Overview
Manalapan is a city of around 34,000 people in Monmouth County. This community is 15 mi (24) from the Jersey Shore and 45 mi (72 km) southwest of New York City
4 sights · 6 things to do · 6 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Manalapan
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…
Home of Moses Laird
General George Washington, before the Battle of Monmouth, and host to the General, on the night of June 29, 1778 and the days following the battle.
Crest Fruit Farm
Pumpkin, apple, and cherry picking during season
The Great Cannonade
On June 28, 1778, the largest land artillery battle of the American Revolution raged right here!
Manalapan Recreation Center
Play sports such as, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, hockey. They also have several playgrounds, two rinks and several fields for the other sports. Teams do play at scheduled times, and they also practice. There is a…
Combat Sports
Outdoor Laser Tag venue. Play team oriented games like capture the flag. Players ages 9 yrs and above.
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 — 22 mi away. Directions
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 32 mi away (major hub). Directions
The City is served by several nearby international and domestic airports
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Crest Fruit Farm, Manalapan Recreation Center
- Lunch Pino's Italian Restaurant
- Afternoon Knob Hill Golf Course, Knob Hill Country Lanes Bowling Center
- Dinner Peking Pavilion
- Evening Lounge Cafe
Day 2
- Morning Home of Moses Laird, The Great Cannonade, Combat Sports
- Lunch Dusal's Pizza
- Afternoon Avanti Salon & Spa, Party Gym Inc
- Dinner Michael's Cucina Italia
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
Understand
The name "Manalapan" comes from the Lenape word for land of good bread or good land to settle upon.
Manalapan Township is primarily a suburban area and was originally formed by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1848, The area was created from existing portions of Freehold Township.
Englishtown was formed as a borough from portions of Manalapan on January 4, 1888, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.
Yorketown is an unincorporated area located within Manalapan Township.
The Battle of Monmouth was fought in Monmouth Battlefield State Park, which is in Freehold Township and Manalapan.
Get in
By plane
- Old Bridge Airport (3N6) Public-use airport located 9.26 km (5 mn) south of the Old Bridge CBD in Middlesex County. The airport is privately owned and situated next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The City is 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.
Please see the New Jersey article for more detailed information on these airports and services.
By train
While there is no designated station for this particular township, the nearest train station, by distance, 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, New Jersey, approximately 10 miles/23 minutes away from the northern township border between Marlboro and Manalapan.
By car
U.S Highway 9, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 33, Garden State Parkway, Route 527
- U.S. Route 9 is in the northeast
- State Route 33 passes through near the southern part of the township.
- County routes 522 and 527 traverse the municipality.
- County route 537 follows the southeast border of the township.
Other major roads provide access to the area.
- Garden State Parkway is in bordering Old Bridge
- Interstate 195 is in bordering Millstone Township.
- New Jersey Turnpike Interstate 95 is in East Windsor Township (Exit 8) and bordering Monroe Township (Exit 8A).
By bus
New Jersey Transit drop-off location Union Hill Road or Gordon’s Corner Rd
Get around
Place Leon's Taxi & Car Service
Place First class Limousine
See
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, a restored farmhouse
See Home of Moses Laird
General George Washington, before the Battle of Monmouth, and host to the General, on the night of June 29, 1778 and the days following the battle.
See The Great Cannonade
On June 28, 1778, the largest land artillery battle of the American Revolution raged right here!
Do
Do Manalapan Recreation Center
Play sports such as, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, hockey. They also have several playgrounds, two rinks and several fields for the other sports. Teams do play at scheduled times, and they also practice. There is a lot of parking available. Summer camp during the summertime. Food and beverages are available at certain times. They also hold events here like the Memorial Day Tournament.
- Manalapan Under the Stars An annual community celebration featuring rides, concerts, fireworks, and other activities. Held at the Manalapan Recreation Center.
Do Combat Sports
Outdoor Laser Tag venue. Play team oriented games like capture the flag. Players ages 9 yrs and above.
Do Knob Hill Golf Course
18 hole golf course with distinctive front nine, catering to the target golfer. The back nine allows you to hit the ball a little harder and worry less about trouble.
Do Knob Hill Country Lanes Bowling Center
Competitive league and fun league bowling, children’s birthday parties, corporate events, cosmic bowling, fund raising events/tournament. Video games and an arcade. Snack bar with food and beverages, including alcoholic ones. Private rooms available for a party or an event rooms with a host/hostess. Shoe rental and bowling balls. Something to do for all ages.
Do Party Gym Inc
Children's Party & Play Center Party Gym Inc is a one-stop provider of fun for the family in New Jersey.
Buy
Eat
Eat Pino's Italian Restaurant
Italian cuisine, with full bar, and valet parking lot. Casual attire and acceptable for family dinners.
Eat Peking Pavilion
Chinese cuisine with full service bar, acceptable for family with casual attire.
Eat Dusal's Pizza
It is a great and friendly pizza place that gives you that small town feeling. On top of being a pizza place they also have a great restaurant attached, which is great for family dinners. The people there are really kind and friendly. They do not deliver, but they are definitely worth a drive. $9-$15.
Eat Michael's Cucina Italia
Great Italian food, great bread, service, fair pricing, large portion meals.
Eat La Rosa Chicken & GrillLa
Great prepared chicken, grilled, fried, in a sandwich, you name it they do it.
Drink
Sleep
There seems to be no places to stay here; try Freehold or Old Bridge.
Stay safe
The city and surrounding area has a rising crime rate. Use care and common sense especially if moving about the district at night, on your own or in areas in which you may easily become disorientated.
Manalapan Township has a police department.
Place Manalapan Township Police Department (In an emergency always call 911)
Go next
New York City can be easily reached through U.S. Route 9 North, following the signs. Public transport regularly services passengers toward New York City through bus lines: 139 (regular service between Lakewood and New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal, or "PABT"), 132 (same as 139, but express between Gordon's Corner Road and Old Bridge), and 130 (express between PABT and Union Hill Road Park & Ride in the neighboring Marlboro Township).
Homdel Township
Crawford Hill the former site of a radar facility, is the county's highest point at least 380 feet (116 m) above sea level. The top portion of the hill is owned by Alcatel-Lucent and houses a research laboratory of Bell Laboratories.
The Locust neighborhood of Middletown Township
Monmouth County a mecca of boating and fishing. Its waterways include several rivers and bays
New York Harbor
Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Manasquan Inlet
Manasquan River, a bay-like body of saltwater that serves as the starting point of the Intracoastal Waterway.
- Middlesex County, New Jersey is to the northwest
- Ocean County, New Jersey is to the south
- Millstone Township is to the immediate south
- Burlington County, New Jersey is to the southwest
- Mercer County, New Jersey is to the west
- Richmond County, New York is to the north
- Queens County, New York is to the northeast
- Marlboro Township is to the immediate northeast
- The Atlantic Ocean lies a short distance and several counties to the east
- Freehold Township is to the immediate east
Gateway National Recreation Area The Sandy Hook section of this recreation area is within Monmouth County.
Nearby
Englishtown
City / town · 3 mi away
Freehold
City / town · 35 listings · 6 mi away
Hightstown
City / town · 20 listings · 7 mi away
Old Bridge
City / town · 1 listings · 11 mi away
Allentown
City / town · 6 listings · 11 mi away
Jackson Township
City / town · 12 listings · 12 mi away
East Brunswick
City / town · 25 listings · 12 mi away
Colts Neck
City / town · 5 listings · 12 mi away
My experience
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