Recreational sports leagues are one of the best ways to meet people in Jersey City because you’ll see the same teammates every week, which is what turns acquaintances into people you actually text.
Hoboken Adult Soccer League – An adult soccer league offering co-ed, men’s, and over-35 divisions with games played at Frank Sinatra Park and Resiliency Park. HASL works well for meeting people because teams play weekly, and individual players can sign up solo and be placed on a team.
Hive Athletic // Volo Sports – A community-focused sports league with January leagues ranging from pickleball and volleyball to soccer, basketball, and dodgeball, great for meeting people through weekly, low-pressure play.
PB Club (Jersey City) – An indoor pickleball club designed for poeple who want both movement and community. With open play lessons, lessons for all levels and a co-working style lounge, PB Club makes it easy to show up solo and leave having met people.
If you’re looking for alcohol-free social events in Jersey City, walking groups are one of the easiest options because the activity itself lowers the pressure.
Paulus Hook Crew – A neighborhood walking group that meets weekly for casual, social walks. Beyond regular walks, they also organize food-focused walking tours in Jersey City and NYC, including a recent hot chocolate tour.
NJ Walk Babes – A growing social fitness group that hosts walk and run meetups in Hoboken and Liberty State Park, plus pilates classes and salsa socials. It’s a great option if you want variety and a built-in social scene beyond just running.
Jersey City Connects – We host Monday evening walks designed specifically for people looking to meet others. Walks start at 7pm at AndCo North and cover about 2.5 miles. The next walk is Monday, January 26!
Longer activities give you more time to actually get to know people. You’re spending hours together, which is how acquaintances turn into friends you make plans with outside of the activity.
Gravity Vault Jersey City (Bergen-Lafayette) – A brand-new bouldering gym that doubles as a social hub. They host weekly women’s climbing meetups every Tuesday, designed to help climbers of all levels connect.
Hoboken Ski Club (Hoboken) -A social ski and snowboard club that organizes winter trips to Vermont, Colorado, and Canada. Trips include transportation and lodging, which makes it easy to show up solo and leave with new friends. They’re having a Sunday Funday on January 18 at Hoboken Biergarten.
Feminist Bird Club JC – A nature-based walking group that hosts guided birding walks and outdoor meetups in Jersey City parks. Events are beginner-friendly and accessible, including boardwalks wide enough for wheelchairs. The next event is Saturday, February 7th.
Martial arts gyms work for friendship-building because there’s a culture of showing up early, staying late, and helping each other improve.
Unity Jiu Jitsu (Bergen-Lafayette) – A community-driven jiu-jitsu gym with a reputation for being especially welcoming to beginners. With detailed instruction, small classes, and a culture where people stick around before and after training, it’s a great place to build both skills and friendships. Free trial classes are available!
Run clubs are one of the most popular ways to meet people in Jersey City and Hoboken right now, and for good reason: they’re free, they happen weekly, and all fitness levels are welcome.
Made of Leaves Run Club (The Heights) – Meets Tuesday nights at 7pm for casual 1-3 mile runs. Led by Dr. Trish Dobrowski, PT, DPT, the focus is on building strength, resilience, and sustainable running habits.
The Grind Run Club (Bergen Lafayette) – An all-levels run club that meets multiple times a week for speed workouts, long runs, and social miles. It’s designed to be accessible and community-focused, and it’s popular with runners looking for consistency, accountability, and connection.
Hudson County Queer Run Club (Hoboken) – A welcoming walk/run club that meets every Sunday for casual group runs along the Hoboken waterfront. All paces are welcome, and the vibe is supportive and social.
The Joyful Run Club (Hoboken) – A beginner-friendly, community-first run club focused on making running feel attainable and fun. They meet Sundays at 11:15am in Hoboken for relaxed group runs, with regular social plans like post-run coffee and brunch (including a Galentine’s Day meetup).
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