Crawl the pitch-black Touch Tunnel at Liberty Science Center
Big hands-on science center across the Hudson. Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ, Day trips and weekends away.
The short answer
Liberty Science Center sits in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, just across the Hudson from Lower Manhattan, and it's the big science day out for New York families who have already done every room at home. The center describes itself as five rail stops from the World Trade Center: take the PATH to Exchange Place or Newport, change to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and get off at Liberty State Park. From there you follow the signs under the New Jersey Turnpike overpass and you're at the door.
What it is like
The headline acts are physical. The Touch Tunnel is an 80-foot, pitch-black tunnel you crawl through by feel alone (I would like to say I went first; I would be lying). The Infinity Climber is a suspended climbing structure 19 feet tall that children scale like it's nothing while parents stand at the bottom pretending to supervise. Little ones get Wobbly World, made for the youngest scientists, and a Thomas and Friends rail exhibit; older ones get a touch tank with horseshoe crabs and sea stars, a dinosaur dig in more than 60 tons of sand, and the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, which costs extra.
It is not cheap, and I could not read the current prices in plain text on the center's site (the table is an image), so check lsc.org before you set off. The center says advance tickets bought at least a day ahead get the best price and recommends buying online because tickets may not be available on site. Bank of America cardholders get free general admission on the first full weekend of each month through Museums on Us, and the center says that showing proof of NJ Transit travel saves $5 a person on some passes.
Best time to go
A weekday morning at 10am opening; avoid the first full weekend of the month if you hate crowds.
Tips before you go
- Buy online at least a day ahead for the best price, and pick an arrival time.
- Check the hours calendar: the center has closed days mid-week in November (for example November 9 to 11, 2026).
- There are restrooms with changing tables on every floor and a nursing room on the second floor.
- Free sensory bags are available at the Information Desk.
Where it is
222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305. OpenStreetMap ↗ · Directions ↗
What's on here
From The New York Almanac, the next 60 days.
- Nothing listed here in The New York Almanac for the next two months. It is refreshed every week.
Questions people ask
How do you get to Liberty Science Center from NYC without a car?
Take the PATH to Exchange Place or Newport, transfer to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and ride to Liberty State Park station, then follow the signs under the NJ Turnpike overpass. A ferry also runs from the World Financial Center to Liberty State Park, followed by about a 20-minute walk.
Is Liberty Science Center good for little kids?
Yes. Wobbly World is designed for the youngest visitors and the Thomas and Friends rail exhibit suits small children, while older kids head for the Touch Tunnel and the Infinity Climber.
Do you need to book Liberty Science Center tickets in advance?
The center strongly recommends buying online, as tickets may not be available on site, and says tickets bought at least a day ahead get the best price.
How much does it cost?
Check lsc.org (cheapest a day ahead); planetarium and premium exhibitions extra; parking $7.
Which subway stop is nearest?
No subway; PATH to Exchange Place or Newport, then the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park and a short walk. A ferry runs from the World Financial Center to Liberty State Park, then about a 20-minute walk.
Can you take a stroller?
Elevators serve every floor; check stroller rules with the center.
How long do you need?
Half a day.
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