500 Boulevard · playground, baseball and soccer fields, street hockey and seasonal spray park.
Parks · Community Events · Local Dining · Route 46 Lodging · Regional Access
Elmwood Park Visiting & Lodging
Elmwood Park is best approached as a local community and North Jersey stop rather than a major tourism destination. Its strengths are municipal recreation, a diverse dining scene, Dundee Lake and Passaic River history, easy highway access and two conventional lodging choices along Route 46.
Its position between Paterson, Fair Lawn, Saddle Brook, Garfield and Paramus also makes it a practical base for exploring nearby Bergen and Passaic County destinations.
Things to see & do
Community gymnasium, weight room, nutrition center and senior lounge.
River Drive & Kipp Avenue · designated municipal dog park.
Birchwood, Cherry Hill, English Avenue, Gall Avenue, Garden Drive, Rosemont and Elmwood Drive parks broaden recreation across town.
210 Lee Street · BCCLS library, programs and community resources.
Indian, Italian and prepared-food businesses make Market Street a useful lunch or dinner stop.
Dundee Lake & borough history
Before Elmwood Park was East Paterson, the area was known as Dundee Lake and formed part of Saddle River Township. The 1916 separation, 1917 Rosemont annexation, postwar housing boom and later highway construction all shaped the modern borough. The Elmwood Park name became official January 1, 1973.
The old community name ties Elmwood Park to the Passaic River and the region's industrial and transportation history.
Housing, garden apartments and new schools rapidly expanded the borough after World War II.
Routes 4 and 46, I-80 and the Garden State Parkway made Elmwood Park a major North Jersey crossroads.
Seasonal & community activity
The Recreation Department supports youth sports, summer camp, spray-park use and holiday programming. Current Borough notices and Recreation information should be checked for the latest concert, community-day, movie-night and seasonal-event schedules.
Day camp, after-camp programs and spray-park recreation are part of the municipal summer program.
Basketball, soccer, floor hockey and other programs run through Recreation.
Easter, Halloween and holiday tree-lighting activities are among recurring municipal programs.
Where to stay
Elmwood Park has two conventional Route 46 lodging properties in the current NJTGO review. Basic listings are factual references without private booking links.
204 US-46 · 201-773-9510
Roadside lodging with parking and convenient access to Route 46 and the Garden State Parkway.
50 US-46 · 201-797-7700
Route 46 lodging at River Road with rooms and suites.
NJTGO lodging policy: direct private hotel websites, booking links, photographs and promotional descriptions are enhanced paid-placement features.
Transportation & parking
Current bus service includes Elmwood Park stops along Boulevard and connections toward the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Routes 4 and 46, Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway make driving the most flexible way to reach multiple nearby attractions.
Use designated municipal recreation parking and follow posted restrictions.
The two in-town hotels are positioned directly on Route 46 for highway travelers.
A simple Elmwood Park day trip
Walk the recreation area or visit the spray park when in season.
Choose lunch from Elmwood Park's Indian, Italian or prepared-food options.
Use the borough's Dundee Lake/East Paterson story to understand how highways and postwar growth reshaped the community.
Continue to Paterson's Great Falls, Fair Lawn, Paramus or another nearby North Jersey stop.
Reach Elmwood Park visitors on NJTGO
Hotels, restaurants, event services and visitor-focused businesses can use enhanced NJTGO placement for stronger visibility.
Visitor Advertising Contact NJTGOVisitor, lodging, recreation and transportation information was reviewed in September 2026. Hours, schedules and hotel details can change. Confirm time-sensitive information before traveling.