Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Evening in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
7:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 49m
Distance
139.7 mi
225 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Noé Villalta Photography
Driving from Elizabeth to North Wildwood is a straightforward 139.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 49 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, it serves perfectly as a simple day trip, though staying overnight allows for a more relaxed pace upon arrival. You will primarily navigate via the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway before finishing on North Wildwood Boulevard. Budgeting approximately $23 for fuel should cover your travel expenses for this one-way trip. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent coastal climate throughout the drive. It is an ideal route for those prioritizing speed and accessibility over winding backroads.
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
69.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a long, sustained stretch of 122.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Expect a consistent, fast-paced rhythm as you transition from the urban density of Northern New Jersey toward the coast. The road personality is functional and efficient, designed to move traffic quickly across the state. While the initial portion involves navigating turnpike interchanges, the experience settles into a predictable interstate cruise that requires steady focus rather than technical maneuvering.
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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 139.7 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
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
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
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Elizabeth, NJ and North Wildwood, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 122.4 mi | 2h 22m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| North Wildwood Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Spruce Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| GSP Southbound entrance | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and North Wildwood, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
Continue on NJ 439
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit onto Exit 11
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto NJ 147
Continue on NJ 147; OD
Continue on NJ 147; OD
Continue on CR 621; OD
Turn left onto East 12th Avenue
Arrive at destination
To make the most of your 2-hour and 49-minute drive, plan for at least one strategic stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on highways, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the Garden State Parkway. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is simple with the $23 estimated cost, but filling up before hitting the final stretch on North Wildwood Boulevard can save you time upon arrival. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule. Consider bringing along audio entertainment to stay engaged during the lengthy 122.4-mile parkway segment.
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.
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 69.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Wildwood, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 139.7 miles and 2h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.8 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 69.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.4 miles.
The final approach into North Wildwood, 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 Wildwood, 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.
Regular Gas
$23.12 one way
$46.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $25.29 | $50.59 |
| premium | $4.92 | $27.07 | $54.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.04 | $62.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.31
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
$23
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.67 | $6.71 |
| Efficient EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.22 | $5.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.9 | 0 | $19.56 | $8.94 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
7:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in North Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
7:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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