Trip from Cape May, NJ to Somerset, NJ

Drive Time

2h 49m

Distance

136 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

39 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 38m ★

6 AM

2h 49m

8 AM

3h 11m

10 AM

2h 57m

12 PM

2h 55m

3 PM

2h 58m

5 PM

3h 10m

8 PM

2h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Cape May, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Somerset, NJ

Malcolm Garret

Trip Overview

The drive from Cape May, NJ to Somerset, NJ covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 49m 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, NJ 18, NJ 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.50 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

68 miles from Cape May, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 136 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.2 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 32 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 97.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 18. 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 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 136 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 99.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | Washington Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

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.

99.7 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in

Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton

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 98 Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar,...

100.3 mi into trip | ~2h in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 195 West: Trenton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 195 West: Trenton

100.8 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Take the exit toward NJ 34 North: Matawan

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 35B Toward NJ 34 North: Matawan

Towns Along This Route

Between Cape May, NJ and Somerset, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Gsp North.

Trenton

99.7 mi in | ~1h 59m

Gsp North

100 mi in | ~1h 59m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	97.2 mi	1h 53m
NJ 18	22.2 mi	26m
NJ 34	7 mi	9m
Memorial Parkway	1.9 mi	2m
NJ 33	1.1 mi	1m
Lafayette Street	1 mi	1m
Franklin Boulevard	0.8 mi	2m
Reading Avenue	0.7 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 97.2 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Somerset, NJ.

Start on this road

82 ft · 11 sec · this road

Turn left onto New York Avenue

104 ft · 6 sec · New York Avenue

Turn right onto Reading Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · Reading Avenue

Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

324 ft · 19 sec · Massachusetts Avenue

Turn left onto East Street

302 ft · 15 sec · East Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Washington Street

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD

102 ft · 2 sec · Washington Street

Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lafayette Street

Turn straight onto GSP

19 mi · 22 min · Garden State Parkway

Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway North Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto GSP

34 mi · 39 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

44 mi · 51 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 98 Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward GSP North, I 195 West

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 195 West: Trenton Use the right lane.

Merge onto NJ 138

0.2 mi · 16 sec · NJ 138

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Exit 35B Toward NJ 34 North: Matawan Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto NJ 34

3.4 mi · 4 min · NJ 34

Enter roundabout onto NJ 33; NJ 34

451 ft · 6 sec · NJ 33; NJ 34

Continue on NJ 33; NJ 34

1.0 mi · 1 min · NJ 33; NJ 34

Take the exit onto NJ 34

3.6 mi · 5 min · NJ 34

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick

Merge onto NJ 18

22 mi · 26 min · NJ 18

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on NJ 18

1.9 mi · 2 min · Memorial Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto (672)

0.2 mi · 18 sec · George Street

Turn left onto CR 609

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Landing Lane

Continue on CR 617

0.8 mi · 2 min · Franklin Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Belmar Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Belmar Street

At end of road, turn left onto Abbott Road

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Abbott Road

Turn left onto West Point Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · West Point Avenue

Arrive at destination

West Point Avenue

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 68 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.2 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 68 miles or 1h 21m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Somerset, 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 136 miles and 2h 49m.

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 97.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68 mi from Cape May, NJ · 1h 21m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

68 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Cape May, 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 97.2 miles.

Arriving in Somerset, NJ

The final approach into Somerset, 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 Somerset, NJ.

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.

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free near mile 136

Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens

Caution: Passaic River Trail Bridge washed out

View on nps.gov

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour $10 near mile 131.3

View on nps.gov

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 107.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.50 one way

$45.01 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$24.62	$49.25
premium	$4.92	$26.35	$52.71
diesel	$5.64	$30.21	$60.43

Estimated Tolls: $5.83

Garden State Parkway (97.2 mi) $5.83

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

$23

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

39 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Middle Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Plaza at Cape May Courthouse - Tesla Supercharger

Cape May Court House, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Ocean View, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Stafford Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Somers Point, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

JR's Fresh Market - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 20 Tesla: 9 Blink Network: 5 Non-Networked: 1 EV Connect: 1 EVIUM: 1 CHARGEUP: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.8	$14.28	$6.53
Efficient EV	34	$11.90	$5.44
EV Truck/SUV	54.4	$19.04	$8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Cape May, NJ

Morning in Cape May on Monday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Somerset, NJ

Morning in Somerset on Monday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 10% chance 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

25 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 49m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Somerset, NJ covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 18, NJ 34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 68 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 $22.50 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.

Between Cape May, NJ and Somerset, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Gsp North.

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Trip from Cape May, NJ to Somerset, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Somerset, NJ

National Parks Near This Route

Morristown National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Gateway National Recreation Area

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cape May, NJ

Somerset, NJ

Same local time

25 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 49m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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