This North Jersey Outlet Mall Was Voted Third Best in the Country by USA Today

Courtesy of The Mills at Jersey Gardens

Back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and if your go-to is hitting up an outlet mall, a mega one in New Jersey was just ranked third best in the country. The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth was named the No. 3 best outlet mall in the country in USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The shopping center is New Jersey’s largest indoor outlet mall, with 192 stores.

Jersey Gardens outlet stores include Coach, Michael Kors, kate spade new york, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, PUMA, Victoria’s Secret and UGG, along with stores for kids like Journeys Kidz, Carter’s and Kids Foot Locker. The outlet mall has a food court and a mega movie theater. It also has baby-changing stations, free wheelchairs, and shopping cart and stroller rentals.

USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of experts made a list of outlet malls based on their mix of stores, dining, entertainment, accessibility and overall visitor experience. Readers then voted to determine the final rankings.

Fashion Outlets of Chicago took the top spot, followed by Tanger Sevierville in Tennessee. The Mills at Jersey Gardens placed third.

We asked about back-to-school deals for the month and here a few worth knowing about before you go:

• Crocs: Buy one, get one free footwear through August 19
• Aeropostale: Up to 60 percent off through August 31
• New Balance Factory Store: Discounts on footwear, accessories and clothes through September 7
• Skechers: Buy one, get one 50 percent off footwear through September 9
• Columbia Factory Store: Up to 70 percent off through September 11
• Kipling: Buy-more, save-more discounts on school styles through August 14

Promotions, exclusions and expiration dates can change, so check details on the Jersey Garden’s official deals page before visiting.

Here are USA TODAY’s 10 Best Outlet Malls for 2026:
1. Fashion Outlets of Chicago — Rosemont, Illinois
2. Tanger Sevierville — Sevierville, Tennessee
3. The Mills at Jersey Gardens — Elizabeth, New Jersey
4. Citadel Outlets — Los Angeles, California
5. Tanger Riverhead — Riverhead, New York
6. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets — Wrentham, Massachusetts
7. Sawgrass Mills — Sunrise, Florida
8. Tanger National Harbor — National Harbor, Maryland
9. Camarillo Premium Outlets — Camarillo, California
10. Destination Outlets — Jeffersonville, Ohio

Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram!

Tags: