Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Middletown, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 29m

Distance

121.8 mi

196 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 19m ★

6 AM

2h 29m

8 AM

2h 50m

10 AM

2h 37m

12 PM

2h 35m

3 PM

2h 38m

5 PM

2h 49m

8 PM

2h 23m

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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Elizabeth, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States

Middletown, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Middletown, NJ covers 121.8 miles and takes about 2h 29m 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, New Jersey Turnpike, Tuckahoe Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.19 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.

Midpoint

60.9 miles from Elizabeth, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	103.4 mi	2h
New Jersey Turnpike	6.9 mi	7m
Tuckahoe Road	4.9 mi	7m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9	1.4 mi	2m
US 1	1.1 mi	1m
Bayway	0.8 mi	1m
Roosevelt Boulevard	0.5 mi	1m
GSP Southbound entrance	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 103.4 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Middletown, NJ.

Start on this road

34 ft · 7 sec · this road

Turn left onto East Jersey Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East Jersey Street

Turn right onto US 1; US 9

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 1; US 9

Enter roundabout onto NJ 439

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Bayway

Continue on NJ 439

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bayway

Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Brunswick Avenue

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 11 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 37 sec

Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

6.9 mi · 7 min · New Jersey Turnpike

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.

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.

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.

Merge onto GSP

3.0 mi · 3 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

100 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Exit 25 Toward US 9 South: Ocean City Use the slight right lane.

Continue on US 9

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Vernon Road

Turn right onto US 9; CR 623

0.5 mi · 1 min · Roosevelt Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CR 662

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Old Tuckahoe Road

Continue on CR 631

4.9 mi · 7 min · Tuckahoe Road

At end of road, turn right onto NJ 50

0.3 mi · 31 sec · NJ 50

Turn right onto Washington Avenue

55 ft · 2 sec · Washington Avenue

Arrive at destination

Washington 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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 60.9 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.4 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 27 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.9 miles or 1h 15m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, 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 121.8 miles and 2h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Elizabeth, NJ.

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Northfield, New Jersey

1.4 mi

Gregory's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Somers Point, New Jersey

1.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Swell Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocean City, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Hours: Closed

+16098142980

Visit website

Valenca Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hours: 10:30 am–12 pm

+19083544024

Visit website

Cafe Bru

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 104.4

Northfield, New Jersey

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+16092410147

Visit website

Gregory's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 113.1

Somers Point, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm

+16099276665

Visit website

Buona Vita Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $30 to $50 mile 113.1

Somers Point, New Jersey

Hours: 4–10 pm

+16097880370

Visit website

Carangi's Cafe & Deli

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 104.4

Northfield, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+16093804937

Visit website

Yianni's Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–7:30 pm

+16093911113

Visit website

Italian Street Restaurant & Pizza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Somers Point, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+16099265526

Visit website

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $30 to $50 mile 52.2

Toms River, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9 pm

+17322553323

Visit website

Swell Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16098142980

Visit website

agnello's cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.3

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16095495775

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 8.7

Staten Island, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 52.2

Lakewood, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 113.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 8.7

Staten Island, New York

Hours: 5–10 pm

Playland's Castaway Cove

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 113.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16093994751

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 115.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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...

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...

11.8 mi into trip | ~17m in | GSP Southbound entrance

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway

115.6 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward US 9 South: Ocean City

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 25 Toward US 9 South: Ocean City

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.19 one way

$40.39 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$22.12	$44.23
premium	$4.93	$23.62	$47.24
diesel	$5.61	$26.89	$53.78

Estimated Tolls: $7.17

Garden State Parkway (103.4 mi) $6.20

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.5	$12.79	$5.85
Efficient EV	30.5	$10.66	$4.87
EV Truck/SUV	48.7	$17.05	$7.80

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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 18, 2026

Origin

Elizabeth, NJ

Afternoon in Elizabeth on Saturday

Local time

4:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Middletown, NJ

Afternoon in Middletown on Saturday

Local time

4:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Mostly Cloudy

NE 0 to 5 mph 1% 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

3 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 29m 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.

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...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour $10

Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed

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...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 4.2

View on nps.gov

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...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

121.8 mi in 2h 29m, mostly highway — 103.4 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 103.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 18 significant decision points across 121.8 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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Elizabeth, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 121.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 103.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $7.17 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Middletown, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Middletown, NJ before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Elizabeth, NJ or browse trips ending in Middletown, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Middletown, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Valenca Restaurant

Swell Cafe

Valenca Restaurant

Cafe Bru

Gregory's Restaurant & Bar

Buona Vita Restaurant

Carangi's Cafe & Deli

Yianni's Cafe

Italian Street Restaurant & Pizza

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

Swell Cafe

agnello's cafe

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

The Flanders Hotel

American star inn and suites hotel galloway

Wild Child Play Space

Island Entertainment

Kiddo X Wonderland

Cousins Paintball Staten Island

Just Kidding Playground - Universe (South Shore)

Fords Park

Lights for Life

Playland's Castaway Cove

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Elizabeth, NJ

Middletown, NJ

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 29m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Gateway National Recreation Area

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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