10 Things to Do in Englewood Cliffs NJ (2026 Local Guide)

10 Things to Do in Englewood Cliffs NJ (2026 Local Guide)

Englewood Cliffs is among the most distinctive boroughs in Bergen County — not because of its commercial density, which is deliberately low, but because of its elevation, its views, and its residential character. It sits at 318 feet above sea level on the Palisades ridge, directly above the Hudson River and facing Midtown Manhattan across the water. The western edge of the borough runs along Palisades Interstate Park. The eastern edge runs along the Palisades Interstate Parkway. In between: quiet residential streets, some of the most sought-after addresses in Northern New Jersey, and a short drive to one of the best trail systems in the New York metropolitan area.

For guidance on the Englewood Cliffs market or what buying here looks like, meet Scott Selleck or take the free resource quiz to get matched with the right tools.

1. Take the Bus to Manhattan via Route 9W

Englewood Cliffs is served by NJ Transit route 186 and Rockland Coaches along Route 9W and Sylvan Avenue, with connections to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. NJ Transit route 156 also serves the Route 9W corridor, running from Englewood Cliffs through Fort Lee to Port Authority. Bus stops are located along Route 9W at Palisade Avenue and at Sylvan Avenue. The 186 runs early morning through late night. For residents who prefer to drive, Englewood Cliffs sits three miles from the George Washington Bridge, with access via the Palisades Interstate Parkway to the GWB approach — a 15-minute drive to Midtown in off-peak conditions. The borough's position on the Palisades makes it one of the fastest car-commute options to Manhattan available in Bergen County.

Transit detail: Englewood Cliffs residents also have access to the NJ Transit route 156 corridor, which runs south through Fort Lee and connects to the full Fort Lee bridge plaza bus network serving Port Authority via both the GWB and River Road.

2. Stop at Rockefeller Lookout

Rockefeller Lookout is a designated overlook along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, positioned on the ridge above the Hudson River. It provides one of the most unobstructed panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline available from any public viewpoint in New Jersey — the George Washington Bridge to the south, the Hudson River below, and Midtown Manhattan and the Upper West Side directly across the water. The lookout is particularly strong at sunrise and at dusk, when the Manhattan skyline is lit against the sky. Parking is available at the pullout on the Palisades Interstate Parkway. No admission. The lookout is a 5-minute drive from most of the Englewood Cliffs residential core.

3. Hike Palisades Interstate Park from the Englewood Cliffs Entry

Palisades Interstate Park runs along the full western boundary of Englewood Cliffs, providing direct trail access from the borough to one of the most extensive trail systems in the New York metropolitan area. The Shore Trail at the base of the Palisades cliffs and the Long Path along the ridge are both accessible from the Englewood Cliffs entry via Henry Hudson Drive. The Long Path is a green-blazed multi-state trail that passes through the full length of the Palisades in New Jersey before continuing north into New York State. Trail difficulty ranges from easy river-level paths to moderate ridge-top walks with cliff-face views. The park covers more than 2,500 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. Spend an Afternoon at Englewood Boat Basin

Englewood Boat Basin — formally the Englewood Picnic Area — sits on Henry Hudson Drive at the base of the Palisades cliffs in Englewood Cliffs, along the Hudson River. It is open daily from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The site includes picnic tables, grills, restrooms, water, fishing and crabbing access, a sandy beach area at Bloomer's Beach for car-top boat launching, a small playground, and a snack shack. Hiking trails connect directly from the site to the Shore Trail and the broader Palisades trail network. The Boat Basin is dog-friendly with leash required. Manhattan skyline views from the basin are clear and close — this is roughly four miles north of the GWB, looking directly at the Upper West Side and Riverside Park across the water. Parking is metered April through October.

5. Attend a Performance at Bergen Performing Arts Center

Bergen Performing Arts Center (Bergen PAC) at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood — a 10-minute drive from Englewood Cliffs — is the primary performing arts venue serving the northern Bergen County community. The center hosts nationally and internationally recognized performers across music, theater, comedy, and dance throughout the year. Recent programming has included Tracy Morgan, AC/DC tribute acts, and Broadway productions on the Betty Wold Johnson Stage. For current schedule and tickets, visit bergenpac.org. Bergen PAC is the closest major performing arts venue to Englewood Cliffs residents and draws audiences from across Bergen and Hudson County.

6. Golf at Montammy Golf Club

Montammy Golf Club is a private 18-hole championship course in Englewood Cliffs, set within the borough's wooded interior. The course is member-access only and includes a full clubhouse with dining, tennis courts, and social programming throughout the year. For Englewood Cliffs residents who golf, Montammy is the primary local club. Public course options nearby include Overpeck County Golf Course in Teaneck (approximately 15 minutes south) and additional Bergen County public courses accessible via the Palisades Interstate Parkway corridor.

7. Explore the Route 9W Dining and Retail Corridor

Englewood Cliffs maintains a deliberately low-density commercial footprint. Route 9W is the primary commercial corridor, with a mix of restaurants, fitness facilities, and service businesses catering to the residential community. The borough's low commercial density is by design — zoning has historically favored residential uses and the major corporate campuses along the Palisades Interstate Parkway. For broader retail and dining, Englewood's commercial district on Palisade Avenue and North Dean Street is 10 minutes south and offers a much fuller dining scene including Korean restaurants, American dining, and specialty food options. The northern Bergen County commercial corridor via Route 9W and Route 4 provides additional options within 15 minutes.

