Once a one-room stagecoach stop in rural South Jersey that later became an inn, the area that is now Smithville remained a rural part of Galloway Township until the 1960s when Fred and Ethel Noyes bought the abandoned inn and created a tourist attraction known as Smithville, a colonial village with charming shops, places to eat and a beautiful lake. “In the summers, a huge tent was put up, and celebrities you saw only in the movies or on TV performed there,” says 23-year real estate veteran Kim Hanadel with Century 21 Action Plus Realty. Hanadel grew up in the area and lives nearby. “We saw plays and musicals like South Pacific there. Stars like Debbie Reyolds and Florence Henderson performed 20 feet away from you. Even today, the shopping center is packed every weekend.”
In the 1980s, the first planned community was built around shopping village, including a retirement community named the Four Seasons at Historic Smithville, designed, built and marketed by K. Hovnanian. Other developments followed, including all-age communities, golf courses and schools. “People move to Smithville from North Jersey and New York for a quieter life,” Hanadel says. “There’s not enough land here for congestion.” With the bay on the one side and the Garden State Parkway on the other, development is limited. Smithville is also 12 miles from Atlantic City. Residents not yet retired often work in the city or at the airport.
Shopping and dining in Historic Smithville
Historic Smithville resembles a bygone time with cobblestone walkways, painted signs and clapboard buildings. It features 50 “shoppes,” selling everything from toys to cooking supplies, with 10 eateries or food shops. The Historic Smithville Inn is the original one-room stagecoach stop that was turned into an inn and later purchased by Fred and Ethel Noyes. Today it is an award-winning, fine-dining restaurant that hosts over 80 weddings each year. Another Smithville favorite is Fred and Ethel’s Lantern Light Tavern, a casual bar and grill where customers can order soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Over 30 free events are held in Historic Smithville every weekend, from car shows to children’s festivals, and the village’s carousel, kids’ train, and paddle boats offer entertaining distractions for families or individuals who want to feel like a kid.
Two other attractions 3 miles outside Smithville, but well worth the drive, are Oyster Creek Restaurant and Boat Bar and Motts Creek Inn. “The coast is very much part of the culture in Smithville,” Hanadel says. “You can get to both places by boat.” At Oyster Creek, customers will find a lone cottage in the marshland with red-and-white plaid tablecloths, knotty pine paneling and great seafood. Motts Creek Inn is no different, except it features a large, covered patio and live entertainment.
Enjoy a day of fun with the kids at Colonial Village in Smithville.
Colonial Village in Smithville transports visitors back in time to a quaint, lakefront village.
1/2
55-plus and all-age homes with recreational amenities
The median home price in Smithville is $300,000 — 25 percent less than the national median. Because Smithville was developed in the 1980s, homes here are newer and include a mix of ranch and colonial styles from two to six bedrooms with attached garages and some part of the Four Seasons active adult 55-plus community. Condominiums are the second most common type of home, often featuring amenities like community playgrounds, clubhouses and pools. Townhouses come in third but offer back patios open to shared backyards and additional community amenities like tennis courts. Occasionally, a home original to the area, like an 1890s farmhouse, makes it onto the market. Otherwise, Smithville is packed with model suburban homes in developments lined with sidewalks and quiet streets. “The Four Seasons built by K. Hovnanian is a big community with a large recreation center,” Hanadel says. “Many developments are built in little cul-de-sacs, so you’re not on top of your neighbor. The landscaping is pretty, too, with ponds and fountains. The whole area is very popular.”
Small ranch homes make up most of the homes in the senior living areas of Smithville.
Members of the senior community in Smithville have access to lots of amenities in the heart of town.
1/2
From coastal nature preserves to championship golf courses
Smithville is surrounded by coastal habitats, nature preserves and golf courses, most of which are protected from development. The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a good example, featuring 48,000 acres of wetlands, salt marshes, coves and bays, with scenic trails that pass from freshwater ponds to woodlands. The Seaview Golf Club on U.S. 9 is a 296-room, 670-acre historic resort south of Smithville with two golf courses, the Bay Course opened in 1914 with a Scottish-links feel and dramatic seaside views, and the Pines Course opened in 1929 with holes that wind their way through the New Jersey woodlands. Its neighbor, the Galloway National Golf Club, is a private, 18-hole championship course that uses pine forest, sand and water to challenge players.
Smithville residents are only miniutes from the Forsythe National Wildlife Refugee.
