Are you searching for the best plane and train museums in NJ to take your children?
Look no further!
New Jersey boasts some amazing museums that focus on locomotive and aviation history and are perfect for kids who love trains and planes. From Guinness World Record sites to National Historic Landmarks, you will surely find something everyone in the family will enjoy.
And what’s more exciting than witnessing real planes taking off and landing? It’s an unforgettable experience that will create lasting memories for your family.
So, let’s explore some of the best places in New Jersey where your kids can indulge in everything from trains to planes!
Take Your Train-Loving Kids to These Amazing New Jersey Museums
Northlandz
Photo Credit: Northlandz
495 Route 202
Flemington, NJ
Did you know that Northlandz is home to the world’s largest miniature train wonderland?
It boasts over 8 miles of tracks, 200+ tunnels, and over 100 operating model trains. This place is truly remarkable and one of the very best train museums in NJ!
The extensive model collection was single-handedly designed and built by the brilliant Bruce Williams Zaccagnino and even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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Love discovering off-the-beaten-path attractions?
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Photo Credit: Northlandz
During seasonal weekends and holidays, your family can enjoy an exciting ride on a full-size replica of an 1890s steam engine through the neighboring valleys and countryside.
I recommend taking the train ride first to avoid having your little ones rush you once you are inside. Purchase Tickets Onlineย in advance to get a discount and check their website for seasonal events.
Mahwah Museum
Photo Credit: Mahwah Museum
201 Franklin Turnpike,
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Kids will love all the details of the Donald Cooper Model Railway located downstairs in the Mahwah Museum.
Discover a captivating model train exhibit that’s sure to delight! Every week, the trains are rotated so you can enjoy a fresh display each time you visit.
The exhibit features a trolley, a subway system, a logging station, a waterfall, a roundhouse, and even a working turntable.
Make sure you don’t miss out on exploring every little detail of this elaborate attraction that is sure to be a hit with your kids!
The exhibit is open on Saturdays from 1-4 pm.
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Trains and planes are exciting, but sometimes kids just need to climb and slide.
These indoor play cafรฉs in NJ have you covered.
Photo Credit: Mahwah Museum
If you’re looking for a fun activity to do with your kids during the summer months at the Mahwah Museum, take them to explore the on-site Old Station Museum and Erie Caboose.
There, they’ll get a chance to go inside and check out all the fascinating train memorabilia on display.
The Old Station Museum and Erie Caboose are open seasonally; check their website for the most current opening times.ย
Turn your museum day into a full-on adventure by staying at one of these hotels with indoor water parks for splash-worthy fun.
Whippany Railway Museum
Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz
1 Railroad Plaza,
Whippany, NJ 07981
This museum is perfect for young train enthusiasts!
It features a wide variety of indoor and outdoor trains, cabooses, and historic station equipment. The museum’s primary goal is to preserve the rich history and heritage of New Jersey’s railways.
Your little ones will have a blast exploring the large selection of outdoor trains. And, inside the small museum, they can marvel at the impressive details of the Whippanong Valley Miniature Railroad display.
No visit to the Whippany Railway Museum is complete without taking a historic Excursion Train Ride.
Experience a classic 45-minute historic train ride that takes you over an exciting bridge across the Passaic River and through the remnants of a prehistoric glacial lake.
Train rides are only available on Sundays from May to October, with four train times each day starting at 1 p.m. Be sure to check their website for the most up-to-date schedule.
NJ Museum of Transportation
4265 Atlantic Ave, Wall
Township, NJ 07727
If you love trains and history, you should check out the NJ Museum of Transportation!
It’s a small outdoor train museum run by local train enthusiasts, and it’s located right next to Allaire Village.
You’ll have a chance to take a 15-minute ride on a vintage open-air train that loops around an area of Allaire State Park.
Once the ride ends, you can explore the rare and vintage equipment around the property. Although the museum is small, it’s excellent.
For an added bonus to your day, immerse yourself in American history at the Allaire Village right next door!
My kids loved watching actual blacksmithing take place in one of the many historic buildings.ย
Also, be sure to check out the bakery at Allaire Village for some yummy treats after your train ride.
New Jersey's Plane Museums to Ignite Your Child's Passion For Flight
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum
Photo Credit: NAS Wildwood
500 Forrestal Rd.,
Cape May, NJ 08204
Looking for an exciting family adventure? Why not take your kids to NAS Wildwood?
It’s a one-of-a-kind museum located in a historic World War II Naval Aviation hangar near Cape May Airport.
Your kids will love exploring the collection of over 20 full-size aircraft and interactive exhibits.
This non-profit organization was once the training facility for a top dive-bomber squadron in New Jersey. It has now been recognized as a historic place and listed on the National Register.
The museum is huge and features many hands-on educational activities that will inspire your kids’ curiosity.
Want to give your kids an exciting experience controlling the skies? They can climb into a real air traffic control tower or sit in an actual cockpit for a hands-on experience.
They can even make their own custom military dog tag for only $10, which they can take home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
If you’re looking for an entertaining and educational family outing, NAS Wildwood is one of the best plane museums in NJ and worth a visit.
Photo Credit: Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey
400 Fred Wehran Dr.
Teterboro, NJ 07608
This museum has been voted one of the Best Museums in New Jersey and is loaded with aviation and WWII history.
Your kids will have a great time exploring the unique exhibits and checking out the first American hoverboard ever invented and many other aircraft, helicopters, models, and more.
You might catch the museum on an Open Cockpit Day if you’re lucky. But don’t worry if you can’t make it; you can always check their website to see when they have open cockpit weekends. They are so much fun!
Kids will enjoy learning and having fun at the museum with interactive exhibits like a giant hot air balloon basket for climbing and video games to test their flying skills.
Photo Credit: Millville Army Air Field Museum
302 Beacon St.
Millville, NJ 08332
Your kids will love watching real planes take off and land at the nearby Millville Airport.
And when you need a break from all the excitement, head to the Millville Army Air Museum. It’s a small museum with lots of cool stuff related to World War II, aviation artifacts, and the history of the United States.
You can learn a lot about the local history of aviation and New Jersey’s role as America’s first defense airport.
Admission to the Millville Army Air Field Museum is free, but it needs donations to keep going, so please help out if you can.
Once you’ve finished checking out the museum, head over to Verna’s Flight Line restaurant next door. It’s an aviation-themed eatery, and your kids will love having a chance to dine with genuine airplane pilots.
Verna’s Flight Line Restaurant, situated at the Millville Regional Airport, is the perfect spot to feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.ย
Photo Credit: Timothy Hyde
68 Stacy Haines Rd.
Lumberton, NJ 08048
The Air Victory Museum is a charming museum located in an airplane hangar just outside the South Jersey Regional Airport.
It has a collection of historic and rare planes, and your children will love to explore them and even peek into the cockpits.
The museum is conveniently located next to a charming cafรฉ with a fun airplane theme, making it an ideal spot for a delightful family outing.
Stop by the Runway Cafรฉ before or after your visit for breakfast or lunch while watching the planes take off and land.
Plane and Train Museums in NJ Have Something For Everyone
These museums are perfect for families who want to learn about the evolution of travel and local history.
Get up close with rocket engines and locomotives, and keep your kids entertained with interactive displays.
The passionate curators offer insight into the technological marvels that have shaped our world, making it a perfect educational experience.
Whether your kids are aviation aficionados or train enthusiasts, they will love these museums.
If you’re in the Garden State, make sure to visit New Jersey’s plane and train museums for a fun and educational family outing.
