THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO …
New Providence, NJ
Looking to move to New Providence? You’re in good company! Learn more about this amazing town below!
Welcome to “Turkey Town”!
New Providence is a beautiful suburb in Union County, listed as one of the best places to live in New Jersey!
Nestled in the Watchung Mountains, approximately 28 miles west of New York City, New Providence is home to 13,000 residents and covers 3.6 square miles in northwestern Union County, connecting Summit to Berkeley Heights. Traveling is made simple with two easily accessible train stations within the town, as well as its close proximity to I-78, the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Newark International Airport.
New Providence public schools are highly rated serving grades Pre-K-12. New Providence also boasts many restaurants, coffee shops, and parks including several spectacular spots such as Lenape Park perfect for outdoor activities or Salt Brook Park perfect for biking and fishing.
Around Town…
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Challah French Toast & Bacon from Prestige Diner - delish!
Chocoberry Acai Bowl with extra granola from Juice House!
Sesame Tuna from Providence Bar & Grill
Anything off the menu from Fan Bistro!
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Rainy day? How about some indoor golf at Golf Cave!
Take a little moment for some history and drop into the Salt Box Museum
Grab your friends and enjoy a flight at Untied Brewery
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Need some cute little finds? Linda’s Creative Gifts
Want to truly treat yourself? Visit Ferdinand Jewelers
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Thinking about calling New Providence home? We’ve got the inside scoop and would love to show you around.
Quick Facts:
Check out some “Quick Facts” here, or scroll down for a deeper look at the ins and outs of New Providence!
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13.9k in 2024
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Average time to NY Penn is 56 minutes via the Midtown Direct Train Line. Express 52 min trains offered M-F.
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New Providence Public School District ranked #13 in the state by Niche in 2025!
2 Elementary Schools K-6
1 Middle School
1 High School
For more details on district rankings click here. For the New Providence School District website click here.
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New Providence has several playgrounds, an ice-skating rink, two Olympic-sized swimming pools, and public tennis courts. The nearby Watchung Reservation offers nature-packed activities and has hiking trails, streams, and picnic grounds. There are also several local private swim and tennis clubs.
Visit the New Providence Recreation Department website here:
New Providence, NJ is such a special place to call home. Read below for some of our favorite local traditions and events!
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Featuring kids’ crafts, interactive booths, information about living a more sustainable lifestyle, and the awarding of the Pioneer Green awards. Fun for the whole family!
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This family-friendly event is co-sponsored by New Providence P.B.A. Local Number 132 and New Providence Recreation. Children aged 15 years and younger are welcome to participate and compete for generous prizes provided by the P.B.A.
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The borough sponsors a fantastic fireworks show in celebration of Independence Day. The fireworks will be launched near South Street beginning at 9:30 pm and should be visible from most locations within the borough. So grab your lawn chair and settle into your favorite viewing spot around town! The July 3rd fireworks have been a longstanding tradition in town.
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This annual event includes prizes, food trucks, a vendor showcase, and a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds go to members' goods and welfare funds as well as families of fallen officers. For more information, see the Event Flyer (Facebook).
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Be a part of the Scarecrow Stroll through Downtown New Providence! Create your own unique family-friendly scarecrow or a scarecrow representing your organization, sport, or business. It can be wild, funny, furry, silly, or ridiculous. Use your imagination!! Free to enter but space is limited! This is your chance to express yourself, your organization, or your business! More info here.
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Sustainable New Providence’s annual FreeCycle event, where members of the community can donate used (but working/usable) items that other people can take and reuse for free.
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This family-friendly event features Santa’s arrival at Provident Bank on South Street and his parade through downtown with the NPHS Marching Band. There’ll be activities and giveaways, along with fireworks! Come out to support New Providence’s beloved merchants and enjoy the festivities and fireworks! Find more information on this event by visiting the New Providence Business Community Holiday Festival Event Page.
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Visit the Salt Box Museum, formerly called the Garrison/Dickinson/Genung House, has an interesting history unto itself. However, today it is a treasure trove of fascinating artifacts and memorabilia, some dating back to before the American Revolution. Free admission. For more information, click here.
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Based in New Providence, the New Jersey Youth Symphony offers concerts throughout the year, as well as a summer camp for young musicians. For performance details, click here.
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Enjoy three summer concerts at Centennial Park offering music and entertainment for the whole family. For details, click here.
Explore our interactive map to discover New Providence’s key locations! Everything from City Hall, to all of our schools, parks, clubs, and more!
Commuting Options
One of the amazing things about New Providence is the incredibly easy commute to NYC! With a direct train line running 7 days a week, it is truly a commuter’s dream.
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Service on the NJ Transit is available at the New Providence and Murray Hill stations.
