What the waterfront is
Camden’s waterfront is the stretch of the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River that faces Philadelphia. Over the last several decades much of it has been turned from industrial and shipping land into a mix of parks, entertainment venues, offices and a few large institutions. It is the part of the city most often seen by day visitors, and it sits close to the New Jersey end of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
This guide is a broad orientation. It describes the kinds of places found along the river rather than promising particular hours, prices or schedules, which change often. Anything you plan to attend should be checked with the venue or other current sources before you go.
The setting
The river here is wide and tidal, and the Philadelphia skyline is the main view from the New Jersey side. That is one reason the shoreline has become a place to stroll and take photographs. The wider story of the Delaware River as a working waterway is covered elsewhere on this site, and the layout of the shoreline in relation to the city is explained in the piece on Camden geography.
The waterfront is not one single park but a series of connected pieces: landscaped promenades, a small marina area, open lawns, large event venues and parking areas that serve them. Some sections feel like a park; others are closer to a busy event district. Expect that character to vary by day and by season.
Main kinds of attractions
Museum ship. The Battleship New Jersey, a World War II-era warship, has been berthed on the Camden shore as a floating museum since around 2000-2001. It was built elsewhere, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and came to Camden only when it was turned into a museum. Tours and programs are run by the museum, and offerings change, so check its own channels.
Aquarium. An aquarium opened on the waterfront in 1992 as the New Jersey State Aquarium and later became known under a different name. It remains one of the better-known destinations on the shore and is often a focus for family trips.
Concert amphitheater. An outdoor amphitheater on the riverfront opened in the mid-1990s and has hosted touring concerts under several corporate names over the years. Because naming rights change, it is easier to look up the current name when buying tickets than to rely on older references.
Parks and promenades. Wiggins Park, with its marina and small plaza, has long been one of the main public spaces on the shore. Beyond it are walkways and lawn areas used for casual walks and for outdoor events. Readers interested in how green space functions in a city can read about parks and public space as civic infrastructure more generally.
Nearby institutions. Near the river are a children’s garden, a minor league ballpark and several large office buildings. Their programs and ownership have changed over time, which is a good reason to rely on current sources.
Connections to Philadelphia
The waterfront has been tied to Philadelphia since the colonial era, when ferries were the only way across. Today there are several links:
- A seasonal passenger ferry has run between the Camden waterfront and the Philadelphia side. Whether it is operating, and on what days, should be confirmed before you plan around it.
- The PATCO Speedline stops near the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and connects with Center City Philadelphia.
- The river bridges carry road traffic, and the Franklin Bridge also has a pedestrian and bicycle path.
- Local buses and light rail serve the area; a general overview of public transportation in the region can help with planning.
Many visitors treat the Camden shore and Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing as two halves of one riverfront outing. That approach is covered in more detail in the notes on a combined itinerary.
Planning an outing
A few general points help with most visits:
- Check hours and event listings with each venue. An event calendar for the city can show what is on, but schedules shift.
- Think about the season. The riverfront is more active in warmer months, and weather on open ground beside the water can be windy or hot. The article on seasonal planning discusses this.
- Plan how you will arrive. Parking near event venues can be busy, and the notes on parking basics explain common patterns.
- Allow time on foot. Distances along the shore are manageable but not trivial, and a walking day takes some preparation.
Accessibility varies from site to site. Most newer promenades and venues are built to current accessibility standards, but visitors with specific needs should contact each site directly.
A changing shoreline
The attractions above are only the most recent layer. Earlier uses of the shoreline included ferry landings, rail terminals, shipyards and factories, and the area is still being planned and built. The riverfront history article covers those earlier uses, the timeline of waterfront revitalization sets out the changes since the 1990s, and the piece on waterfront developments looks at what is described as under way. Opinions about who has benefited from the changes differ, and both views are worth reading.
Checking current information
Hours, tour availability, ticket policies, ferry schedules and construction detours are the facts most likely to be out of date in any guide. The most reliable sources are the venues’ own websites, the city and county government pages, and the transit agencies that operate the trains and bridges. This site does not operate any attraction, sell tickets or represent any business listed here.