The drive from Bayonne, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ covers 147.3 miles and takes about 3h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, West Shore Expressway, Outerbridge Crossing for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.6 miles from Bayonne, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 147.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 1m highway drive covering 147.3 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and West Shore Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 124 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 124 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
179 ft7 ft
Total Climb
247 ft
Total Descent
279 ft
Highest Point
179 ft
~31.6 mi in
Elevation Range
171 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and West Shore Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 30th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 147.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 30th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (NY 440 / West Shore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 30th Street
Turn right onto East 30th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
6.2 mi into trip|~9m in|NY 440 / West Shore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 440 / West Shore Expressway toward NY 440 South: Outerbridge Crossing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward NY 440 South: Outerbridge Crossing
7
18.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South, GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 9 South, GSP South
8
18.7 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
6
21.6 mi into trip|~33m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bayonne, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South.
Gsp South
18.5 mi in|~28m
Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South
18.7 mi in|~29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
124 mi
2h 24m
West Shore Expressway
8.4 mi
12m
Outerbridge Crossing
3.9 mi
5m
NJ 440
3.5 mi
5m
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
2.4 mi
3m
South Wildwood Boulevard
2.3 mi
3m
Atlantic Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Rio Grande Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 124 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayonne, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ.
1
Start on Broadway
205 ft·9 sec·Broadway
2
Turn right onto East 30th Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·East 30th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right onto NJ 440
3.5 mi·5 min·NJ 440
4
Continue on NY 440
2.4 mi·3 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 440
8.4 mi·12 min·West Shore Expressway
Exit 5Toward NY 440 South: Outerbridge CrossingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on NY 440
3.9 mi·5 min·Outerbridge Crossing
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 9 South, GSP SouthUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Bayonne, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124 miles.
Arriving in Wildwood Crest, NJ
The final approach into Wildwood Crest, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Wildwood Crest, NJ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 20.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.42 one way
$48.84 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$26.75
$53.49
premium
$4.93
$28.57
$57.13
diesel
$5.61
$32.52
$65.04
Estimated Tolls: $23.44
Outerbridge Crossing
$16.00
Garden State Parkway
(124 mi)$7.44
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.47
$7.07
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.89
$5.89
EV Truck/SUV
58.9
0
$20.62
$9.43
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bayonne, NJ
Morning
in Bayonne on Saturday
Local time
6:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Morning
in Wildwood Crest on Saturday
Local time
6:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bayonne, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ covers 147.3 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, West Shore Expressway, Outerbridge Crossing. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.6 miles from Bayonne, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 147.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 30th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (NY 440 / West Shore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bayonne, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 179 ft elevation with about 247 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