Seaview Golf Club in Smithville is home to the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
1/2
Schools and colleges serving the Galloway Township area
The Galloway Township Public School District receives an overall B-minus from Niche. It serves Atlantic County with six PK-8 public schools including Smithville Elementary, local to the community. Assumption Regional Catholic, a PK-8 school, is also available to area families.
Ninth through 12th graders attend Absegami High School, which earns an A-minus from Niche and is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Absegami’s campus includes a state-of-the-art performing arts center, a media studio, and instructional kitchens for the culinary arts program. The high school also offers a concurrent education program with Atlantic Cape Community College through which students can earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.
Atlantic Cape Community College is 15 miles from Smithville with a student body of over 8,000. Stockton University is within 5 miles of Smithville and features a 1,600-acre campus in the Pinelands National Reserve, with an enrollment of nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Absegami High School's A- rating from Niche makes it one of the highest rated in the county.
Stockton University is a great option near Smithville for students looking to further their education near home.
1/2
Getting around Smithville and to other Mid-Atlantic destinations
The more trafficked roads in Smithville have wide shoulders that cyclists can use, and each community has sidewalks or walking paths that invite pedestrians. U.S. 9 comes through the eastern part of Smithville, and the Garden State Parkway borders its western edge. Both roads lead to Atlantic City, 12 miles south, or New York City, 115 miles north. Travelers can catch a NJ Transit train from Absecon, 6 miles south, into Philadelphia, or a bus, which travels down U.S. 9, into Atlantic City. The Atlantic City International Airport is 12 miles southwest and is served by Spirit and American Airlines.
Falling crime and temperate climate numbers in Galloway Township
According to the New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting data, violent and property crimes in Galloway Township have dropped by 10 percent during the last year of reporting after an increase of 17 percent the previous year. FBI crime data supports this trend.
Galloway Township has a humid subtropical climate because of its proximity to the ocean. Smithville residents can expect four seasons with an average high in the upper-80s in July and an average low in the mid-40s in January. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild to cool.
Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Video By
Emily McNamara
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Edward Nugent,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Welcome to Quail Hollow in the heart of Smithville! This charming and spacious townhome offers comfort, updates, and convenience all in one. Featuring 2 large bedrooms, 2 full baths, and a half bath, this home boasts a wood-burning fireplace in the living room and a fenced patio with beautiful Trex decking (installed 2023) — perfect for outdoor relaxation. The HVAC system was replaced in 2025,
Move-in-ready top-floor condo in Society Hill 2 offering comfort, convenience, and thoughtful updates throughout. This well-maintained two-bedroom, one-bathroom home features newer luxury vinyl plank flooring, newer appliances, brand-new HVAC and water heater, updated closet doors, and a bright, open layout that feels warm and inviting from the moment you enter. The top-floor setting offers
A beautiful Juniper on a Cul De Sac in Nottingham Village facing woods! Welcoming center foyer leading to sunny breakfast area and kitchen. Great Room features built ins and gas fireplace(inoperable) with 3 season room off the back. Large primary with ensuite and really nice second bedroom and hall bath. Laundry room gives access to garage. Brand new roof and washer and dryer.
Located on the first floor, this 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo at 109 Driftwood Court offers a functional layout and a prime opportunity for personalization. The open-concept living area features low-maintenance wood-look flooring and a cozy fireplace set against a bold accent wall, creating a welcoming focal point for the home. The unit includes several practical features: Kitchen & Dining: A
Move right in! This first-floor 2-bedroom condo in the desirable Galloway's Club 3 community features a primary bedroom with direct bath access and a kitchen with newer appliances. Enjoy community amenities including a pool, clubhouse, and tennis courts, all just minutes from the Jersey Shore and available for immediate settlement.
