THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO …

Denville, NJ

Looking to move to Denville? You’re in good company! Our team is so proud to work in this gorgeous town.

OVERVIEW - FUN & FACTS - COMMUTE

SCHOOLS - PERFECT DAY - HISTORY

Welcome to Denville!

Denville is a suburban township in Morris County known as the "Hub of Morris County", its downtown charm, and picturesque lake communities. Denville is a a commuter town to New York City with a direct train line and offers a mix of small-town living with convenient access to New York City. Denville’s highly-rated public schools and a strong sense of community, make it a popular choice for families.  

Around Town…

A dining table with various dishes, including a basket of fried food, small bowls of yellow and orange sauces, two glasses of drinks with straws, plates, and utensils, with a person's arm reaching across the table.

  • Order and eat outside The Pasta Shop to enjoy one of the top rated chicken parmesans in New Jersey. 

    Enjoy the ambiance and soup dumplings at the award winning Hunan Taste. 

    Indulge in a few scoops of homemade ice cream at the Denville Dairy, a local institution offering an ever changing variety of flavors. 

  • Visit Esting Lake or Indian Lake for swimming, sand and picnicking 

    Walk 10 miles of trails at Torne County Park or climb to the highest point to enjoy a panoramic view of New York City. 

Sidewalk view in a small town with people walking, outdoor boutique clothing rack, plants, and decorative columns, during daytime.

  • Pick up a book from The Book Barn, a charming second-hand bookstore housed in an old dairy barn. 

    Family-owned Shoe and Sneaker Barn is a great place to get a perfect pair of new shoes fitted for your kids or yourself. 

  • Thinking about calling Denville home? We’ve got the inside scoop and would love to show you around.

    Get in touch!

Quick Facts:

Check out some “Quick Facts” here, or scroll down for a deeper look at the ins and outs of Denville!

Denville,  New Jersey Fun Traditions + Annual Events:

  • Downtown Denville holds both a spring and a fall classic car show, with the spring show typically happening in April and the fall show in October. These events are free to attend, feature a variety of classic cars, often include live music, and are held in the downtown area, such as the Chase Bank parking lot. Check the Downtown Denville websiteand their social media for specific dates and details for each year. 

  • Spring into Downtown Denville is an annual community event that marks the start of spring with a variety of family-friendly activities. Key features include an in-store egg hunt for children, opportunities to take photos with the Easter Bunny, and spring-themed crafts, often held in early to mid-April. The event also typically features other seasonal activities like special sales, treats, and sometimes includes additional events like yoga and adult egg hunts.

  • Downtown Denville Harvest Festival in September takes place on Broadway in downtown Denville and features vendors, live music, a beer garden, a car show, a petting zoo, a corn maze, and various kids' activities.  More information can be found here. 

  • Pink Witches Night Out in Denville is one New Jersey’s most prestigious Breast Cancer Awareness event. For over 12 years, the Denville community has helped fight the battle against Breast Cancer by raising over $150,000 through this event to help local residents who have been diagnosed with cancer. More information can be found on the foundation website.

  • The Downtown Denville Holiday Shopping Open Houseis an annual event that officially kicks off the holiday season, typically held the Friday after Thanksgiving.  The event features ice skating, carolers, fire pits, a holiday train ride, and opportunities for pictures with Santa. Participating businesses offer late-night shopping, special promotions, and participate in a window decorating and hot chocolate contest.

Explore our interactive map to discover Denville’s key locations! Everything from City Hall, to all of our schools, parks, clubs, and more!

Commuting Options

Denville is an easy commute to either New York City or Hoboken by train or bus.  

Train service is provided by NJ Transit via both the Montclair-Boonton or the Morris & Essex train lines. Bus service is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines.

  • The Denville Train Station is located on Estling Road. The station contains three side platforms–two curved low-level platforms that service New Jersey Transit's Morristown Line, and a third that services their Montclair–Boonton Line.

    • NJ Transit Trains from Denville Station travel directly to both New York CIty and Hoboken. Train ticket to New York Penn costs $17.75/ride.Click here for other fare options.

      ·        Trains average at 70 minutes

      ·        Earliest train usually at 4:17 AM

      ·        Latest train back usually at 12:56 AM

      You may access an interactive schedule here.

    • Train Station parking is available on Estling Lake Road for $4 per day or $150 per quarter. For more information on parking at the Denville Train Station, visit the information page..

    • Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal.  View the schedule here.

All About Denville Schools…

Spend a perfect day in Denville

  • 9:30am - Arrive in Denville:

    • Arrive by train to Denville Train Station or drive to Denville via any major highway.

    • Enjoy a “made from scratch” breakfast at Carver’s voted #1 breakfast in the county to start your day

  • 11:00am - Start exploring Denville’s shopping scene:

  • 12:00pm - Grab Lunch at one of our favorites:

    • Grab a slice of delicious real wood-burning oven pizza from Casa D’Pizza

    • Or relax and unwind at The Second Half either inside or on their beautiful outdoor patio.

  • 1:00pm - Driving Tour:

    • Take a driving tour to learn about all of the different Denville neighborhoods with a Price Group Buyer Specialist!

  • 3:00pm - Enjoy a walk through nature and history:

    • Enjoy 10 miles of hiking trails at Tourne Country Park and hike to the highest point for panoramic views of New York City. 

    • On a nice warm day enjoy the afternoon swimming, relaxing in the sand or having a beach picnic at Cook’s Pond, one of Denville’s local public lakes.

  • 5:00pm - Treat Yourself: 

    • Sit outside and enjoy some live music and a pint at the Diamond Spring Brewing and you take in the ambiance of downtown Denville.

  • 6:00pm - Have dinner before heading out at one of our favorite places: 

    Then head back home, and reminisce on your amazing day spent in Denville - and call your Price Group agent to start booking home tours!

Let’s take a step back in time…

Lenape Native Americans were known to travel the Minisink Trail for centuries before Europeans arrived in New Jersey. Part of that trail cut across what is now southern Denville. 

When Dutch and English settlers began to arrive in the New World in the early 17th century, the Minisink Trail was the likely route they traveled to explore the interior. Daniel Denton, one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. In 1670, he wrote the first English language description of the area. Some researchers conclude that the name "Denville" derives from Denton.

It is suggested that European settlers began to come to the Denville area as early as 1690. These early settlers were primarily Dutch and English from Long Island, Quakers from Philadelphia, and Germans. William Penn and several other proprietors began to survey and stake out lands in the Denville area around 1715. These surveys are the first documentation of Denville. Between 1730 and 1760, several forges and mills were erected in Denville along the Rockaway River and the Denbrook. A number of communities associated with the forges and mills began to emerge. 

An alternative explanation for the derivation of the township's name came from a letter from early Denville settler John Hinchman in the year 1800, in which he recounted some of the oral history of Denville from 50 years earlier, as stated to him by some of the elders of the time. Hinchman explains in his letter that the naming of Denville can be traced to a "den" of wild animals located in the swampy regions along the Denbrook and Rockaway River. The animals would bask on a knoll that juts out into the meadows where they were hunted by the native Lenape. This "den", Hinchman wrote, was the basis for the name of Denville and the Denbrook.

Black and white photo of an old, multi-story house with a mansard roof and small dormer windows. Bare trees are in front.
take a historic walking tour of denville!
An old black-and-white photograph of a three-story brick building with arched windows on the upper floors, named Brodway Hall, located on a street corner with some cars parked nearby.
Visit the Denville historical society website
Denville NJ Transit train station entrance with a black sign displaying 'Denville' and a platform with railings.

Ready to move to Denville? Let’s talk!