South Jersey has some of the most underrated shopping in the Northeast — and Philadelphia residents have known this for years. Cherry Hill Mall, Gloucester Premium Outlets, Deptford Mall, and Cumberland Mall form a corridor you can hit in a single day. The Pennsylvania-to-NJ tax difference alone makes every trip worth the bridge toll.
Why South Jersey? The Tax Advantage Explained
Pennsylvania charges 6% sales tax on clothing. New Jersey charges zero percent. On a $300 shopping trip, that’s $18 you keep by crossing the bridge. On a big shopping day — a coat, boots, several outfits — you’re easily looking at $40–70 in savings before any discount is applied. When you combine that with outlet pricing at Gloucester, the case for making the drive is very simple math.
Cherry Hill Mall — South Jersey’s Flagship
Cherry Hill Mall is the anchor of South Jersey retail. Two levels, 130+ stores, anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, and Nordstrom — it’s a proper full-service mall that can compete with anything in North Jersey. It does particularly well on range: you can go from Nordstrom to H&M to Zara to Michael Kors within the same building, with a layout that flows well and doesn’t feel cramped.
Cherry Hill is the oldest regional mall in New Jersey — it opened in 1961 — and has been continuously updated. 2025 brought nearly ten new brands including Lacoste, Alo Yoga, Columbia Sportswear, Coach, and Pop Mart. Dick’s House of Sport (120,000 sq ft) is opening in 2026. The mall is clearly in a growth phase.
Best for: One-stop family shopping, Nordstrom loyalists, people who want variety without extreme crowds.
From Philadelphia: About 20 minutes via I-676 and NJ-38. Easy bridge crossing.
Gloucester Premium Outlets — The Underrated Gem
Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood is one of NJ’s better-kept secrets. It’s a Simon Premium Outlets property — clean, open-air walkways, good landscaping, soft seating areas with a fireplace for colder days, free WiFi, and a solid brand lineup: Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, UGG, Banana Republic Factory, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, Vera Bradley.
The UGG outlet here consistently gets good reviews for stock and pricing. Nike too. The open-air layout feels more spacious and less mall-like than an enclosed outlet, which a lot of shoppers prefer. Additionally, most stores run a store-wide promotion on top of outlet pricing — ask at the register or check the Simon Malls app before you shop.
Best for: Outlet shopping without the crowds of larger destinations. Good for a focused 2–3 hour visit.
From Philadelphia: About 25 minutes via I-295 South.
Deptford Mall — The Practical Everyday Option
Deptford Mall is positioned between Cherry Hill and Gloucester Premium Outlets geographically, and it fills a slightly different role: it’s the everyday-needs mall. Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, GameStop, Kay Jewelers, Old Navy — the classic American mall mix. Not as glam as Cherry Hill, not as deal-focused as Gloucester, but convenient and close to the Route 42/I-295 interchange that connects the whole South Jersey corridor.
For a day trip hitting multiple stops, Deptford works well as a middle stop between Gloucester and Cherry Hill — they’re only 10 minutes apart.
Cumberland Mall — South Jersey’s Southern Anchor
Cumberland Mall in Vineland is the furthest south of NJ’s major malls, serving communities in Cumberland County who otherwise don’t have easy access to major retail. It’s a standard regional mall — Macy’s anchor, mix of mid-range stores. Vineland is an Urban Enterprise Zone, which means some sales are taxed at a reduced 3.3125% rather than NJ’s standard rate on non-clothing goods — worth knowing if you’re buying non-clothing items.
The One-Day South Jersey Shopping Route
9:30am: Start at Gloucester Premium Outlets when they open. The morning crowd is light and parking is easy. Give yourself 2 hours — that’s enough for a focused outlet run.
11:30am–12:30pm: Quick stop at Deptford Mall if needed for specific stores. Otherwise, drive straight to Cherry Hill.
12:30–4:30pm: Cherry Hill Mall. Lunch first (the food court options are better than average), then shop at your own pace. Nordstrom for browsing, mid-mall stores for the practical stuff.
By the time you leave Cherry Hill at 4–5pm, you’ve done outlet pricing AND full-mall variety, all tax-free, all in South Jersey. That’s a solid day. See our full NJ tax-free shopping guide and the complete NJ mall and outlet guide.