****2 bedroom & 2 bathroom on the 3rd floor with cathedral ceilings and skylights***Updated kitchen includes new stainless-steel appliance package with white cabinetry, recessed lighting and luxury vinyl planking****Cortec enhanced pro plus luxury vinyl planking in living, dining and hallway****Master bedroom has walk-in closet, new carpet, updated bathroom with new vanity and solid surface
Welcome to this beautiful Freesia model, the largest of the Four Season’s homes. Bright and airy, this freshly painted home welcomes you from the moment you step foot into the foyer. Recently refreshed and updated, this wonderful home offers gleaming real hardwood floors throughout the foyer, hallway, living room, dining room and family room. The huge kitchen offers custom tile floors, tons of
Beautifully maintained home in Smithville. Eat in kitchen with 2 pantries. Separate dining room. Wood burning fireplace in large living room. There is a nice porch off of the kitchen. Upstairs features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Washer and dryer is also upstairs. outdoor sheds and trampoline will be removed. Yard is fenced in. There are 2 outdoor pools and a gym that you are permitted to use. Easy
Welcome home to this 2-bedroom, 2-bath top-floor corner condo, offering the rare opportunity to enjoy a home that has been fully constructed from the studs out. Perfectly situated in the most private location in the building, this end-unit residence provides peaceful views of the wooded landscape behind the property. Located in Society Hill II, you’ll enjoy access to community amenities,
Fox Chase~1BR/1BA, 2nd floor end unit with vaulted ceilings in the living room, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, all appliances including washer/dryer. Gas heat and central air. Freshly painted and ready for immediate occupancy.
OPEN HOUSE Saturday 1/17 - 1pm to 3pm Ready to go SMITHVILLE RENTAL! Spacious 1-bedroom, 1-bath, 2nd floor condo in the desirable Hunting Run development. Features include an eat-in kitchen, open living/dining area, lots of storage space, and in-unit washer and dryer. Water is included in the rent. The large bedroom offers 2 closets, and tenants have full access to community amenities:
Beautifully Updated 1-Bedroom Rental in the Heart of Smithville - Available Now! Step into this freshly updated 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom bottom-floor unit and enjoy a space that feels brand new from the moment you walk in. Designed with comfort and convenience in mind, this home offers modern upgrades throughout and immediate occupancy for those eager to settle in before the new year. Inside, you’ll
This is a Townhouse , it has Newer Heat/Air,Large living room w/ Dining area, Eat in Kitchen. The Bedrooms are Large and each one has its own full bathroom. There is a Half bath on the main level for guests. There is also a Washer and Dryer in the unit. Walking distance to pool, club house. MUST HAVE GOOD CREDIT!! 1st months rent and 1.5 months security deposit.
2nd Floor Condominium**Total renovation**New Kitchen**New Bathroom**New Stainless Steel Appliances**Master Bath with ensuite and walk in closet**Nice Sized Deck To Enjoy A Morning Cup Of Coffee**Easy To Show**Lock Box**
Move in ready vacant second floor end unit condo. New kitchen cabinets, floor and countertops. Freshly painted and clean. Walk to public transportation, club house with kitchen to entertain, inground pool, tennis court and tot park. Minutes to Stockton University, restaurants, casinos and beaches. No pets allowed.
Patricia BridgesCOLDWELL BANKER ARGUS REAL ESTATE-Northfield
2 bed, 2 bath Townhome available for rent in Galloway. Must have 600+ Credit score and a demonstrated history of paying their debt obligations on time, and ability to afford the rent plus their other debt obligations and expenses.
BEAUTIFUL AND SPACIOUS 3 BEDROOM AND 2 BATH LARGEST 2,500+ SQ FT FREESIA MODEL AT FOUR SEASONS ADULT COMMUNITY WITH EVERY LUXURY AMENITY! LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, EAT-IN-KITCHEN WITH 42" CHERRY CABINETS, GRANITE COUNTERS AND SS APPLIANCES OPENS TO FAMILY ROOM WITH GAS FIREPLACE, EXPANDED MASTER BEDROOM WITH WIC AND JACUZZI, SUNROOM FACES PRIVATE WOODS, HARDWOOD AND TILE FLOORS, INTERCOM SYSTEM,
Move in ready vacant second floor front unit. Freshly painted and clean. New carpet will be installed asap. Walk to public transportation, club house with kitchen to entertain, inground pool, tennis court and tot park. Minutes to Stockton University, restaurants, casinos and beaches. No pet allowed.
Patricia BridgesCOLDWELL BANKER ARGUS REAL ESTATE-Northfield
Move right into this completely renovated 3rd-floor condo, now available for rent in a desirable Galloway location. This immaculate unit offers 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, providing a perfect blend of comfort and style. The residence has been fully updated, featuring a contemporary kitchen and the spacious Primary Bedroom is a true highlight, boasting a private ensuite bathroom and dedicated
Dana SCHAIRERCENTURY 21 ATLANTIC PROFESSIONAL REALTY
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
