Experience the best that the metropolitan region has to offer at Rutgers University–Camden. Nearby campus, explore entertainment and recreation options at the vibrant Camden Waterfront and in the historic Cooper Grant neighborhood. Just minutes away in Philadelphia, you’ll enjoy museums, the arts, parks, restaurants, dining, and nightlife. In the South Jersey region, discover quaint downtowns with even more entertainment options.
Check out the fun things happening right here in Camden. You’ll find a thriving arts scence, live music, historic sites, and more.
Just minutes from Rutgers–Camden on the Camden Waterfront, Adventure Aquarium features more than 8,500 aquatic species and is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast. It's been recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the best aquariums in the United States, and features a 4D theater.
Take an interactive tour and learn about life as a battleship sailor. The U.S.S. New Jersey was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and launched a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942. Fully restored since it was decommissioned in 1991, the U.S.S. New Jersey opened as a museum on the Camden Waterfront in 2001.
This open amphitheater features music and entertainment all summer on the Camden Waterfront, with one of the best views of the Philadelphia skyline. Freedom Mortgage Pavilion hosts shows throughout the year and colder months when it converts to an enclosed theater.
Covering four acres at the Camden Waterfront, the Camden Children's Garden is a great place to discover the natural world. Visitors of all ages can explore the gardens and butterfly house, plus take advantage of special movie nights, concerts, and festivals throughout the year.
Grab your comfortable shoes, because one of America’s largest trail networks is located right here in Camden and metro Philadelphia. Connecting the two cities, the Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway offers an approximately 3-mile roundtrip walk, run, or bike ride over the Delaware River, with access from the Rutgers–Camden campus.
The Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum features displays and educational programs about the rich history of shipbuilding locally and in the region. Housed in the newly restored and historic Church of Our Savior in South Camden, the museum also focuses on African-American explorer Matthew Henson, who accompanied Admiral Robert Peary’s expedition to the North Poll in 1909. A sculpture of Henson by Rutgers–Camden professor emeritus of art John Gianotti stands outside the museum.
Did you know that you can get one the best cheesesteaks either side of the Delaware River here in Camden? A tradition for more than 70 years, Donkey’s Place and its famous cheesesteaks were featured on Anthony Bourdain’s show “Parts Unknown” in 2015. And according to the celebrity chef, Donkey’s cheesesteaks are better than any found in Philly.
Winner of the James Beard Award (2022), one of the culinary world’s highest honors, Corrine's Place is an iconic Camden soul food restaurant run by Rutgers University–Camden alumna Corinne Bradley-Powers CCAS’79.
You’re never too old to put on a pair of skates and hit the rink. Millennium Skate World has public skate sessions available nearly every day of the week.
Take the RiverLink Ferry from the Camden Waterfront across to Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia to enjoy attractions on the other side of the river, including the Independence Seaport Museum and the Blue Cross Cross RiverRink.
Support local arts and see a show. The South Camden Theatre Company stages classic plays and original works in an intimate, 96-seat venue, the Waterfront South Theatre. Past shows have included works by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson.
Built in 1848, Walt Whitman’s modest, two-story house stands today on Mickle Street and is open to the public for tours. Whitman lived in the house until his death in 1892 and published several volumes of poetry from his home in Camden. The house is a New Jersey State Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark.
Located at the Camden Waterfront, Wiggins Park and Marina is a perfect place to visit all year round. Stroll the promenade along the Delaware River and take in the Philadelphia skyline. In warmer weather, the park features festivals and outdoor concerts on its Riverstage, including its annual Sunset Jazz Series. Its 50-slip deep water marina is open seasonally April through October.
Just across the Delaware River, Philadelphia offers plenty of reasons to take a quick ride on the PATCO Speedline to enjoy museums, historic sites, parks, restaurants, dining, and nightlife.
Highlights include: Fairmount Park, Independence Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Liberty Bell, The Philadelphia Zoo
Did you know that Philadelphia is consistently rated one of the best dining cities in the United States? Whatever the cuisine, you’ll find it in brick-and-mortar buildings and on wheels. Farm-to-table dining, Philly cheesesteaks, diverse Asian flavors—you can find just about any food you’ll crave.
After dark, Philly is an exciting place to be, with plenty of options to hang out and have fun, whether you’re looking for a late-night bite or a place where you and friends can dance.
You can catch a show at a number of music venues, such as The Fillmore Philadelphia, Electric Factory, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Mann Center for the Performing Arts.
The theater community includes the Merriam Theater, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, and the Walnut Street Theater. The Philadelphia Ballet is one of the best regional ballet companies. Philadanco is known for its creativity, and celebration of African-American dance traditions.
Philadelphia is a sports town, and one of the only cities with a professional sports franchise in all four major league sports (baseball, basketball, football, hockey), plus men’s soccer. You can take public transportation down to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and watch a pro game in any season. Aside from professional sports, Philly hosts marathons, bike races, regattas, and other activities throughout the year.
Outside of the city, you can explore communities and attractions surrounding Camden in southern New Jersey. Explore everything you can do in South Jersey.
Collingswood and Haddonfield each offer thriving downtowns with arts, shops, and restaurants.
The Camden County Golf Academy is a state-of-the-art golf center featuring a double-decker, 60-station driving range.
Cooper River Park offers bike paths, volleyball courts, picnic areas, and more.