Overview
Maplewood is a town in Essex County.
2 sights · 3 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Maplewood
Turtle Back Zoo
South Mountain Reservation
A nature reserve managed by Essex County that covers parts of Maplewood, as well as Millburn and West Orange. Trails and paved walking paths cover large areas of the reserve, and sightings of deer, wild turkey, and other…
Durand-Hedden House and Garden
Maplewood's historic house museum. The oldest section was built circa 1777. Monthly programs focus on a variety of topics such as 18th century open-hearth cooking and farming, landscape painting by local artists, Maplewo…
Maplecrest Park
One of Maplewood's principal municipal parks, part of the township's recreational system and widely used for youth sports, family activities, and community recreation. The entrance and exits streets are Oakland Rd, Fores…
Memorial Park
A large park with multiple sports fields, playgrounds, ponds and rivers. Many people come to this park on nice days to enjoy the weather, have picnics, walk dogs, etc. The park hosts many different events such as the Fou…
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.
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- TEB Teterboro Airport, Teterboro — 14 mi away. Directions
There are multiple ways to get to Maplewood.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Turtle Back Zoo, South Mountain Reservation, Durand-Hedden House and Garden
- Lunch The Village Trattoria
- Afternoon Maplecrest Park, Memorial Park
- Dinner Lorena's
- Evening St. James Gate
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
Maplewood is a bedroom community of Manhattan located in Essex County. Known for its thriving economy and beautiful small village, this is a place you'll definitely want to stop by if you have the opportunity. Maplewood Village, in the center of town, is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
Get in
There are multiple ways to get to Maplewood.
By train
Maplewood Station is on Maplewood Ave, in Maplewood’s downtown business district. It is served by the Morris and Essex Line, with NJ Transit trains coming from New York City's Penn Station and Hoboken.
Go Maplewood railway station
By car
The most common exit to Maplewood is exit 50B on Interstate 78. This can be reached from the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike).
Get around
There are two commercial districts in Maplewood:
- "The Village" is to the immediate north of the railroad station with stores and restaurants along the Maplewood Avenue strip and some side streets.
- Springfield Avenue, a thoroughfare that runs from Springfield to Newark and includes stores and restaurants in the Maplewood section.
Do
Do Maplecrest Park
One of Maplewood's principal municipal parks, part of the township's recreational system and widely used for youth sports, family activities, and community recreation. The entrance and exits streets are Oakland Rd, Forest Rd, Essex Rd, Boyden Pkwy, Boyden Pkwy South, and Tuscan Rd. It has 3 baseball/softball fields, a playground, a skatepark, and open green field.
Do Memorial Park
A large park with multiple sports fields, playgrounds, ponds and rivers. Many people come to this park on nice days to enjoy the weather, have picnics, walk dogs, etc. The park hosts many different events such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Maplewoodstock, an annual two-day town event.
See and do
See Durand-Hedden House and Garden
Maplewood's historic house museum. The oldest section was built circa 1777. Monthly programs focus on a variety of topics such as 18th century open-hearth cooking and farming, landscape painting by local artists, Maplewood history, and African American history, including the annual Juneteenth celebration. Visit the website for program information and schedules.
Buy
Maplewood Village has a no-franchise ordinance.
Maplewood is known for its many small boutiques, especially in Maplewood Village, along Maplewood Avenue. These stores are unique to the town and sell merchandise that usually cannot be purchased in malls. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts etc., can be purchased at the train station, 145 Dunnell Rd. and at No. 165, a local shop in the Village.
Branching off from Maplewood Ave. are many quaint shops, such as:
- Hopscotch, a great clothing store for gifts for children from infants to elementary schoolers. Stop by for some great stuff, plus some toys for children to play with while you're there!
- 7-Eleven, refers to the locations of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain operating in Maplewood. The stores offer food, beverages, household essentials, and other convenience items, serving the local community and surrounding areas. It used to have 3 7-Elevens now there are 2.
Eat
Eat The Village Trattoria
This is a local family run Italian restaurant. The restaurant features a wide selection of pizzas as well as having a sit down dining area. Prices range from $2 for a slice of pizza, to $19.95 for seafood specials. The service is fast and friendly. Located in the heart of Maplewood Village, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
- Coda, 177 Maplewood Ave., offering a wide variety of excellent foods.
Eat Lorena's
A Zagat rated French restaurant. Must have a reservation (make a few weeks in advance). Prices range from $11.00-$48.00. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Drink
Drink St. James Gate
A local "Publick House" located in the business district in Maplewood. "The Gate" serves lunch and dinner and at night the bar life begins. A wide variety of beers and wines are available. "The Gate" has a laid back atmosphere with live music and entertains all age groups, as well as great food for everybody.
Drink Highland Place
Fun atmosphere for a night on the town with your friends. More of an adult-oriented place, live music is scheduled many nights. Be sure to check ahead to reserve a night for music!
Go next
- New York City, a thirty-minute drive or train ride away
- Short Hills, a five-minute drive, home of the Short Hills Mall
- Newark, a twenty-minute drive or train ride, is home to many different restaurants, especially in the Ironbound section, which are well known in the area
- Sandy Hook, a thirty-minute drive or train ride, is the closest “Jersey Shore” beach to Maplewood
Nearby
Millburn
City / town · 16 listings · 2 mi away
Union
City / town · 2 listings · 2 mi away
Short Hills
City / town · 3 listings · 3 mi away
The Oranges
City / town · 23 listings · 3 mi away
Summit
City / town · 12 listings · 5 mi away
Central Union County
Rural area · 6 listings · 5 mi away
Newark
City / town · 57 listings · 5 mi away
Chatham
City / town · 2 listings · 6 mi away
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