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The cut-off ages listed below imply that once children reach that age, they no longer qualify for FREE entry.

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 1

Imagine That!!! – Florham Park

RELATED: Birthday Freebies for Kids on Their Birthdays

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson offers free admission for kids under 2. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 2

Adventure Aquarium – Camden
Brookhollow's Barnyard –  Boonton
Camden Children's Garden – Camden
Field Station Dinosaurs – Leonia
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm – Morristown 
Liberty Science Center – Jersey City
Monmouth Museum – Lincroft
Northlandz – Flemington
Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari – Jackson
Storybook Land – Egg Harbor Township
Turtle Back Zoo – West Orange
Wild West City – Stanhope

RELATED: 100 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids Before They Grow Up

The Morris Museum's popular Mega Model Trains exhibit is on display during the holiday season and in the summer.

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 3

Bergen County Zoo – Paramus
Cape May Lighthouse – Cape May
Cowtown Rodeo – Pilesgrove
Diggerland USA – West Berlin (Note: Diggerland USA offers free admission to kids under 36 inches.)
Dreamworks Water Park – East Rutherford
Franklin Mineral Museum – Franklin
Greenwood Gardens – Short Hills
Historic Cold Spring Village – Cape May
Historic Village at Allaire – Farmingdale
Insectropolis – Toms River 
Jenkinson’s Aquarium – Point Pleasant Beach
Land of Make Believe – Hope​
Legoland Discovery Center – East Rutherford 
Liberty Hall Museum – Union
Lucy the Elephant – Margate
Medieval Times – Lyndhurst (Note: Kids who don't pay admission must sit on your lap and share your plate.)
Morris Museum – Morristown
Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum – Rio Grande (As of January 2023 the museum is temporarily closed for a roof repair so check the website for updates.)
New Jersey Museum of Transportation – Farmingdale
Newark Museum – Newark 
Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park – East Rutherford
Popcorn Park Zoo – Forked River
Big Kahuna's Water Park — West Berlin
SeaLife New Jersey – East Rutherford 
Space Farms Zoo & Museum – Sussex
Grammy Museum Experience – Newark

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 4

Absecon Lighthouse – Atlantic City
Atlantic City Aquarium – Atlantic City (Note: As of January 2023, this venue is temporarily closed, so check the website for updates.)
Delsea Drive-In Theatre – Vineland
Statue of Liberty – Liberty Island, N.Y.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum – Ogdensburg
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge – Medford 

​RELATED: Free Indoor Play Spots for New Jersey Kids

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Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton offers free admission for kids under 6. Photo by DMH Photography

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 6

Grounds for Sculpture – Hamilton
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum – Morristown
Morven Museum and Garden – Princeton
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts – Madison
Old Barracks Museum – Trenton
Wheaton Arts – Millville 

RELATED: Free Times To Visit NYC Museums, Gardens, and Zoos

Kids under 12 get in free at Montclair Art Museum, where they can view art and make some of their own.

Free Museums and Attractions for Kids Under 12

Acorn Hall – Morristown
Barnegat Lighthouse – Barnegat Light (Note: Venue is closed until Spring 2023 for a restoration project.)
Hoboken Historical Museum – Free for all children
Hunterdon Art Museum – Clinton 
Montclair Art Museum – Montclair
Jersey Shore Beaches – Various locations*

*Children 11 and younger are FREE at most Jersey Shore beaches; check individual beaches to confirm.

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the venues

This post, first published 2014, is updated annually.