Frenchtown offers several distinct reasons to visit: the town’s historic commercial district, ArtYard as a center for alternative contemporary art, and the landscape along the Delaware River. There is also a described loop route, the Delaware River Scenic Byway, and Riverfest. These themes appeal to different interests—from architecture and art to routes and events. When planning your trip, you can first decide what you want to make the focus of your visit.
D&R Canal Towpath Ride: Route and Loop
The D&R Canal Towpath Ride runs along the Delaware River from Ewing to Frenchtown. It follows the former towpath and railroad line. A separate loop route can be taken between Prallsville Mills and Frenchtown: in one direction, it follows the towpath; in the other, Route 29, with its wide paved shoulder. These two descriptions refer to different sections of the route plan: Ewing and Frenchtown are the endpoints of the overall route, while Prallsville Mills and Frenchtown are the endpoints of the loop. Keeping this distinction in mind can help you choose the route option that best suits you. The loop combines the towpath with a section on the road.
Historic Commercial District and ArtYard
Bridge Street and Race Street form the commercial district in the Frenchtown Historic District. Most of the commercial buildings there are two or three stories tall and date from the 19th century. This gives the town’s history a concrete architectural connection: the described buildings combine commercial use with the architectural character of the period. This focus differs from ArtYard, where alternative contemporary art takes center stage.
ArtYard is an interdisciplinary center for alternative contemporary art. Its campus in Frenchtown includes an exhibition space, a theater, and a residency program. The McDonnell Theater’s program includes music, performances, poetry, and film screenings, as well as artist talks and symposia. ArtYard therefore encompasses both exhibition and stage formats. Programs and facilities may change; if you want to plan your visit around a particular event, check the current program in advance.
The Delaware River and the Scenic Byway
The lower Delaware River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 2000. The section described approximately extends north from the Washington Crossing Bridge to Frenchtown. The Delaware River Scenic Byway is a separate feature: it passes through Frenchtown and a landscape of farmland, woods, and rocks. The two offer different perspectives on the area—one relates to a section of the river, the other to a route characterized by its landscape. Keeping this distinction in mind can help with planning if you want to consider the river landscape and the byway as separate themes.
Riverfest and Choosing a Travel Focus
Riverfest is one of Frenchtown’s street fairs and festivals. Since event dates and programs may change, check the latest information before making specific plans. Along with ArtYard, the Historic District, and the routes, it offers a range of different reasons to visit, rather than one single program. When searching for hotels in Frenchtown, you can start by deciding whether art, historic architecture, Riverfest, or the routes and river landscape will be the deciding factor for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Lambertville, Lebanon, Readington Township, Flemington.
For the broader travel overview: Hunterdon County.
