The Solomons had lived in the property since roughly 1720, where they owned a large piece of farmland. During the Battle of Monmouth, their dwelling however was attacked by the British. The widowed matriarch Hannah Solomon and her two sons were able to save their farmstead from the fires caused by the British. The farm had continued to be prosperous for decades and centuries after that fated encounter. However, the barn and surrounding farm eventually fell into disarray, especially with the construction of the much larger Mount's Corner Shopping Center in the late 20th century, where much of the farm once encompassed. To address this, in 2005 The Jewish Federation of Monmouth County established a planning committee. This planning committee introduced an idea to form a Jewish Heritage Museum inside the former Solomon Farmstead at Mount's Corner. It is "dedicated to the promotion of public awareness of the county’s Jewish heritage for the education and enjoyment of both children and adults."
See Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Historic battlefield site on the site of the longest battle of the American Revolution. The location is now preserved as an 18th-century rural setting with wooded areas, fields, orchards, and wetlands with miles and miles of trails, picnic areas, and restored farmhouses
See Monmouth Battle Monument
Near the Monmouth County Courthouse, a 90-foot (27 m) tall monument with a statue of Columbia Triumphant at its apex is dedicated to the Battle of Monmouth.
See Monmouth County Historical Association
A museum that has a wide array of unique artifacts, furniture, paintings, rare documents, and books, from over three centuries within Monmouth County history. It was established in 1898 by a group of county residents and professional educator Caroline Gallup Reed, with the purpose “to discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever relates to the history of Monmouth County.” There are other historically preserved properties throughout Monmouth County, particularly from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The main museum headquarters in the borough is located inside a brick Georgian-style building designed by architect J. Hallam Conover. There are numerous historical exhibits that are featured throughout the year.
See St. Peter's Episcopal Church
An historic Episcopalian congregation. The building was constructed in 1771 during colonial times. Its Georgian and Gothic architectural features, along with its importance to the community, was what added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The building still hosts services today and is a testament to the town's colonial preservation.
See Oakley Farmstead
Also known as the Walker, Combs, Hartshorne, Oakley Farmhouse, is in the historic district of the village of West Freehold. The first recorded owners of the property were 'new-world' Scottish Quakers in the 17th century. The last recorded owner was Elizabeth Oakley, who died in the property in 1995. At the time of her death, it was one of the oldest (if not the oldest) continuous operational farm in Monmouth County. It was then sold to the township in 1997, and has been converted into a museum.
Do
Do Battleview Orchards
Family owned and operated farm located near Monmouth Battlefield and is one of the oldest orchards in New Jersey. The farm annually in the Summer and Autumn months harvests "Pick Your Own" fruits for visitors, such as Strawberries, Peaches, Apples, and Pumpkins. The orchard also has a country store of their stocked items and offers hayrides in Autumn.
Do Wemrock Orchards
Family owned and operated farm on the corner of Route 33 Business and Wemrock Road, between Monmouth Battlefield and Freehold Raceway Mall. It was founded in 1952 as "Twin Lakes Orchards" by Albert and Jeannette Giunco (whom were originally grocery store owners from Belmar). They bought the 250 acre cow farm in Freehold at the corner of Gravel Hill Road and Thompson Grove Road on the border of Freehold and Manalapan. The farm was originally just a fruit stand and it was a popular destination for travelers heading to and from the Jersey Shore. The farm moved to its current location in 1967, featuring a country store of their stocked items, a bakery, and winery (see Tomasello Winery "To Drink" section). The farm annually in the summer and autumn months harvests "Pick Your Own" fruits for visitors, such as strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins.
Buy
Shop Freehold Raceway Mall
A super-regional high-end shopping mall, opposite the Freehold Raceway over US-9. The mall is the third largest shopping mall in the state and is a popular shopping destination for residents and visitors. It features Macy's, JCPenney, L.L. Bean, Primark, Apple, Zara, Lululemon Athletica, francesca's, and Michael Kors.
Eat
Eat Charkol
New premier steakhouse in the heart of Downtown Freehold. Serving some of the finest cuts of steak in the area, the establishment is BYOB and thus a great place to host big gatherings.
Eat El Meson
Authentic Mexican restaurant on Main Street. The restaurant is known for its great vibes, offering both indoor and outdoor seating.
Eat Metropolitan Cafe
At this restaurant, you have the option on either dining inside or outside. The menu offers a variety of delicious food, especially sushi. This place has a great bar, and some nights during the week they have different activities, such as karaoke, bingo, and trivia.
Eat Federici's Pizzeria
Federici's serves thin crust pizza. This pizzeria is relatively large, and has a lot of tables, so it is more of a restaurant then a pizzeria, and has great food. This location is in the center of town and is a very popular location.
Eat Jersey Freeze
Jersey Freeze is a soft-serve ice cream and diner that was featured on the Food Network. In the dining section, they offer a variety of choices, including hotdogs, fries, burgers and sandwiches. Stop over in the ice cream section to get a milkshake, sundae, or your option of a variety of frozen yogurt and soft-serve creations. A lot of seating outside and inside the dining area.
Drink
Drink 618
Extravagant banquet hall that features delicious entrees and cocktails. Reservations strongly encouraged, for romantic outings and/or for big gatherings (weddings, luncheons, etc).
Drink Court Jester
At Court Jester, you will find a bar scene with dine in or take out for its food. There are many screens to watch sports games, and there are over 42 beers on tap. When you go there, you should expect to find a very social and energetic environment and there are usually a lot of people. Every night out of the week there are drink specials, and some cool games to win gift cards and prizes.
Drink Moore's Tavern
Established in 1787 by Moses Mount (an aide to George Washington during the American Revolution), the sports tavern (in its original structure) is a popular place for locals and visitors. It features tavern-style food for dine in or takeout and a wide array of beer on tap.
Drink Tomasello Winery
Based out of Hammonton, near Atlantic City New Jersey, Tomasello Winery is the second-oldest active winery in the state, after Renault Winery. It has locations across the state, including in Freehold. There is a wine tasting room located inside of Wemrock Orchards. The winery offers over 50 homegrown wines for tasting sessions (reservations strongly encouraged), but the winery is open to retail transactions of their stocked wine as well.
Sleep
Go next
Tri-city region of Jersey Shore cities:
Other nearby cities:
Nearby
Englishtown
City / town · 5 mi away
Colts Neck
City / town · 5 listings · 6 mi away
Manalapan
City / town · 27 listings · 6 mi away
Howell
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Holmdel
City / town · 1 listings · 10 mi away
Old Bridge
City / town · 1 listings · 10 mi away
Matawan
City / town · 2 listings · 11 mi away
Wall
City / town · 7 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.