Origin
Cape May, NJ
Morning in Cape May on Wednesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
142.1 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape May, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 142.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m 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, US 9, Carlton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 126.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.56 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
71.1 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 56m highway drive covering 142.1 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and US 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 126.8 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 26 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 126.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Washington Street.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 142.1 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: at 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
128.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Take the exit onto GSP / Garden State Parkway toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridg...
9
129.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, S...
7
129.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.
Gsp North
128.5 mi in
|
~2h 33m
|
via GSP
Staten Island
128.5 mi in
|
~2h 33m
|
via GSP
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 126.8 mi | 2h 28m |
| US 9 | 9.2 mi | 14m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Lafayette Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Reading Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 126.8 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on this road
82 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto New York Avenue
104 ft
·
6 sec
·
New York Avenue
3
Turn right onto Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Reading Avenue
4
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
324 ft
·
19 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn left onto East Street
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Street
6
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lafayette Street
9
Turn straight onto GSP
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway North
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
11
Merge onto GSP
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto GSP
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Exit 127
Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 127
Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto US 9
9.2 mi
·
14 min
·
US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
21
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
22
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
23
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
24
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
25
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cape May, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cape May, NJ
This is one driving day of about 142.1 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cape May, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 126.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.1 mi from Cape May, NJ · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.1 miles from Cape May, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.8 miles.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
The final approach into Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.56 one way
$47.12 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $25.80 | $51.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $27.56 | $55.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.37 | $62.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.60
Garden State Parkway
(126.8 mi)
$7.60
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
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.6 | 0 | $14.92 | $6.82 |
| Efficient EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.43 | $5.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.89 | $9.09 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning in Elizabeth on Wednesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 56m 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 Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 142.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 9, Carlton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.1 miles from Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 21 significant decision points across 142.1 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: at 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.
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