8. Walk the Residential Streets and Palisades Ridge

Englewood Cliffs is one of the few Bergen County communities where the residential streets themselves are a destination. Many of the borough's properties sit on the Palisades ridge with unobstructed Hudson River and Manhattan skyline views from private lots and from the street. The elevation — 318 feet above sea level — and the mature tree canopy along the borough's internal roads give the community a character that is genuinely different from the surrounding waterfront towns. Walking Palisade Avenue through the residential sections north of Sylvan Avenue gives a clear picture of the housing stock and the views that define Englewood Cliffs as an address.

9. Learn About the Corporate Campus Corridor

Englewood Cliffs hosts the North American headquarters of several globally recognized companies along the Palisades Interstate Parkway corridor. LG Electronics North America, CNBC, Samsung, Ferrari North America, and Maserati North America all maintain significant operations in the borough. This concentration of major corporate tenants is unusual for a community of Englewood Cliffs's residential scale and contributes to the borough's low property tax rates — the commercial property base partially offsets residential tax burden. For residents, this also means proximity to employment without commuting to Manhattan, which is a practical consideration for certain buyers. The corporate presence along the Parkway corridor is visible from several points in the borough.

10. Access Northern Bergen County from Englewood Cliffs

Englewood Cliffs functions as a gateway community — quiet residential inside the borough, with strong access to everything surrounding it. North via the Palisades Interstate Parkway: Alpine, the Alpine Boat Basin, and the full northern Palisades trail system into Rockland County, New York. South via the Parkway and Route 9W: Fort Lee, the George Washington Bridge, and the complete waterfront corridor through Edgewater. East via the Palisades Interstate Parkway and Route 4: Teaneck, Hackensack, and broader Bergen County retail and services. West: Englewood and Tenafly for dining, shopping, and the Bergen PAC. Residents who understand the geography use the borough as a base for the full region, rather than looking for everything within the borough itself.

Why Englewood Cliffs NJ Homeowners Work with Scott Selleck

Scott Selleck is a Bergen County REALTOR and SRES-designated specialist with The Selleck Group at KW City Views Realty, licensed and active in New Jersey since 2013. His office is at 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 502, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 — directly south of Englewood Cliffs along the Palisades corridor, five minutes from the GWB approach. Scott specializes in home selling for downsizers, expired and cancelled listing solutions, and NJ to Florida transition advisory. He works across Bergen County with direct knowledge of the Palisades ridge communities from Fort Lee north through Englewood Cliffs.

Read client testimonials | Get a home valuation | Schedule a call

Not sure what you need yet? Take the free resource quiz and get matched with the right information for your situation.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Englewood Cliffs NJ

What bus goes from Englewood Cliffs NJ to New York City? NJ Transit route 186 and Rockland Coaches serve Englewood Cliffs along Route 9W with service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. NJ Transit route 156 also serves the Route 9W corridor connecting through Fort Lee to Port Authority. Bus stops are on Route 9W at Palisade Avenue and at Sylvan Avenue. For residents who drive, the George Washington Bridge is three miles east and approximately 15 minutes to Midtown in off-peak conditions.

What is Englewood Cliffs NJ known for? Englewood Cliffs is known for its location atop the Hudson Palisades, its panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River, its low property tax rates relative to other Bergen County communities, and its concentration of major corporate North American headquarters including LG, CNBC, Samsung, Ferrari, and Maserati. It is also known for its access to Palisades Interstate Park and for its residential character — the borough has deliberately limited commercial development to preserve its suburban quality.

What parks are in Englewood Cliffs NJ? Palisades Interstate Park runs along the entire western boundary of Englewood Cliffs, with access via Henry Hudson Drive. Englewood Boat Basin on Henry Hudson Drive provides riverfront picnic areas, fishing, boat launching, a beach area, and trail connections to the Shore Trail and Long Path. Rockefeller Lookout on the Palisades Interstate Parkway offers ridge-top views with no hiking required. The park system accessible from Englewood Cliffs is among the most extensive available to any Bergen County community.

What is the zip code for Englewood Cliffs NJ? Englewood Cliffs, NJ is zip code 07632. The borough is located in Bergen County on the Hudson Palisades ridge, bordering Fort Lee, Englewood, Tenafly, and the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan across the Hudson River.

How far is Englewood Cliffs NJ from New York City? Englewood Cliffs is approximately 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan and three miles from the George Washington Bridge. In off-peak driving conditions, the GWB crossing from Englewood Cliffs typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to Midtown. By bus via route 186 or 156, Port Authority Bus Terminal is the destination, with travel time depending on traffic and route.

The Selleck Group vs. a Typical Agent in Englewood Cliffs NJ

What does your next move in Englewood Cliffs depend on?

Whether you are thinking about what your home is worth, trying to understand what the market is doing, or deciding whether now is the right time — there is usually one specific question underneath all of it.

Drop it in the comments, or take the free resource quiz to get matched with the right information for your situation. If you want to talk through the numbers directly, schedule 15 minutes here.

Contact Scott Selleck

Scott Selleck, REALTOR, SRES The Selleck Group at KW City Views Realty 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 502 Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Cell: 201-970-3960 Email: [email protected] Website: SelleckSellsNJ.com About Scott | NJ Communities | Testimonials | Home Valuation | Schedule a Call

Equal Housing Opportunity