Plan a Warren County day trip or weekend around Morris Canal history, Bread Lock Park, the New Village story, Thomas Edison industrial heritage, Route 57 dining, rural scenery and nearby Northwest New Jersey attractions.
Visitor character: Franklin Township is better suited to history, outdoor recreation, scenic drives and local exploration than to a conventional resort stay. Lodging inventory within the township is limited, so many overnight visitors use Franklin as part of a broader Warren County trip.
International Bat Night — Saturday, August 29, 2026
Warren County Parks currently lists an evening program at Bread Lock Park from 7:00–8:30 p.m. Event schedules can change, so confirm with Warren County Parks before making a special trip.
Address note: Franklin Township destinations can use Broadway, Stewartsville, Washington or Asbury postal addresses. Bread Lock Park, for example, is in Franklin Township but uses a Stewartsville mailing address.
Lodging in Franklin Township
Conventional lodging inside the combined Franklin Township / Broadway / New Village area is limited.
Broadway Motel WashingtonMotel2300 State Route 57 Franklin Township, NJ 08808 908-689-3366
The Route 57 property continues to appear in current travel-booking data. Confirm room availability, policies, rates and amenities directly before relying on a reservation.
Verify before bookingRegional Hotel AreasBroader SelectionHackettstown · Clinton · Phillipsburg / Easton
Travelers wanting a larger selection of conventional hotels can expand their search to the major highway and commercial centers surrounding Franklin Township.
Country & Rural StaysNearby Warren CountyHope · Knowlton · Delaware River area
Country inns, B&Bs and other smaller lodging options are available elsewhere in Warren County and can pair well with a Franklin Township history or recreation trip.
Rates, availability and amenities change frequently. Standard NJTGO lodging listings do not include external commercial website links.
Bed & Breakfasts
No dedicated bed-and-breakfast is currently confirmed within the combined Franklin Township / Broadway / New Village area. Visitors looking for this style of lodging should expand the search into northern and western Warren County.
Campgrounds
No public campground is currently confirmed within Franklin Township itself. Bread Lock Park is a day-use Warren County park where camping and fires are prohibited.
For camping trips: Look to New Jersey state parks, the Delaware Water Gap region and other designated campgrounds in Northwest New Jersey rather than attempting to camp at local municipal or county park sites.
Bread Lock Park & the Morris Canal Greenway
Bread Lock Park is Franklin Township's signature visitor destination and one of Warren County's most accessible Morris Canal heritage sites.
Bread Lock Park2627 Route 57 East Stewartsville, NJ 08886 908-475-7750
County parkland with walking, hiking, biking, picnicking, history interpretation and access to the Morris Canal Greenway.
Fitness TrailApproximately 0.6 mile
Warren County's current park map shows a short fitness loop within the Bread Lock Park site.
Morris Canal Greenway TrailApproximately 2.35 miles shown on current park map
A longer trail section follows the canal corridor and connects visitors with historic landscape features.
Historic Learning CenterCanal interpretation
The park includes educational interpretation focused on the Morris Canal, its engineering and Warren County transportation history.
Canal Boat ReplicaFull-size interpretive feature
The replica helps visitors visualize the mule-drawn boats that once traveled the Morris Canal.
StoryWalk & Picnic AreaFamily-friendly park features
Walk the grounds, use the picnic area and enjoy seasonal StoryWalk programming when available.
Why “Bread Lock”? Lock 7 West became known by that name because a store near the lock sold homemade bread, pies and other goods to canal boatmen. The Morris Canal operated from the 1820s into the 1920s and crossed New Jersey between Phillipsburg and Jersey City.
Three transportation eras overlap here: the Morris Turnpike helped establish Broadway, the Morris Canal shaped New Village and Thomas Edison's cement company later transformed the New Village industrial landscape.
BroadwayHistoric Route 57 village
Broadway grew along the early Morris Turnpike, giving the township its principal village and municipal center.
New VillageMorris Canal & industrial history
The community developed near the canal and later became closely associated with Thomas Edison's Portland cement operation.
Thomas Edison Cement HistoryNew Village
Edison identified suitable cement rock in the area in 1898 and developed a major cement-manufacturing operation.
The Concrete MileRoute 57 corridor
The local Edison cement plant supplied material associated with one of America's earliest concrete highway projects.
A distinctive Warren County story: Franklin Township combines rural farmland with unusually important canal and industrial history, making it a worthwhile stop for visitors who enjoy transportation, engineering and New Jersey history.
Drive the Route 57 CorridorBroadway · New Village · Washington
Use Route 57 as the spine of a local history, food and countryside drive through western Warren County.
Villa Roller Rink2121 Route 57 · Broadway 908-689-6155
Long-running local skating rink offering public skating, lessons, parties and group activities.
Franklin Township Community Center2093 Route 57 · Broadway
Municipal community facility and recreation area used for local programs and events.
Local Dining StopsRoute 57 and Asbury area
Pair your visit with breakfast, coffee, pizza, tavern food, ice cream or another stop from the Franklin Township Food & Drink guide.
Warren County Community College AreaRoute 57
The college and nearby Route 57 corridor help connect Franklin Township to Washington and other regional destinations.
Rural Scenic DrivingAsbury-Broadway and township back roads
Farmland, wooded ridges, older homes and rural roads reveal the agricultural character that Franklin Township continues to preserve.
Parking & Getting Around
Bread Lock ParkThe current Warren County trail map identifies designated parking at the park along with restroom and information-kiosk locations.Route 57 BusinessesUse business parking only while visiting that establishment. Route 57 is a major roadway and is not a walkable town-center corridor in the usual downtown sense.Community EventsFollow posted or event-specific parking instructions at the municipal/community-center complex and other local event sites.Morris Canal TrailsUse designated trailhead and park parking. Do not block private drives, farm access or roadside areas not intended for parking.
Franklin Township Trip Ideas
Two-Hour History StopStart at Bread Lock Park, walk the canal and fitness trails, see the canal-boat replica and continue along Route 57 through New Village and Broadway.Family AfternoonCombine Bread Lock Park's short trails and StoryWalk with a local food stop and roller skating at Villa Roller Rink.Warren County Heritage DayPair Franklin's Morris Canal and Edison history with Washington Borough, another Morris Canal site or a Warren Heritage Scenic Byway drive.Weekend BaseStay locally or in a nearby regional hotel area, then combine Franklin Township with western Warren County parks, Delaware River attractions and historic communities.
Lodging operators, attractions, restaurants, shops, guides and event organizers can advertise on NJTGO.com. Enhanced paid listings may include additional visibility, promotional information and an external website link.