The drive from Cape May, NJ to Bayonne, NJ covers 147.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m 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, Bayonne Bridge 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 $24.52 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
74 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 5m highway drive covering 147.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and West Shore Expressway. 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 35 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
223 ft4 ft
Total Climb
341 ft
Total Descent
310 ft
Highest Point
223 ft
~116.2 mi in
Elevation Range
219 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 around 128.5 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 147.9 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 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; at 129.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
9
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Sta...
9
130 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 440 North: Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 440 North: Perth Amboy, Staten Island
8
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|NY 440 / West Shore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 440 / West Shore Expressway toward NY 440 North: West Shore Expressway, Triborough Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NY 440 North: West Shore Expressway, Tri...
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 Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North, Staten Island and Perth Amboy.
Gsp North
128.5 mi in|~2h 33m|via GSP
Staten Island
128.5 mi in|~2h 33m|via GSP
Perth Amboy
129.9 mi in|~2h 35m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
126.8 mi
2h 28m
West Shore Expressway
5.4 mi
8m
Bayonne Bridge
3.5 mi
5m
NJ 440
3.2 mi
4m
Victory Boulevard
2.5 mi
5m
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
1.5 mi
2m
Lafayette Street
1 mi
1m
Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
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 Bayonne, 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 NorthUse 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 127Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 127Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward NJ 440 North: Perth Amboy, Staten IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward NJ 440 North: Staten IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto NJ 440
3.2 mi·4 min·NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
23
Merge onto NY 440
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Shore Expressway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 440
5.2 mi·7 min·West Shore Expressway
Toward NY 440 North: West Shore Expressway, Triborough BridgeUse the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 7Toward Victory BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on East Service Road
0.2 mi·19 sec·East Service Road
27
Turn right onto Victory Boulevard
2.5 mi·5 min·Victory Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward NY 440 North, I 278 West: Bayonne Bridge, Staten Island Expressway, Goethals BridgeUse the left lane.
29
Continue on NY 440
1.5 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
30
Continue on NY 440
3.5 mi·5 min·Bayonne Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn left onto East 30th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East 30th Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn left onto Avenue E
268 ft·11 sec·Avenue E
33
Turn right onto East 29th Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·East 29th Street
34
Turn right onto Broadway
54 ft·1 sec·Broadway
35
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 28m 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 33 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 28m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayonne, 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 147.9 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 74 mi from Cape May, NJ
· 1h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 74 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 126.8 miles.
Arriving in Bayonne, NJ
The final approach into Bayonne, 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 Bayonne, 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$10
near mile 147.9
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...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 147.9
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 147.9
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 132.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.52 one way
$49.04 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$26.85
$53.71
premium
$4.93
$28.68
$57.37
diesel
$5.61
$32.65
$65.31
Estimated Tolls: $23.60
Bayonne Bridge
$16.00
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
$25
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
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 15, 2026
Origin
Cape May, NJ
Late night
in Cape May on Saturday
Local time
4:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bayonne, NJ
Late night
in Bayonne on Saturday
Local time
4:30 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 5m 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 Bayonne, NJ covers 147.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m 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, Bayonne Bridge. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74 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 $24.52 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 28 significant decision points across 147.9 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 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; at 129.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cape May, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North, Staten Island and Perth Amboy.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 4 ft to 223 ft elevation with about 341 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.
