Great Oak Park · Ramapo Mountain · Ramapo River · Van Allen House · Hiking

Visit Oakland, New Jersey

Oakland is one of Bergen County's strongest outdoor day-trip towns, combining municipal parkland, mountain trails, river access, historic sites and a substantial Route 202 dining corridor.

Oakland has limited conventional hotel inventory, so overnight visitors generally stay in nearby Mahwah or Ramsey.

What to see in Oakland

Great Oak Park

Approximately 40 acres of passive recreation on the former Pleasureland property, with pavilion, Great Lawn, walking areas and dog park.

Van Allen House

3–5 Franklin Avenue · circa-1748 Dutch stone house associated with George Washington's 1777 stay.

Ramapo River access

Fishing pier and boat launch near the end of West Oakland Avenue, with borough-use rules.

Ponds Reformed Church & Cemetery

341 Ramapo Valley Road · historic congregation and cemetery with burials reaching the late 18th century.

Route 202 / Copper Tree

Oakland's main commercial corridor for shopping, coffee, meals and practical stops.

Oakland Public Library

2 Municipal Plaza · BCCLS services and community programs.

Outdoor recreation

Ramapo Mountain State Forest

67 Skyline Drive · hiking, mountain biking, Ramapo Lake, wildlife viewing and boating. Open sunrise to sunset.

Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Nearby 4,000+-acre county preserve with marked trails, fishing, canoe/kayak access and permit camping.

Great Oak dog park

Registration required; resident and nonresident rules apply.

History worth seeing

Oakland was once known as “The Ponds,” grew along important Revolutionary-era roads and was incorporated in 1902. Van Allen House is the centerpiece for interpreting that history, while Ponds Cemetery preserves early family names.

Seasonal events

Oakland's 2026 calendar includes community traditions such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Memorial Day Parade, summer carnival and recreation programming. Verify the current Borough calendar before traveling.

2026 Borough Calendar

Where to stay nearby

Oakland has limited conventional lodging. Mahwah and Ramsey offer the most practical nearby hotel clusters.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Mahwah

Mahwah · conventional hotel near I-287/Route 17.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Mahwah

Mahwah · all-suite option for longer stays.

Hampton Inn & Suites Mahwah

Mahwah · highway-access hotel.

Holiday Inn Express Ramsey-Mahwah

946 Route 17 North · Ramsey.

Best Western The Inn at Ramsey-Mahwah

1315 Route 17 South · Ramsey.

Commercial-link policy: nearby hotels are listed factually. Direct booking/private hotel links are reserved for enhanced paid placement.

A simple Oakland day trip

MorningVan Allen House

Start with local history.

Late morningGreat Oak Park

Walk the passive-recreation areas.

AfternoonRamapo Mountain

Choose a trail suited to ability and daylight.

EveningDinner in Oakland

Use NJTGO Food & Drink for current restaurants and dietary notes.

Reach Oakland visitors

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Visitor information reviewed September 2026.