VISITOR INFORMATION
The Battleship New Jersey is open for self-guided tours everyday, except Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2024, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2024, from 10am to 4pm. Guided tours are available daily at 12pm.
School groups, veteran groups, corporate groups can experience a discounted tour of our nation's most decorated battleship! Just see our Group Tours page.
Scout troops, youth organizations and families can spend a night aboard the Battleship. Our award-winning Overnight program is available most weekends and sometimes during the week. Visit our Overnight page for more details.
Make your next event a historic one aboard the Battleship! Birthday parties, meetings, cocktail receptions and more are available. Add on guided tours, customized merchandise, even a gun shoot! Visit our Events page for more information.
Parking Hours Directions Public Transportation Faq
Our crew is confident you’ll be amazed at the areas available to explore and the ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain this iconic national treasure. We’re ready for your family and friends to share the history and educational experiences offered at The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial. We look forward to your visit!
Visitors Center
Upon arrival, guests are advised to stop in the Visitors Center located land-side across from the Battleship. Our Ticket Office assists individuals, families and groups looking to start their tour.
Visitor Center Amenities:
- Souvenir shop and Café.
- Lockers
- Educational Videos
- Restrooms (we recommend “hitting the head” before heading to the ship but there are some restrooms aboard)
- Water Fountains
Black Dragon Cafe
Enjoy snacks, coffee, soft drinks and even cold beer -- including Battleship Beer, a pilsner brewed by Farmers and Bankers Brewery, Salem County, NJ! Enjoy something to eat or drink -- all with an amazing view of the Battleship!
We also offer a selection of merchandise, including Battleship hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, toys, models, dog tags, Battleship Cigars and more!
The Black Dragon Cafe, located landside in the Battleship's Visitors Center, is open every day from 10am to 5pm when the Battleship is open for tours. The Black Dragon Cafe is currently closed as the Battleship prepares for dry dock.
Entering the Ship
To get on the ship, stay to the right and climb the stairs, or use the elevator behind the stairs. You then cross over a metal brow that rises and lowers with the tide connecting the pier stairs/elevator to the deck of the ship.
Ladders and Knee Knockers
Full tours of the Battleship New Jersey are physical and require climbing and descending steep steps (called ladders by the Navy). You will also be stepping over “knee knockers” or high step openings along the tour.
How to Dress
We advise guests to dress casually and wear comfortable walking or athletic shoes with non-skid soles. It is strongly suggested that high-heeled and open toe shoes or any article of clothing that might compromise safety be avoided while exploring the Big J.
Carrying Infants
Front carriers are required for infants and toddlers. You will have to leave your stroller under a land-side awning or in your car. Carriers are available for purchase in the Visitors Center.
Accessibility
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any accessibility concerns. L.Jones@battleshipnewjersey.org
- Our main deck tour option that is roughly 45 mins and full of valuable information.
- There are wheelchair accessible elevators under the forward and aft entry stairs to provide access to the battleship.
- Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available as well as gender neutral restrooms with baby changing tables.
- Chairs and benches are located around the ship to allow people to sit and rest.
- Service animals are welcome aboard although it is unlikely that they can negotiate the steep ladders and its recommended they only do the main deck tour.
- Reveille! Sensory Friendly Days. A relaxed opening suitable for families that would benefit from a quieter museum experience. Additional hands-on programs will be going on and a modified tour route will be available to those wishing to avoid the battleship’s stairs. A quiet room will be open to any that wish to use it. Check our calendar for exact days. If your group would benefit from a more relaxed experience on other days, please e-mail L.Jones@battleshipnewjersey.org to set up a special tour. More Reveille! Information.
Tours
CLOSED FOR TOURS AS THE BATTLESHIP PREPARES FOR DRY DOCK
The Battleship is closed for tours in order to prepare for dry dock.
The Battleship will depart for dry dock on March 21. A free Departure Celebration will take place at 11am on the Battleship’s pier on March 21. The Pier will open at 10am for this event, which will include dignitaries, entertainment, food and bar concessions and more as we wish a bon voyage to the Battleship.
The Battleship is expected to be in dry dock for 60 days. We hope to re-open it for tours in June.
Self-guided tours are available every day from 10am to 4pm. Climb inside the 16-inch gun turret, walk through the Officers' Wardroom, see how the sailors and marines lived aboard this floating city and more!
Guided tours launch every day at 12pm. Let our trained tour guide walk you through our nation's largest battleship. Along the way, our guide we'll explain the areas and amazing history of the Battleship.
Fire Power Self-Guided Tour
This overall view of the Battleship New Jersey takes guests five levels up and two decks below. The Main Deck features an Exhibit/Museum that encompasses the 48 years in and out of service. Guides are available for questions and conversations in the Captain’s Quarters and CEC.
For a limited time, extend your tour with two complimentary extensions found along the route:
Engineering “Steam to Speed” Guided Tour Extension – Walk through both fire room two and engine room two. Learn about the ship’s boilers and turbines. Climb under one of the ship’s massive propeller shafts.
Turret II Guided Tour Extension – An interactive experience that tasks you with loading the powder bags, hoisting a projectile in an elevator, and pulling the trigger to simulate the 16-inch guns firing. Finish with a walk down Broadway.
Want to see more of the ship? Ask about our Curator's private tours, where you can do to place aboard ship that only our curatorial staff can take you. Curator's Tours with Curator Ryan Szimanski are a $1,200 donation. For other members of the Curatorial staff, the tour is a $600 donation. Curator's Tour can be for up to 10 guests, To scheduled a Curator’s Tours, email Educationbattleshipnewjersey.org or call 856-966-1652, ext. 144.
Jason’s Kids Kompartment
Pre-school children can enjoy Jason’s Kids Kompartment, presented by Lockheed-Martin. This space offers a safe and fun area for younger kids to play. The space features a small boat for kids to captain, a play galley area, Sixers basketball, blocks, coloring books and more! The Kids Kompartment is part of the Battleship’s Fire Power tour.
Battleshop
The Battleshop in the Visitors Center offers an assortment of Battleship gifts and merchandise, including USS New Jersey hats, models, books, themed plush animals, dog tags and more. Many of our items are Made in the USA.
Black Dragon Cafe
The Black Dragon Café is located inside the Visitors Center and is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm when the Battleship is open for tours. The Black Dragon Cafe is currently closed as the Battleship prepares for dry dock. When open, the Cafe offers an assortment of cold sandwiches, wraps, chips, candy, sodas and beer.
Ship’s Store
The Ship’s Store, located on the ship and usually open for overnights, offers an assortment of Battleship gifts and merchandise, including USS New Jersey hats, models, books, themed plush animals, dog tags and more. You can visit the Ship’s Store with or without a tour, inquire at the Visitors Center. Many of our items for sale are made in the USA.
Local Accommodations
Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront
1 Penn St, Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 756-0070
The Hilton Garden Inn is located just a 10 minute walk from the Battleship New Jersey,
To find other near by accommodations , visit HotelsCombined.