Hudson County is the smallest and most urban county in northeastern New Jersey on two peninsulas between the Hudson, Hackensack, and Passaic rivers. It has, while being in the midst of the New York City metropolitan area, a distinct history and character from either the city across from which it sits and the rest of the state on the other side of the New Jersey Meadowlands, and is often overlooked by both.

Cities

• 1 Bayonne — a typical working class town
• 2 Harrison — Close-knit community, fourth smallest town in Hudson County in terms of area and population density. Includes Kearny.
• 3 Hoboken — Tree-lined streets with well-preserved brownstones typify this former dockworkers' town overlooking the Hudson. Yuppies are taking over Hoboken's old Italian and Irish neighborhoods, but the city still has the highest number of bars per square mile in the country! Birthplace of Frank Sinatra and the location of the world's first baseball game.
• 4 Jersey City — Directly across the Hudson River from downtown Manhattan, New Jersey's second largest city is undergoing a large-scale urban renaissance attracting a large yuppie population. The development of commercial skyscrapers in the Newport and Paulus Hook areas earned the city the nickname of "Wall Street West." Known for its ethnic diversity, Jersey City is becoming an increasingly cosmopolitan area.
• 5 Secaucus - The most suburban area of Hudson County by far. Located in the Meadowlands and home to a major transit station and lodging across the Hackensack River from MetLife Stadium.
• 6 Union City — The most densely populated city in the United States. A Hispanic district of Hudson county that has wonderful parks and food. Including North Bergen.
• 7 Weehawken — A hamlet atop the Hudson Palisades offering stunning views of the Hudson River and NY skyline.
• 8 Kearny — Second smallest town in Hudson County. Named after General Philip Kearny, who died in the Battle of Chantilly. Most of Kearny is industrialized by the two drawbridges at exit 15e on the NJ Turnpike

Other destinations

• Statue of Liberty

Understand

The county is the sixth most densely populated in the United States. The cities that comprise Hudson County often share borders that are city streets where the demarcation is barely, if at all noted. Since its beginnings in the 17th century the region has been home to waves of immigrants, making it one of ethnically diverse in America.

Get in

By car

Most people enter Hudson County either through the Bayonne Bridge from Staten Island. The New Jersey Turnpike is another option, as the county is accessible through its Newark Bay Extension (exits 14-14c) from Manhattan, and the Eastern Spur (exits 15e, 15x, 16e, & 18e) from elsewhere across New Jersey. Alternatively, you can arrive via U.S. Route 1 from the Pulaski Skyway in Newark or Tonelle Ave in nearby Bergen County, or NJ-495 from the Meadowlands or the Lincoln Tunnel.

By plane

The closest airport without question is Newark Liberty International Airport. From here, you can either buy a rental and follow the driving directions, or take a PATH train to Jersey City (stop at either Journal Square or Exchange Place).

By transit

The busiest bus terminals in Hudson County, and the one's you most likely will arrive by are Jersey City's Journal Square terminal, Secaucus' Frank Lautenberg Terminal, and Hoboken's Lackawanna Terminal. The Secaucus and Hoboken terminals are serviced by NJ Transit while the Journal Square terminal is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH/PAYNJ). Two of the Journal Square terminal's train routes, along with a bus route go to the Lackawanna Terminal. It's important to remember although some of the train routes for Secaucus' terminal go to Hoboken, not all of them will.

Get around

Traversed north and south by both the Eastern and Western spurs of the New Jersey Turnpike (I95), and US routes 1 and 9; and east and west by State Rt 3/ I495 in the North and State Rt 7 and Rt 78 to the south, It is split between adjoined towns east and west of the Meadowlands and Hackensack River. To the east of the Hackensack, Jersey City, Bayonne, Hoboken and several other towns that border the Hudson and connect via tunnels to New York City Lincoln Tunnel on I495, Holland Tunnel feeding from the NJ Turnpike Extension exit 14C and Routes 1 and 9. In the middle, centered in the Meadowlands area is Secaucus, the site of the Meadowlands Entertainment complex including the MetLife Stadium which is home to the New York NFL Giants and Jets teams. To the west of the Hackensack in West Hudson are (from South to North), Harrison, East Newark and Kearny, bordering the Passaic River to the West. Extensive commuter train service via NJ Transit and the PATH system serve most of the county.

Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and Harrison are among the most "walking" and public transport friendly municipalities in New Jersey, and a wide choice of hotels, motels and other accommodations exist throughout the area.

See

Jersey City has several places to visit. Lincoln Park offers historic monuments and a lot of nature trails. Liberty Science Center is home to the largest planetarium in the Americas. Liberty State Park is famous for its panoramic vistas of most of the New York City boroughs, and the historic CRRNJ Terminal which houses the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Loews Jersey Theater is the only Loews theater built outside of New York. Skyway Memorial Park commemorating COVID-19 victms of New Jersey will open in 2023.

In Bayonne, see the Tear Drop Memorial to the struggle against world terrorism, and the Bayonne Bridge, which is the third largest suspension bridge in the world.

In Hoboken, see the Erie-Lackawanna Terminal one of the USA's busiest terminals. The Hoboken Historical Museum has exhibits about the history of Hoboken from Dutch colonization to now.

Union City's Bergenline Ave is known for its predominantly Cuban population.

In Weehawken, you can see the Hamilton-Burr Monument where Secretary of State Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel.

Go next

Hudson County has several connections to New York City and is a short drive from Newark Liberty International Airport.