NYC to Philly by car
 

We'll be in NYC next month, and are driving down to Philly for a couple of days to see family. We're picking up a car at the airport in Newark, and going to a suburb north of Philly. We've got most of a day to get there, and would prefer not to just drive interstate to interstate. Can anyone recommend things to see or do along the way? An interesting route?

We're three 35-ish adults and a 12-yo boy from the west coast. Not really into battlefields.

Thanks!

Well, there is really not that much on the way to Philadelphia from Newark. I'd suggest just staying on the turnpike until you get to your destination. Where in the Philly area will you be staying? The best route is the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95).

If you are into Amusement Parks, Six Flags Great Adventure is just about halfway between NYC and Philadelphia. Plenty of roller coasters to keep a 12 year old (and 35 years olds) occupied.

Alternatively, and depending on the weather, you could easily do a day at the beach. Spring Lake is a really nice town with a nice beach. It's located off exit 98 of the Garden State Parkway. From there, you can easily get to Philadephia via Route 195 to the NJ Turnpike (not 100% sure it is route 195.) If you want to extend the stay at the Shore, a bit, both Pt. Pleasant and Seaside Heights have Boardwalks with games and rides. The latter is probably more fun for a 12 year old.

If it is post Memorial Day, Monmouth Raceway is fun for a day of horseracing. It's located off exit 105 on the Parkway.

Ok, here is one idea for you:

From Newark Airport get on Route 78 west (major highway) for about one hour. This will get you to a real scenic part of NJ. Get off the higway onto Route 513 south. You wont believe your eyes. Then travel south on this country road for about 20 miles and you will end up in Frenchtown. Here you can walk around this charming little village and stretch your legs and go to the bathroom :)

From Frenchtown you will travel south along the scenic Delaware River on Route 29. Try to get make it to Lambertville for lunchtime and give yourself a couple hours to walk around on both sides of the river...(New Hope, PA is on the other side) You will be charmed! From Lambertville it might be 45 minutes to north Philly suburbs.

If I had family or friends visiting that is what I would want them to do.

I agree with the New Hope/Lamberton idea above. It would be a good place to have lunch and shop around. Another suggestion is Princeton, which has a nice downtown for lunch and you can also tour the campus. Neither would take you very much out of a direct route to Philadelphia.

I would also say that Newark Airport is the most expensive place to rent a car, as you will pay an airport surcharge and other taxes. Many of the major rental companies have places where you can pick up cars in New Jersey, often at gas stations in suburban towns. You might call the rental company and ask for the price difference if you were to rent at a non-airport location. I don't know if you have a lot of luggage, or want to return the car to Newark Airport. etc., but an option might be to take a train to one of the New Jersey suburbs like Summit, Westfield, Scotch Plains, etc and rent from there. You may also be able to rent in the Edison, New Jersey area, which has a major Amtrak and commuter rail stop at Metropark. From Edison, it is about 45 minutes to Princeton. You may also be able to rent a car in the Princeton area, which has some Amtrak service, so you could take the train to Princeton.

I think the Frenchtown/Lambertville suggestion is a good one. It keeps you off the turnpike, garden state, etc. and it is scenic. In terms of car rentals, try calling Enterprise and see if they still have the $9.99 a day rental over the weekend - you can't get it at the airport, but there is an enterprise car rental place in Downtown Newark that has the deal when they run it (I have rented from them when they've had the deal in the past). It is a short PATH ride from Herald square - Macy's to Downtown Newark and they'll pick you from Penn station in Newark when you get there.

If you don't want to take the NJ Turnpike, you don't have to. I once drove on the state highway (not an interstate, but a busy commercial street, south through Hightstown then to the interstate immediately west of the turnpike. That highway is free.

In Hightstown, there is a cute downtown and Peddie School nearby. You can have a picnic on the grounds of Peddie School, I think. They did not chase me away.