Butterflies of New Jersey with Kids: A Nature Explorer Guide (+ Free Map)

New Jersey is one of the finest butterfly states in the mid-Atlantic — a fact that surprises many people who underestimate the state's remarkable natural diversity. Over 140 butterfly species have been recorded in New Jersey, from the iconic Monarch that passes through Cape May in extraordinary numbers each autumn to the rare Baltimore Checkerspot that breeds in the state's wet meadows and marshes. For families who explore New Jersey with curious eyes, the butterflies are a window into one of the most ecologically rich and surprising natural environments in the Northeast.

Engage your kids in outdoor exploration with Nature Explorer Club's Butterflies of New Jersey Activity Book to track every butterfly your family discovers.

Best Spots for Butterflies in New Jersey

We mapped the best butterfly locations in New Jersey so you can plan your adventure before you go.

1. Kate Gorrie Butterfly House, Pennington — A dedicated butterfly house in Mercer County with an enclosed garden where tropical and native butterfly species fly freely around visitors. An outstanding family experience where butterflies land on clothing and children can observe them at close range. Educational programs explain butterfly life cycles, host plant relationships, and conservation. One of the finest enclosed butterfly garden experiences in New Jersey.

2. Tenafly Nature Center, Tenafly — A beautiful nature center in Bergen County with excellent butterfly viewing in its native plant gardens and woodland trails. The center's pollinator gardens are outstanding for summer butterfly activity — Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, Monarchs, and Painted Ladies are all reliably found here in season. Outstanding educational programs for families throughout the summer.

3. East Brunswick Butterfly Park, East Brunswick — A dedicated butterfly park in Middlesex County designed specifically to attract and support native butterfly populations. The park's native plant gardens support a diverse butterfly community including Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and Black Swallowtails throughout the warm months. One of the most accessible dedicated butterfly viewing destinations in central New Jersey.

4. Butterfly Garden at West Essex Park, Roseland — A beautiful native plant butterfly garden in Essex County with excellent viewing of the region's most common butterfly species. The garden's planting of milkweed, native coneflowers, and other butterfly host and nectar plants supports a diverse butterfly community from May through October. An outstanding accessible family butterfly destination in the northern New Jersey suburbs.

5. Turtle Back Zoo Butterfly Tent, West Orange — A seasonal enclosed butterfly tent at Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County where visitors walk among live tropical butterflies in an immersive garden setting. Children are invariably captivated by the experience of butterflies landing on them in the enclosed space. Outstanding family destination that combines the butterfly tent with the zoo's other animal exhibits.

6. Van Vleck House and Gardens, Montclair — A beautiful historic garden in Essex County with outstanding butterfly viewing in its formal and informal garden areas. The garden's diverse plantings attract a variety of butterfly species including Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, and Painted Ladies throughout the summer months. The historic house and beautiful garden setting make this one of the most distinctive butterfly viewing destinations in northern New Jersey.

7. Wheelabrator Wildlife Refuge, West Deptford — A wildlife refuge in Gloucester County with excellent butterfly viewing in its restored meadow and wetland habitats. The refuge's native plantings support Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Sulphurs, and various skipper species throughout the warm months. One of the finest butterfly habitats in southern New Jersey.

8. Cattus Island County Park, Toms River — A beautiful coastal park with excellent butterfly viewing in its meadow, forest edge, and marsh habitats. Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and Painted Ladies are all regularly found here in season. The park's nature center has excellent educational programs about butterflies and other coastal wildlife for families.

9. Trailside Nature Center, Mountainside — A beautiful nature center in Union County's Watchung Reservation with excellent butterfly viewing in its native plant gardens and woodland trails. The center's programs about butterfly identification and conservation are outstanding for families new to butterfly watching. Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails, and Monarchs are all regularly found here in season.

10. Camden's Children's Garden, Camden — A beautiful children's garden on the Delaware River waterfront in Camden with a dedicated butterfly house and native plant gardens that attract butterflies throughout the warm months. The garden's family-friendly design and riverside location make it one of the most accessible butterfly destinations in southern New Jersey. An outstanding combined garden and butterfly experience for families with young children.

 For the full guided experience with butterfly illustrations, games, and a complete tracker, explore our Butterflies of New Jersey Activity Book. Or get all five New Jersey nature books together with the New Jersey Nature Explorer Series.