Region
Bergen County
Base in one town and drive; Sunday shopping is closed county-wide, so plan Sundays for parks and food.
Key facts · United States
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Bergen County is New York City's northwest suburb: 239 sq mi of towns 10–30 minutes apart, with Manhattan 20–40 minutes away over the George Washington Bridge. Sleep in one town — Paramus or Hackensack for malls and highways, Fort Lee for the bridge and Manhattan views, Ridgewood or Westwood for a walkable main street — and drive between the rest. The one rule that changes plans: nearly all non-food retail closes on Sunday.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Fort LeeCity guide
George Washington Bridge, Manhattan views, Korean food.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - RidgewoodPlanned
Walkable downtown, NJ Transit train to Hoboken.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- TeaneckPlanned
Bus to Manhattan, cheaper rooms, diverse food.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- East RutherfordCity guide
MetLife Stadium and American Dream mall; event nights only.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - WestwoodPlanned
Small downtown, Pascack Valley line.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Park RidgePlanned
Northern edge, near the NY state line.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- River ValePlanned
Suburban green space, no train station.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- HaworthPlanned
Small river town.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- EnglewoodPlanned
Downtown shops and restaurants; light-rail extension planned, not open.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- WyckoffPlanned
Residential, drive-only.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Fort Lee 2 — Manhattan day trips over the GW Bridge
- 3 nights
- Ridgewood or Westwood 3 — walkable evenings, train to Hoboken
- 4 nights
- Paramus/Hackensack 4 — malls, MetLife event, NYC by bus
- Sunday: assume shops are shut. Buy what you need Saturday.
- Bridge and tunnel tolls into New York are charged one way; check the current rate.
- Rush hour on I-95, Route 4 and Route 17 runs roughly 07:00–09:30 and 16:00–19:00.Rush hour on I-95, Route 4 and Route 17 runs roughly 7:00 AM–9:30 AM and 4:00 PM–7:00 PM.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | Fort Lee | 40 min | check | GW Bridge by car or NJ Transit bus 156/159 to Port Authority; bridge tolls are one-way into NY. |
| East Rutherford (MetLife Stadium / American Dream) | Paramus | 20 min | check | Drive or NJ Transit; allow extra time on event nights. |
| Hoboken | Ridgewood | 50 min | check | NJ Transit Main/Bergen County or Pascack Valley line; check the last train back. |
Bags between cities
No rail link crosses the county east–west; luggage stays in the car or with you on the bus. Hotels in Paramus, Hackensack and Ridgewood are the usual overnight stops.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lee | × | × | ok | go | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | ok |
| East Rutherford | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | ok |
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen CountyAll towns | cold | cold | ok | best | best | ok | hot | hot | best | best | ok | cold |
- Bergen County
- Humid summers near 30 °C, cold winters with snow; autumn is the driest, clearest stretch.Humid summers near 86 °F, cold winters with snow; autumn is the driest, clearest stretch.
Late September to early November is the best window; spring is wet. Summer weekends fill parks and malls.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark Liberty International (EWR) | Bergen County | Car or NJ Transit | ~40 min by car | The main commercial airport for the county. |
| LaGuardia (LGA) and John F. Kennedy (JFK) | Bergen County | Car or transit via Manhattan | ~40–60 min by car | Both within about 40 minutes outside rush hour. |
| Teterboro (TEB) | Bergen County | Private and business aviation | on-site | No scheduled airline service. |
| New York City | Fort Lee / Paramus | George Washington Bridge, then Route 4 and Route 17 | ~20–40 min | Toll is charged entering New York, not leaving. |
| Upstate New York | Montvale | I-287 to the New York State Thruway, School House Road exit | check | The northern approach into the county. |
| South Jersey | Bergen County | Garden State Parkway north, exits 160–172 | check | The most direct route from the south. |
Regional passes
NJ Transit bus and rail tickets
buyBuy per trip or use the app; a car still covers most of the county.
E-ZPass
buyNeeded for bridge and parkway tolls; rent a transponder with the car.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Korean barbecue and banchan | Fort Lee | The county's densest restaurant strip; many kitchens open late. |
| Diner breakfasts | Hackensack, Paramus, Ridgewood | New Jersey diners run long hours; Sunday mornings are busiest. |
| Italian-American and pizza | Ridgewood, Westwood | Walkable downtowns; book or expect a wait on weekend evenings. |
Go next
New York
GW Bridge or NJ Transit bus, 20–40 min
The obvious next base; leave the car outside Manhattan.
Jersey Shore
Garden State Parkway south, ~1 h 30
Beach towns for a summer add-on.
Westchester County
Tappan Zee (Mario Cuomo) Bridge, ~40 min
The mirror-image suburbs across the Hudson.
Pocono Mountains
I-80 west, ~1 h 30
Weekend mountains and lakes.
New Jersey
Statewide hub
Plan the rest of the state from here.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source