Most popular during the roller-disco era of the ‘70s and ‘80s, roller skating made a mini-comeback on social media in the summer of 2020. However, skating isn’t just a warm weather activity. Nor is it a passing trend. You can partake in this retro pastime all year round at multiple New Jersey roller rinks.
If you’re looking to enjoy some physical activity without working up a sweat at the gym, you’re in luck! Here is a comprehensive list of the best roller rinks all around the Garden State.
Branch Brook Park Skating Center – Newark, NJ
Branch Brook Park Skating Center is home to neon-colored art, retro carpeting, a game room, a prize shop, and of course, a massive skating floor. If you’re not into today’s top hits or the best of the ‘80s playlists that play at most roller rinks, you’re in luck at Branch Brook Park. Hip hop, R&B, club, and house music dominate this center’s speakers Monday through Sunday.
Due to Newark’s vaccine mandate, all guests ages five and up are required to show proof of at least one dose of the COVID vaccine in order to enter the facility, and face masks are mandatory at all times.
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Florham Park Roller Rink – Florham Park, NJ
Florham Park Roller Rink offers group bookings for schools, camps, parties, and corporate events. If you’re looking for lessons, Florham Park Roller Rink specializes in beginner group and private lessons, as well as figure skating. With so many private events, the public session availability is updated every Sunday on the rink’s website. The Florham Park Roller Rink is open to the public for various two-hour-long sessions on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Admission is $8 per person and skate rentals are an extra $5. The venue requires that individuals who are not fully-vaccinated for COVID-19 wear masks.
Hot Wheelz – Cherry Hill, NJ
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Hot Wheelz in Cherry Hill is open daily and offers several discounted skate events. The venue has a $2 Tuesday deal every week and $1 admission on Fridays for their 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. session. If your child is a fan of SpongeBob, “Space Jam,” or Pennywise the clown, the rink also provides character skating events. However, the venue isn’t just about fun. Hot Wheelz often holds skate sessions for free admission if you participate in its charitable events, like donating socks to the homeless or winter jackets for children. At Hot Wheelz, you’re not just skating—you’re skating for a cause.
Live Love Skate Academy – Metuchen, NJ
Located in the Metuchen Sportsplex, Live Love Skate Academy offers open skating sessions every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is $7 and skate rentals are an additional $2. However, if you want to take your skating skills to the next level, the academy offers a range of classes for skate lovers of all ages. Because the majority of attendees are under the age of vaccination requirements, the academy requires that all skaters wear a mask.
Millenium Skate World – Camden, NJ
Millenium Skate World in Camden is one of the few New Jersey roller rinks that is open daily from Monday to Sunday. The rink offers a wide selection of sessions: private parties, discounted family skate nights, adult night for the 18+ crowd, and public skate. Given the state of the pandemic, the venue is also allowing rink rentals for a limited time. For $200, you gain admission and skate rentals for 20 people, a manager/DJ with great music, and the facility is yours for two hours.
Rollermagic – South Amboy and Jackson, NJ
Rollermagic’s motto is “roller skating isn’t a sport, it’s a lifestyle.” If you’re looking to seriously get into roller skating, Rollermagic offers multiple programs for tots as young as three through adults. Certified instructors will guide you as you master the basics from a beginner toe stop at level one to an advanced toe loop jump at level eight.
Sk8 47 Skating & Fun Center – Franklinville, NJ
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With events like the late-night shuffle skate, glow skate, TGIT Thursdayz, and soulful Sundays, Sk8 47 Skating & Fun Center has charming events for every person to enjoy. Some of their adult events go into the early morning hours of the next day and include DJ entertainment. Others, like the coffee club sessions held every Friday, are more low-profile. For $8, patrons can skate, drink coffee, and eat donuts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you’re looking to take the whole family out, the venue offers a family night with all-you-can-eat pizza every Wednesday.
Prices vary per event and attendees are not required to wear masks, per CDC guidelines. Sk8 47 is always adding new events to its calendar, so make sure you check their website for your next laidback, or funky, outing.
The Rink – Delanco, NJ
Delanco is home to one of the largest skating floors on the East Coast. Formerly known as Holiday Skating Center, The Rink offers weekly specials ranging from $1 admission on Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m., $2 admission on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m., and drop-in skate classes at $12 per lesson.
Villa Roller Rink – Washington Township, NJ
Socialize, exercise, have fun! The Villa Roller Rink in Washington has open skate hours Friday through Sunday for three hours and two hours on Wednesdays. The venue has a more modern feel with its open-floor plan, chic wood details, and fluorescent graffiti art. The rink encourages its patrons to buy advance tickets online, as they often sell out and walk-ins are limited.
Woodbridge Community Center – Woodbridge, NJ
The Woodbridge Community Center offers public skate times on Wednesdays and Friday through Sunday. Arcade games line the walls of this state-of-the-art venue. If roller skating and arcade games aren’t enough to pique your interest, the community center also houses an ice skating rink, indoor pool, full-court gym, batting cages, and more.
Did we convince you to take a trip to any of these skate venues? Let us know what you think about these New Jersey roller rinks in the comments below.
Main photo by Lukas Schroeder
Helen is an editorial intern at The Digest. A senior at Drew University, she enjoys cooking and listening to music. When she's not working in the kitchen, she's typically catching up on pop culture news.
