Rockaway (New Jersey)

Rockaway is a city in New Jersey. It is the common name for the area made up of Rockaway Township and Rockaway Boro. It's in the northern central part of the state and part of Morris County. Rockaway is home to close to 30,000 residents. The area is largely suburban and residential, and has a lot of rural land as well. Rockaway Townsquare Mall, in the Township section, is home to one of New Jersey's largest shopping centers.

Get in
Route 80 cuts directly through the town of Rockaway. You can get off on exit 37, 35A or 35B. Route 46 runs through the town as well. Rockaway is within reach of many major highways. RT-10, RT-287, RT-24, RT-78, I-95 are all within a 20-minute drive. If you are a looking to fly in, the best place would be Newark International Airport (one of the busiest in the U.S.), which is only 25 minutes away. Rockaway lies only 35 minutes from the George Washington Bridge and the Delaware Water Gap, in each direction.

Get around
Other than NJ Transit's bus service to other areas of Morris County, and the rest of New Jersey, public transit isn't very big in Rockaway. Lakeland Bus provides commuter bus service to and from New York City. NJ Transit runs trains from stations in Dover and Denville (both bordering cities). But if you're looking to get around the town, realistically, you're going to need a car. It's a typical suburban New Jersey town, meaning that everything is pretty much exclusively accessible by automobile.

See

 * Green Pond (Johnson Ave. off Green Pond Rd.) -- At the most northwest point of Rockaway Township lies the self-proclaimed 'cleanest lake in New Jersey.' A mostly private, but beautiful community with two beaches, multiple swimming lanes, a playground and a pretty nice Yacht Club. Great for fishing. A prime destination in the summer. Easy to access without a beach pass.
 * Split Rock Reservoir Split Rock Rd. 625 acres of untouched wilderness. Go down the long winding Split Rock Rd. and you'll see many large lakes connected by small islands.
 * Split Rock Reservoir Split Rock Rd. 625 acres of untouched wilderness. Go down the long winding Split Rock Rd. and you'll see many large lakes connected by small islands.

Ford Faesch House- Built in 1768, the house was said to be frequented by George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The house is owned by the town and is now a historical site.

Do

 * Downtown Rockaway Boro (Main Street) -- Has a very small town feel with lots of independent shops and small restaurants. A good place to take a stroll and spend an afternoon.
 * Park Lake (Academy St.) -- A small lake with a large walking path surrounding it. Great place to take a serious run, or just a walk with your dog. Offers a large playground for the kids. Beach is open in the summer with lifeguards. The Park Lake Gazebo at the end of the lake also has a free concert series during July and August that is quite popular with the senior community.
 * White Meadow Lake Festival Day (White Meadow Rd./Hibernia Ave.) -- Every year in late July, the community of White Meadow Lake in Rockaway holds Festival Day, which is one of the better carnival atmospheres in the area. People from all around town gather for games, rides, and an extensive selection of food and drink. A major fireworks display takes place at the conclusion on Sunday night.
 * White Meadow Lake Festival Day (White Meadow Rd./Hibernia Ave.) -- Every year in late July, the community of White Meadow Lake in Rockaway holds Festival Day, which is one of the better carnival atmospheres in the area. People from all around town gather for games, rides, and an extensive selection of food and drink. A major fireworks display takes place at the conclusion on Sunday night.
 * White Meadow Lake Festival Day (White Meadow Rd./Hibernia Ave.) -- Every year in late July, the community of White Meadow Lake in Rockaway holds Festival Day, which is one of the better carnival atmospheres in the area. People from all around town gather for games, rides, and an extensive selection of food and drink. A major fireworks display takes place at the conclusion on Sunday night.

Rockaway River- The river is a great spot for fishing or to just enjoy the scenery.

The Exchange- The Exchange is a restaurant bar located on Main Street that has an old fashioned feel. The bar hosts live bands and different themed nights throughout the week. Also there is outdoor seating for summer nights.

Eat


The Olive Garden- The extremely successful dinner chain has its second busiest restaurant located in Rockaway. Cheap, but good Italian food, you know the deal.

Muldoons- Located inside Macy's at the Rockaway Mall, it is a great steakhouse our just a place to grab a drink or appetizer.

Fatburger- A famous burger chain with fantastic burgers, fries and milkshakes.

Go next
Neighboring town of Dover is a nice small town to spend an afternoon in. Mostly Hispanic, there are many excellent ethnic restaurants. The NJ Transit station in Dover provides for easy access to New York City, but be careful using the station's parking lot, as many spaces are permit only.