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Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to North Cape May, NJ

Drive Time

2h 55m

Distance

144.9 mi

233 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 45m ★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m

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 Elizabeth, NJ, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown North Cape May, NJ, NJ

North Cape May, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to North Cape May, NJ covers 144.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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, Exit to GSP and US Route 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.98 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

72.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 144.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 128.9 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 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 128.9 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 2.2 miles in near Brunswick Avenue.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 144.9 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 2.2 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

6
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | Brunswick Avenue

Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
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...
7
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

Towns Along This Route

Between Elizabeth, NJ and North Cape May, 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 128.9 mi 2h 30m
New Jersey Turnpike 6.9 mi 7m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9 1.4 mi 2m
Lincoln Boulevard 1.4 mi 2m
Sandman Boulevard 1.2 mi 1m
US 1 1.1 mi 1m
Bayway 0.8 mi 1m
Shore Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 128.9 mi, about 2h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and North Cape May, 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
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
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 straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
16

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

125 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto NJ 109

0.6 mi · 1 min · Shore Road
18

Take the exit

274 ft · 9 sec
Toward US 9 South: Cape May Ferry Use the slight right lane.
19

Turn left onto Sandman Boulevard

1.2 mi · 1 min · Sandman Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on US 9

1.2 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21

Continue on Lincoln Boulevard

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Lincoln Boulevard
22

Turn right onto Pacific Avenue

0.5 mi · 2 min · Pacific Avenue
23

Arrive at destination

Pacific 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 72.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.9 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.5 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Cape May, 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 144.9 miles and 2h 55m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 128.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.5 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 1h 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

72 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 72.5 miles from Elizabeth, 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 128.9 miles.

Arriving in North Cape May, NJ

The final approach into North Cape May, 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 North Cape May, 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

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

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 5
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...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour Free
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...

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.98 one way

$47.95 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $26.24 $52.47
premium $4.92 $28.08 $56.16
diesel $5.64 $32.19 $64.38

Estimated Tolls: $8.70

Garden State Parkway (128.9 mi) $7.73
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

$24

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

The Mills at Jersey Gardens - Tesla Supercharger

Elizabeth, NJ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Union, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Elizabeth, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

QuickChek - Tesla Supercharger

Cranford, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Expressway Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Staten Island, NY

Tesla

12 DCFC

Simon Mills at Jersey Gardens (Elizabeth NJ)

Elizabeth, NJ

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Exxon - Tesla Supercharger

Newark, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Newark Airport Cell Phone Lot (Zapp)

Newark, NJ

Non-Networked

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Tesla: 6 Blink Network: 2 eVgo Network: 2 Electrify America: 1 Non-Networked: 1 APPLEGREEN: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.5 0 $15.21 $6.96
Efficient EV 36.2 0 $12.68 $5.80
EV Truck/SUV 58 0 $20.29 $9.27

Gas CO2

51 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Elizabeth, NJ

Afternoon in Elizabeth on Monday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Cape May, NJ

Afternoon in North Cape May on Monday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

40°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

21 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

2h 55m 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 North Cape May, NJ covers 144.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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, Exit to GSP and US Route 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.5 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 $23.98 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 144.9 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 2.2 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and North Cape May, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.

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Explore More

Return Trip

North Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

144 mi 2h 58m

Continue From North Cape May, NJ

Paterson, NJ 162.8 mi · 3h 21m Passaic, NJ 159.9 mi · 3h 18m Clifton, NJ 159.6 mi · 3h 18m Jersey City, NJ 153.1 mi · 3h 8m

More from Elizabeth, NJ

Cape May, NJ 143.2 mi · 2h 54m Wildwood Crest, NJ 141.6 mi · 2h 51m Tabernacle, NJ 140.8 mi · 2h 50m Wildwood, NJ 140.6 mi · 2h 50m North Wildwood, NJ 139.7 mi · 2h 49m Cape May Court House, NJ 131.9 mi · 2h 38m

More trips to North Cape May, NJ

Paterson, NJ 163 mi Passaic, NJ 159.9 mi Bayonne, NJ 150.6 mi Newark, NJ 150.1 mi Elizabethport, NJ 144.5 mi Trenton, NJ 107.2 mi

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