Trenton New Jersey is the capital city of the Garden State, and is located about halfway between Philadelphia and New York City. It was settled by Quakers in 1679 and adopted the name Trent-Towne in 1719. It became the state's capital in 1790. The city is located along the Delaware River, and played an important role in the Revolutionary War.

This is the site of George Washington's first major military victory, achieved after he and his troops crossed the icy river the day after Christmas in 1776. The river crossing is the subject of a famous painting that today hangs in New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. For a brief two months in 1784, Trenton NJ was the capital of the United States. You can learn more of the city's history at the William Trent House, built in 1719 and now a historic museum, and at the Trenton City Museum with its excellent collection fine and decorative arts, most of which were made in the city during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. There is also the Old Barracks Museum, built in 1758 to house British soldiers and used for American troops during the Revolutionary War. Other historic buildings include the State House, built in 1792, and the New Jersey State Museum, established in 1895.

Attractions near Trenton New Jersey include Six Flags Great Adventure in the town of Jackson about twenty miles to the east and Sesame Place in Langhorne Pennsylvania about twenty miles to the west. The latter is a family oriented theme park inspired by the beloved television series. An hour's drive from Trenton will take you to the beautiful New Jersey beaches and seaside resort areas.

New Jersey Map

The state of Pennsylvania lies just across the Delaware River, so some Trenton hotels will not be found in New Jersey at all. There are several good lodging options in the town of Morrisville and Woodside, both of which are quite close to Trenton Mercer Airport, a small facility with only limited regional service. The main Trenton New Jersey downtown area hugs the river, which has a number of parks and green spaces, as well as many hotel options. Other attractions in this area are the State House and historic downtown area, including the Old Barracks Museum.

There are no true luxury or five star properties in the city center; the Marriott is a three to four star property. If you are looking for something more unusual or elegant, you need to look for your Trenton hotels in nearby communities. The town of Princeton is only about twenty miles away. Because of its proximity to New York City and location of prestigious Princeton University, there are a number of excellent choices here that include historic bed and breakfast inns and boutique hotels.

Those flying in to Trenton NJ from just about anywhere generally will use one of the New York City airports ( the airport in Newark is only an hour drive away) or the Philadelphia Airport (also within about a one-hour drive). The city is a major Amtrak terminal, and there are frequent trains to and from New York City and Philadelphia and accessible to most major cities in the Northeast. Using the New Jersey Transit system or SEPTA (Southeast Pennsylvania Transit) trains will be less expensive unless to are traveling onwards to places like Boston or Washington DC.