Service on the NJ Transit Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines is available at the New Providence station and Murray Hill station, offering service to Hoboken Terminal and to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
Two Gladstone Branch trains each weekday morning offer one-seat (direct) rides to Manhattan, and two evening trains leave New York and stop at both of New Providence's stations on the way to Gladstone. All other rail service is to or from Hoboken. These trains connect at Summit or Newark Broad Street with Manhattan-bound trains to reach NYC.
Train ticket to New York Penn costs $9.75/ride or $298 for a monthly pass. Click here for other fare options.
· Express trains average at 51 minutes
· Local trains average at 60 minutes
· Earliest train usually at 5:07 AM
· Latest train back usually at 12:02 AM
You may access an interactive schedule here.
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New Providence has two train stations for resident permit holders; the New Providence station and the Murray Hill station. Permits are made available to residents upon request and can be used at either train station. Parking is available first come-first served. The New Providence train lot generally fills up first. Once the lot is filled, you may park at the Murray Hill Railroad lot. Parking permit form is available here.
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All Boxcar buses are equipped with wi-fi, power outlets, and restrooms to make your ride as enjoyable as possible.
Buses pick up directly outside town train stations and offer curbside drop-off throughout midtown
6:15 am/7:00am pickup. Bus will makes stops in NYC along 42nd street and Madison Avenue.
Discounts available on the Boxcar app with coupon code summit15.
In the evening our buses leave at 5:30pm from 6th Ave (just south of 43rd St) and travel directly back to train station pickup locations.
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NJ Transit Bus/Lakeland Bus Lines:
New Jersey Transit offers local bus service on the 986 route.
Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service from stops along Springfield Avenue to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. View the schedule here.
Other Commute Options:
NJ Path - Drive and park at Newark Penn Station (monthly parking pass available)
Ferry - NY Waterways Ferry Terminals in Weehawken and Hoboken
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 16 miles (26 km) east of New Providence.
All About New Providence Schools…
Spend a perfect day in New Providence
9:30am - Arrive in New Providence:
Arrive by train to either New Providence or Murray Hill Train Stations
Grab Starbucks or enjoy a locally brewed craft coffee and hand-rolled bagel at Bagel Cafe in downtown New Providence
If you come through Murray Hill Station - don’t miss Cafe Luna!
11:00am - Start exploring the New Providence shopping scene:
Our favorite local food market: Barth’s Market
Our favorite sports consignment store: Flip Consignment
Our favorite local jewelers: Braunschweiger Jeweler
Our favorite New Providence wine shop: Jersey Fine Wines
Our favorite homemade ice cream shop: Zita's Homemade Ice Cream
12:00pm - Grab Lunch at one of our favorites:
For an authentic New Jersey Diner experience, try Prestige Diner, which has been open for over 50 years in New Providence, or
Grab an acai bowl at the Juice House! (Grab a bag of granola to go)
1:00pm - Driving Tour:
Take a driving tour to learn about all of the different New Providence neighborhoods with a Price Group Buyer Specialist!
3:00pm - Enjoy a walk through nature or history:
Enjoy a quiet walk, the playground or explore the creek at Lions Park, or
Take in the local history of New Providence with a visit to the Salt Box Museum
5:00pm - Treat yourself:
Experience a taste of New Providence's own local craft brewery, Untied Brewery in their indoor or outdoor taproom, or
Enjoy a performance by the local musical talent of the New Jersey Youth Symphony
6:00pm - Have dinner before heading out at one of our favorite places:
Craving a classic burger and craft beer? Harlees Tap and Grill
Craving authentic Italian: Coppola’s Restaurant
Craving Fusion: Providence Bar & Kitchen
Craving Live Music: Moe’s Bistro & Bar
Craving Brick Oven pizza? Bacci’s Brick Oven & Italian Grill
Then head back home, and reminisce on your amazing day spent in New Providence - and call your Price Group agent to start booking home tours!
Let’s take a step back in time…
The history of New Providence can be first traced back to 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land from Native Americans. Its first settlers were a Puritan colony that came to the area in 1720. The abundance of large flocks of wild turkeys led to the initial name for the area of "Turkey". By 1737, the Presbyterian Church was formed and was the center of life in the small settlement. In 1759, a crowded church balcony collapsed. It was considered a miracle that no one was seriously injured in the disaster. The miracle was soon referred to as a divine act of "providence."
The small town thereafter became known as "New Providence" and included present-day Summit and Berkeley Heights. According to legend, when British soldiers were marching to Morristown to engage the Revolutionary Army led by George Washington, colonists dumped salt (a precious commodity in those days) into the local brook to keep it undesirable to the soldiers. That brook, depicted on the borough seal, became known thereafter as the Salt Brook.
In 1869 Summit seceded from New Providence Township over disagreement with town management and also because of its rapid increase in population and businesses due to its railroad facilities. New Providence Borough was formed in 1899 and present-day Berkeley Heights retained the name New Providence Township until 1952.
