Summit, New Jersey travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Summit is a city in New Jersey. It is located in Union County and is about 20 miles from Manhattan. This article also covers the neighboring town of New Providence.

2 sights · 1 things to do · 3 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Summit

Downtown Summit

Downtown Summit includes shopping, services (barbershops, fitness centers) food, parking, and events (sidewalk sales, farmers markets).

Reeves-Reed Arboretum

The Arboretum helps people become better educated about nature and the environment.

Summit Community Center

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 — 11 mi away (major hub). Directions
TEB Teterboro Airport, Teterboro — 17 mi away. Directions

The closest airport is the Newark Liberty International Airport. As this is one of the busiest airports in the country, you should not have any trouble reaching there. It is located in Newark, NJ.

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 Downtown Summit, Summit Community Center
Lunch La Pastaria
Afternoon Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Dinner Village Trattoria
Evening The Office Tavern & Grill

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 plane

A second nearby airport is John F. Kennedy International Airport. It is located in Queens, NY.

Another nearby airport is LaGuardia Airport. It is located in Flushing, NY.

By train

The easiest way to get in from New York City is to take a train into Summit from New York Pennsylvania Station. It is about a 55-minute train including stops.

Go Summit railway station

📍 40 Union Pl⚠ Last checked Oct 2020 — confirm before you go

Maps

Get around

You can get around Summit by driving or walking (since it is only about 6 sq mi). Taxis are not readily available but can be called if needed.

See

See Downtown Summit

Downtown Summit includes shopping, services (barbershops, fitness centers) food, parking, and events (sidewalk sales, farmers markets).

Maps Website

See Reeves-Reed Arboretum

The Arboretum helps people become better educated about nature and the environment.

📍 165 Hobart Avenue☎ +1 908 273-8787

Maps Website

The Summit Opera House was built in the 1890s by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union as meeting place and dry entertainment hall. It houses Winberie's restaurant on the ground floor, and a church, office space, and apartments on the upper floors. It is on Springfield Avenue at Kent Place Boulevard in downtown Summit.
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, on Elm Street diagonally across from the Summit Middle School, is a professionally recognized regional art center with an art school and an exhibition program.