Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
4.8(4.3K)google
4.4(108)yelp
KidsSenior-FriendlyIndoorOutdoorCity LandmarkMust-SeeGuided TourImmersiveEducationalWarship
Overview
USS New Jersey (BB-62) is an Iowa-class battleship and the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after the U.S. state of New Jersey. She was often referred to fondly as "Big J". New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships, and was the only US battleship used to provide gunfire support during the Vietnam War.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeMay through September offers spectacular weather for touring this colossal historic floating fortress. Celebrating the US Navy's most decorated and largest battleship ever built (USS New Jersey, BB-62), boarding between 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM is premier; the low-angle sun strikes the staggering 16-inch triple turret main guns flawlessly, silhouette-framing the Philadelphia skyline across the Delaware River.
Getting ThereMoored permanently along the Camden waterfront promenades at 100 Clinton St. Driven access via taking I-676 Exit 5A is seamless; park directly inside the secure municipal surface event lots flanking the secure pier gates. Transit users from Philadelphia can ride the historic RiverLink Ferry straight across the channel, which drops passengers right beside the gangway.
Travel Tips
- Navigating the hull requires negotiating 60-degree vertical steel ladders, low overhead beams, and high water-tight sills; wearing rugged, closed-toe non-slip athletic footwear is a safety mandate.
- The specialty deep-hull Fire Power Tour requires a 3-day advance online booking window; interior active machinery spaces are highly claustrophobic and experience severe heat buildup.
- Situated within Camden's industrial port district; safeguard assets by parking exclusively in the designated paid waterfront garage monitored by police patrols instead of isolated peripheral streets.
Reviews
Positive
- As the most decorated battleship in US history, standing beneath the massive 16-inch guns provides an immense and awe-inspiring sense of history.
- Offers top-tier touring options: the audio guide is highly detailed, while veteran volunteers provide passionate, real-life military stories.
- Allows you to explore deep into the crew quarters, combat command center, and mess halls, making it a perfect immersive experience for military buffs.
- The decks are well-maintained and offer an excellent vantage point overlooking the Delaware River and the stunning Philadelphia skyline.
Heads up
- The interior passageways are very tight, and the ladders are extremely steep and vertical, proving a major test for toddlers and seniors.
- Due to the inherent layout of historic warships, most lower decks lack ADA accessibility, rendering them inaccessible to wheelchair users.
- The dedicated parking lot is expensive, and the neighborhood outside the Camden Waterfront has a poor safety reputation; leaving before dark is advised.
- The interior cabins lack A/C in the summer and suffer from poor ventilation, making tours deep inside the steel hull feel stifling and hot.