Parking & Directions
Cheesequake State Park's address is 300 Gordon Road, Matawan, NJ 07747. The park is in Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, right beside the Garden State Parkway, which cuts through it. Inside the entrance, the Trailhead Parking Lot for the main hiking trails is just ahead on the left; the Hooks Creek Lake lot serves the beach and picnic areas, and the White Trail has a small lot about a mile further in. Parking is free from Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend and $5 to $20 per car in summer.
Parking at a Glance
Getting There
Put 300 Gordon Road, Matawan, NJ 07747 into your map app, or use NJDEP's map pin at 40.43516, -74.26400. The mailing address says Matawan, but NJDEP places the park in Old Bridge, Middlesex County. The Garden State Parkway was built through the park in the early 1950s, and NJDEP credits it with the park's easy access. We have not found an NJDEP page with turn-by-turn directions or public transit, so we don't give them here.
Where to Park Inside the Park
- Trailhead Parking Lot: just beyond the park entrance, on the left. All four hiking trails (Green, Blue, Red, Yellow) start here, with kiosks and maps. Closest lot to the Nature Center.
- Hooks Creek Lake lot: for the beach, the crabbing bridge, boat launching, the lakeside picnic areas and the sledding hill next to the lot.
- White Trail lot: pass the main trailhead lot, turn right at the stop sign, and look for a small parking area on the right beyond the open field.
- Group campground: at the Gordon Field group sites, every vehicle needs a parking permit and must stay in the marked spaces.
- Accessible parking: NJDEP's 2026 map marks ADA parking spaces. For accessibility questions, call the park office at 732-566-2161.
Parking Fees
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day the park charges per vehicle: $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays for New Jersey residents, $10 and $20 for non-residents. Vehicles that won't fit a 10-by-20-foot space, like RVs or cars with trailers, pay double. The rest of the year, parking is free. A State Park Pass covers a calendar year of entry; see Hours & Fees.
Height Limit and Big Vehicles
Vehicles over 11 feet tall cannot enter the camping area. RVs and trailers are not allowed at the group campsites. Bus groups must reserve ahead and may come only on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, never on weekends or holidays.
When the Lots Fill
On summer holiday weekends and other warm weekends the park can fill to capacity. NJDEP then closes the entrance to new cars, even if friends in another car are already inside; only camping and picnic-shelter reservations are let in. Check the NJDEP park operating status map before you leave and arrive early.
Gate Hours
The gate is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Plan to be back at your car before it closes.
Parking & Directions FAQ
What is the address of Cheesequake State Park?
300 Gordon Road, Matawan, NJ 07747. The park itself is in Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County.
Where do you park for the Cheesequake trails?
At the Trailhead Parking Lot, just past the park entrance on the left. The White Trail has its own small lot about a mile further in.
Is parking free at Cheesequake State Park?
From Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, yes. In summer it's $5 to $10 per car for New Jersey residents and $10 to $20 for non-residents.
Is Cheesequake State Park near the Garden State Parkway?
Yes. The Parkway runs right through the park, which NJDEP says has made it easy to reach since the early 1950s.