Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Evening in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
7:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Lacey, NJ
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
69.3 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Noé Villalta Photography
Lacey, NJ
Ronin .
Trip Overview
Traveling from Elizabeth to Lacey covers 69.3 miles, making for a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes. Since the drive is entirely within New Jersey, you will remain in the Northeast region for the duration of your journey. Budgeting roughly $11 for fuel is sufficient for this single-day excursion. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two points, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
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
34.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway to cover the bulk of the distance. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Garden State Parkway, where you will spend 48.2 miles cruising. As you move away from the urban environment of Elizabeth, the road character shifts from dense highway corridors to the more open stretches typical of the Parkway. The final transition onto Dover Road provides the necessary local access to reach your destination in Lacey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 48.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 69.3 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
8
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
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 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South...
9
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Bran...
Towns Along This Route
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Lacey, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South, Perth Amboy, Cr 619 South and Cr 530 - among others.
Gsp
10.1 mi in
|
~14m
|
via Exit 11
Woodbridge
10.1 mi in
|
~14m
|
via Exit 11
Gsp South
11.5 mi in
|
~16m
Perth Amboy
11.5 mi in
|
~16m
Cr 619 South
60.4 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via US 9
Cr 530
60.4 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via US 9
Beachwood
60.4 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via US 9
Cr 619
60.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Gsp North: Jakes Branch County Park
60.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Whiting
60.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 48.2 mi | 56m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| Dover Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Lacey Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| US 1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| GSP Southbound entrance | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 48.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Lacey, NJ.
1
Start on this road
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Jersey Street
3
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the none lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Bayway
5
Continue on NJ 439
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayway
6
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Brunswick Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit onto Exit 11
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto GSP
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
44 mi
·
52 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 9
363 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 9
Exit 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft
·
10 sec
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Use the left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CR 619
270 ft
·
15 sec
·
Double Trouble Road
20
Turn left onto CR 530
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Dover Road
21
Turn left onto CR 614
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lacey Road
22
Turn right
0.6 mi
·
3 min
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth journey, try to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to avoid potential congestion on the Parkway. Since this is a quick trip without designated stops, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or take a brief break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, though the $11 estimated cost makes this an affordable transit. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the transition from the high-speed Parkway onto Dover Road, as the change in road pace can be sudden. Enjoy the ease of this direct trek through the Garden State.
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 34.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.2 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 69.3 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lacey, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, NJ
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 48.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.6 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 69.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lacey, NJ
The final approach into Lacey, 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 Lacey, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.47 one way
$22.93 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| premium | $4.92 | $13.43 | $26.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.40 | $30.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.86
Garden State Parkway
(48.2 mi)
$2.89
New Jersey Turnpike
(6.9 mi)
$0.97
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
$11
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.70 | $4.44 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Lacey, NJ
Evening in Lacey on Sunday
Local time
7:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
1h 31m 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 Elizabeth, NJ to Lacey, NJ covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Dover Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.47 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 20 significant decision points across 69.3 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Lacey, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South, Perth Amboy, Cr 619 South and Cr 530 - among others.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lacey, NJ
More trips to Lacey, NJ
Explore more options from Elizabeth, NJ or browse trips ending in Lacey, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
Explore maps for Elizabeth, NJ or Lacey, NJ on MapSof.net.