Location | Commute

Montclair is about 20 miles away from lower Manhattan and has seven New Jersey Transit train stations. NJ Transit (Montclair-Boonton line) trains go directly to New York’s Penn Station and NJ Transit buses run direct to Port Authority. All train station parking permits are valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Permit holders are allowed to park overnight in all transit lots without needing to purchase an additional overnight permit.

There is also a shuttle that picks passengers up in certain locations and brings them to the Montclair Bay Street Station at a nominal cost per trip.

Montclair Schools

Montclair Township’s public schools are dedicated to educational excellence for every child and serves students in Kindergarten through Twelfth grades. The student-teacher ratio is 11:1. The school district is comprised of seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school. The district’s award-winning magnet system has elementary and middle schools identified by themes: global studies, science and technology, creating connections, Montessori, university, STEM, environmental science, and, gifted and talented. Its academically challenging high school provides a diverse curriculum center for social justice and visual art and performance options.

Activities | Recreation | Arts

Montclair has activities for everyone. The Montclair Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs offers year-round recreational, athletic and cultural programs. The Township has 18 public tennis courts, four skating rinks (two are indoor), and three public swimming pools. The Township hosts a number of annual events such as the 10-day long Montclair Film Festival, the African-American Heritage Parade and Festival, the Montclair Jazz Festival, the Fall Fest and Duck Derby which supports the Montclair Ambulance Unit, and a number of holiday and remembrance events (tree lighting and visit with Santa, Mr. Bunny's Springtime Fun, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies).

Montclair is home to The Montclair Art Museum with over 12,000 works along with special exhibits, the Montclair History Center, Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, and the George Segal Gallery. Live theaters include The Montclair Operetta Company, the Wellmont Theatre, Kasser Theater at Montclair State University, and the Studio Playhouse. Concerts are held at the Wellmont Theatre and at a public stage on Bloomfield Avenue.

For folks with a love of the outdoors, Montclair has several nearby gardens, The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens - the largest public iris garden in the United States, the Essex County Rose Garden at Brookdale Park- a lovely garden with 1,500 rose bushes, Avis Campbell Gardens - an English style garden, and Van Vleck House & Garden - late 19th and early 20th century house and gardens.

Dining & Shopping

Montclair has six business and shopping districts. The Upper Montclair business district has Tudor-style shops and restaurants. Watchung Plaza features an independent bookstore as well as neighborhood shops, restaurants, and a popular coffee house that roasts its own beans. The Watchung Avenue Train Station is also nearby. Frog Hollow is a great area to have lunch at one of the restaurants, delis or pizzerias along Valley Road and close to Edgemont Memorial Park. The Walnut Street area is home to a popular jazz club, several galleries, artisan bakeries, and wonderful restaurants, including an Irish pub, a European bistro and an eatery serving New American cuisine. The Walnut Street district includes Grove Street filled with shops and restaurants. The Montclair Farmers’ Market is on Saturdays, from June through November, at the Walnut Street train station parking lot.The Montclair Center has hundreds of shops along with an art museum, a top concert venue, and a cinema showing art house and feature films. The South End district is an area of charming small shops and restaurants and is home to the MLK Peace Garden.