The Mills at Jersey Gardens
4.5(42K)google
3.5(446)yelp
FamilyIndoorBudget-FriendlyGreat ValueParking AvailableRestrooms Available
Overview
The Mills at Jersey Gardens, originally and also still colloquially called Jersey Gardens, is a super-regional outlet mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The mall opened on October 21, 1999, and is the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, and much closer to New York City than its largest outlet mall competitor, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. The shopping center has a gross leasable area of 1,292,611 square feet (120,087.5 m2).
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sun11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeAn extraordinary year-round indoor retail shopping sanctuary, famous as New Jersey's largest indoor outlet mall, offering a tax-free clothing shopping environment. Stepping through the entrance turnstiles precisely at 10:00 AM on a weekday morning (Monday-Thursday) is elite; you completely bypass massive weekend shopping tourist crowds coming out of New York City, allowing unrestricted browsing inside premium factory stores.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned adjacent to Newark Liberty International Airport at 651 Kapkowski Rd, Elizabeth. Driven access via the NJ Turnpike is seamless; take Exit 13A and follow explicit commercial signage straight into the multi-acre open surface parking lots, which are completely free. Public transit is excellent via riding NJ Transit Bus Route 111 directly from Manhattan's Port Authority terminal.
Travel Tips
- New Jersey enforces a 0% sales tax on clothing and footwear, triggering severe weekend congestion between 13:00 and 17:00; bypass the central traffic by parking in the peripheral spaces behind the AMC theater wing.
- Due to proximity to EWR airport, rolling oversized luggage is tightly controlled; center security regulations mandate storing large suitcases inside paid entry-level lockers rather than pulling them into retail aisles.
- Mass transit commuters can board the NJ Transit Route 111 or 115 bus directly from Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal; evening return queues frequently exceed 1 hour, requiring 30-minute early platform staging.
Reviews
Positive
- As NJ's largest indoor outlet mall, its biggest trump card is the 0% sales tax on clothing and shoes, offering unbeatable shopping value.
- The two-level fully enclosed indoor layout keeps shopping safe from bad weather, housing almost all mainstream brand outlet stores.
- Prime location directly next to Newark Airport (EWR) with dedicated transit shuttles, perfect for international travelers' last-minute shopping.
- Provides convenient paid luggage storage lockers and double stroller rentals, backed by a massive central food court and ample restrooms.
Heads up
- Weekend and Black Friday holiday sales are intensely crowded; the parking lots max out completely, forcing hours of hunting for a spot.
- Checkout counters at major anchor stores face suffocatingly long lines, sometimes requiring over 30 minutes just to pay for an item.
- Due to the immense foot traffic, food court tables and some public restrooms suffer from delayed cleaning by late afternoon, looking messy.
- The overall decor leans toward a utilitarian, warehouse-like style, looking a bit dated and corporate compared to newer luxury malls.