Directions & Parking
Spruce Run Recreation Area is at 68 Van Syckles Road, Clinton, New Jersey 08809, in Hunterdon County just off Interstate 78. From the east, take I-78 west to Exit 17, follow Route 31 north to the third traffic light, turn left on Van Syckles Road and drive 1½ miles to the entrance on the left. Parking is inside the park; cars pay an entrance fee in the summer season and park free the rest of the year.
Getting Here at a Glance
How Far Is Spruce Run From New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Allentown?
Four city-hall-to-park drives, each with its main roads written out.
| From | Miles | Drive (typical, no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 56 | 1 hr 18 min |
| Newark | 46 | 1 hr |
| Philadelphia | 65 | 1 hr 36 min |
| Allentown | 37 | 54 min |
Each drive ends at the park entrance on Van Syckles Road. Miles and minutes come from OSRM, a routing service built on OpenStreetMap roads, checked November 10, 2026, from each city hall to the park entrance. They are typical times with no traffic. Add time for rush hour and summer weekend traffic on I-78. NJDEP's reservation site puts the park about 1.5 hours from New York City.
From New York City
Starts at New York City Hall, 260 Broadway. 56 miles, 1 hr 18 min (typical, no traffic).
- Leave Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel and follow NJ 139 (Pulaski Skyway) and US 1/9.
- Join I-78 west and stay on it for about 40 miles.
- Exit onto NJ 31 north and follow it about 3 miles.
- Turn left on Van Syckels Corner Road, which becomes Van Syckles Road, to the park entrance.
From Newark
Starts at Newark City Hall. 46 miles, 1 hr (typical, no traffic).
- Take I-78 west for about 37 miles.
- Exit onto NJ 31 north and follow it about 3 miles.
- Turn left on Van Syckels Corner Road, which becomes Van Syckles Road, to the park entrance.
From Philadelphia
Starts at Philadelphia City Hall, 1 Penn Square. 65 miles, 1 hr 36 min (typical, no traffic).
- Take I-95 north, then I-295 across the Scudder Falls Bridge into New Jersey.
- Follow County Road 579 (Bear Tavern Road, then Harbourton Road) north about 8 miles.
- Pick up NJ 31 north and stay on it about 21 miles.
- Turn left on Van Syckels Corner Road, which becomes Van Syckles Road, to the park entrance.
From Allentown
Starts at Allentown City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street. 37 miles, 54 min (typical, no traffic).
- Take Hanover Avenue and West Broad Street east, then PA 412 (Hellertown Road) to I-78.
- Take I-78 east into New Jersey for about 24 miles.
- Leave I-78 for County Road 635 and Van Syckels Corner Road.
- Follow Van Syckles Road to the park entrance.
Find the Park Entrance
Tap the map to load it. It opens on the point NJDEP's park page links for 68 Van Syckles Road.
Park Outline
The park's rough outline as OpenStreetMap volunteers drew it. It is a sketch, not an NJDEP survey; NJDEP's area map marks each parking lot.
See the park mapDriving Directions
These are the agency's directions from its NJ Outdoors reservation page.
From the east (New York City and northern New Jersey):
- Take Interstate 78 west to Exit 17.
- Continue on Route 31 north to the third traffic light, at Van Syckles Road.
- Turn left onto Van Syckles Road.
- The park entrance is 1½ miles ahead on the left.
From the west (Pennsylvania):
- Take Interstate 78 east to Exit 12.
- At the end of the ramp, turn left.
- At the traffic light, turn left again, which takes you over the highway.
- Go 1½ miles and turn right onto Van Syckles Road.
- The park entrance is two miles ahead on the right.
NJ Outdoors puts the park about 1½ hours from New York City and 5 miles from the town of Clinton, with its historic Red Mill.
Parking and Fees
Parking lots are inside the park, and NJDEP's park map marks each one. In season, every vehicle pays at the gate: $5 (NJ) or $10 on weekdays and $10 or $20 on weekends and holidays. Off-season parking is free (hours and fees).
- Oversized vehicles (anything, trailer included, too large for a standard 10 ft x 20 ft space) pay twice the car rate.
- Boat trailers use the boat launch area (boating).
- Campers park two vehicles on their site. A third goes in the main parking lot for $5 a night.
When the Lots Fill
On summer weekends and holidays, New Jersey state parks close once they reach capacity, and the gate turns away new cars, even if others in your group are already inside. Only visitors with camping or shelter reservations are admitted then. NJDEP suggests that groups in separate cars arrive together. Check the park operating status map before you leave home.
Arriving After Hours
The gate closes at 4 p.m. (it opens at 8 a.m.). If you have a campsite and will arrive after the park closes, the inbound gate will be locked. Call the office ahead (908-638-8572) for entry details; if the office is closed, call Park Police at 1-877-927-6337. Late campers check in at the office by 9 a.m. the next morning.
Bus Groups
Bus groups with a confirmed reservation are welcome on weekdays. No buses on weekends or holidays. NJDEP posts a bus group application, rules and a passenger manifest form. In season the bus parking fee is $65 for in-state groups and $120 for out-of-state groups, plus a $25 reservation deposit that counts toward the fee and isn't refunded if you cancel.
Getting Here Without a Car
NJDEP doesn't list a bus or train route to the park. Walkers and cyclists pay $2 each in season.
Directions & Parking FAQ
What is the address of Spruce Run Recreation Area?
68 Van Syckles Road, Clinton, NJ 08809, in Hunterdon County. The entrance is on Van Syckles Road off Route 31, near Interstate 78.
How far is Spruce Run from New York City?
About an hour and a half by car, according to NJDEP's reservation site. Take I-78 west to Exit 17 and Route 31 north to Van Syckles Road.
Is parking free at Spruce Run?
Yes, in the off-season, after Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend. In summer, cars pay $5 or $10 on weekdays and $10 or $20 on weekends and holidays.
Can a bus group visit Spruce Run?
Yes, on weekdays only, with a confirmed reservation. Buses are not permitted on weekends or holidays.
Facts checked against the NJ State Parks page for Spruce Run Recreation Area on October 24, 2026.