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Trip from Cranford, NJ to Lakewood, NJ

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

41.3 mi

67 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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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Downtown Lakewood, NJ, NJ

Lakewood, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

The drive from Cranford, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 41.3 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US Highway 9, Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.9 miles on US Highway 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.83 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

20.7 miles from Cranford, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 41.3 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 9 and Garden State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.9 miles on US Highway 9.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 9 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NJ 28 / North Avenue East.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 41.3 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: at 0.1 miles (NJ 28 / North Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NJ 28 / North Avenue East

At end of road, turn right onto NJ 28 / North Avenue East

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.7 mi into trip | ~20m 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.
8
14.1 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge

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 123 Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
6
41.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | 8th Street

Turn left onto 8th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 9 25.9 mi 38m
Garden State Parkway 6.4 mi 8m
Garden State Parkway Southbound 6.2 mi 8m
Centennial Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Madison Avenue 1 mi 2m
Forest Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
North Avenue East <0.1 mi <1m
8th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US Highway 9 — 25.9 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cranford, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.

1

Start on Forest Avenue

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Forest Avenue
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto North Avenue East

512 ft · 19 sec · North Avenue East
3

Turn left onto Centennial Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Centennial Avenue
4

Take the ramp straight toward GSP Toll South

0.3 mi · 33 sec · GSP Toll South
5

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

5.2 mi · 7 min · Garden State Parkway
6

Continue on Garden State Parkway Southbound

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound
7

Keep slight left to continue on Garden State Parkway

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
8

Keep slight right to continue on Garden State Parkway

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Garden State Parkway
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge

0.4 mi · 47 sec · US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
10

Merge slight left onto US Highway 9

26 mi · 38 min · US Highway 9
11

Continue on Madison Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · Madison Avenue
12

Turn left onto 8th Street

46 ft · 2 sec · 8th Street
13

Arrive at your 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.7 miles from Cranford, NJ, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.9 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 41.3 miles or 1h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 20.7 miles or 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cranford, 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 Cranford, NJ

This is one driving day of about 41.3 miles and 1h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cranford, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 9 for about 25.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.7 mi from Cranford, NJ · 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

21 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 41.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Cranford, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lakewood, NJ

The final approach into Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour $10
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

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...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

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...

20 mi from route ~51 min detour Free near mile 1.4
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.83 one way

$13.67 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $7.48 $14.96
premium $4.92 $8.00 $16.01
diesel $5.64 $9.18 $18.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Carteret Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Carteret, NJ

Tesla

20 DCFC

Holiday Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Clark, NJ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Union, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

QuickChek - Tesla Supercharger

Cranford, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa Plainfield #8464

Plainfield, NJ

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Union Crescent Plaza

Vauxhall, NJ

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

ACME Markets - Clark

Clark, NJ

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 Tesla: 5 eVgo Network: 4 BP_PULSE: 1 APPLEGREEN: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.4 0 $4.34 $1.98
Efficient EV 10.3 0 $3.61 $1.65
EV Truck/SUV 16.5 0 $5.78 $2.64

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

Cranford, NJ

Late night in Cranford on Monday

Local time

5:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakewood, NJ

Late night in Lakewood on Monday

Local time

5:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 7% 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

12 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

1h 2m 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 Cranford, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 41.3 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 9, Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.7 miles from Cranford, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.83 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 41.3 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: at 0.1 miles (NJ 28 / North Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cranford, NJ to Lakewood, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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