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Trip from Hardwick, NJ to Lakewood, NJ

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

90.4 mi

146 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 15m ★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m

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 Hardwick, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 90.4 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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, US 206, I 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.7 miles on US Highway 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.96 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

45.2 miles from Hardwick, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 24m highway drive covering 90.4 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 9 and US 206. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.7 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 33 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 18.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and US 206. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 90.4 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 16.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (US 206): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.7 miles (US 206): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

7
16.4 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Dover

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 80 East: Dover
8
23.5 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 206

Take the exit onto US 206 toward SH 183 North, US 206 South: Netcong, Somerville

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 27A-B Toward SH 183 North, US 206 South: Netcong, Som...
8
23.7 mi into trip | ~44m in | US 206

Keep slight right at fork onto US 206 toward US 206 South: Somerville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 206 South: Somerville
7
41.3 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward I 287 South: Somerville, Princeton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 287 South: Somerville, Princeton
8
53.6 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park

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 9 Toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park

Towns Along This Route

Between Hardwick, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Sh 183 North, Somerville, Princeton, Bound Brook and Highland Park.

Sh 183 North

23.5 mi in | ~43m | via US 206

Somerville

23.5 mi in | ~43m | via US 206

Princeton

41.3 mi in | ~1h 12m

Bound Brook

53.6 mi in | ~1h 26m

Highland Park

53.6 mi in | ~1h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 9 18.7 mi 28m
US 206 17.9 mi 28m
I 287 12 mi 13m
State Route 18 10.5 mi 16m
Christopher Columbus Highway 6.7 mi 7m
River Road 3.2 mi 5m
Spring Valley Road 3.1 mi 6m
Johnsonburg Road 2.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US Highway 9 — 18.7 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

326 ft · 24 sec · this road
2

Turn straight onto Sand Pond Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Sand Pond Road
3

Continue on Shannon Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Shannon Road
4

Turn right onto Birch Ridge Road

0.6 mi · 2 min · Birch Ridge Road
5

Turn left onto CR 602

1.7 mi · 3 min · Millbrook Road
6

Turn left onto CR 659

3.1 mi · 6 min · Spring Valley Road
7

At end of road, turn left onto NJ 94

1.9 mi · 2 min · NJ 94
8

Turn right onto CR 661

1.4 mi · 2 min · Ramsey Road
9

Continue on CR 519

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Johnsonburg Bypass Road
10

Turn left onto CR 612

2.1 mi · 3 min · Allamuchy Road
11

Continue on CR 612

2.8 mi · 4 min · Johnsonburg Road
12

Continue on CR 667

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Old Hackettstown Road
13

Turn slight right onto CR 517

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hackettstown Road
Use the left lane.
14

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 80 East: Dover Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto I 80

6.7 mi · 7 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit onto US 206

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 206
Exit 27A-B Toward SH 183 North, US 206 South: Netcong, Somerville Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto US 206

0.3 mi · 32 sec · US 206
Toward US 206 South: Somerville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on US 206

17 mi · 27 min · US 206
Use the straight lane.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 287 South: Somerville, Princeton Use the slight right lane.
20

Merge onto I 287

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 287
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 287

11 mi · 12 min · I 287
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 9 Toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park Use the slight right lane.
23

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward Highland Park
24

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 26 sec
25

Turn straight onto CR 622

3.2 mi · 5 min · River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
26

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: New Brunswick Use the right lane.
27

Merge onto NJ 18

2.5 mi · 3 min · John A. Lynch Memorial Bridge
28

Continue on NJ 18; CR 527

11 mi · 16 min · State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 30 Toward US 9 South: Freehold Use the slight right lane.
30

Merge onto US 9

19 mi · 28 min · US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
31

Continue on US 9

1.0 mi · 2 min · Madison Avenue
32

Turn left onto 8th Street

46 ft · 2 sec · 8th Street
Use the left lane.
33

Arrive at destination

8th Street

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 45.2 miles from Hardwick, NJ, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 2h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.2 miles or 1h 17m 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 59m

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 Hardwick, 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 Hardwick, NJ

This is one driving day of about 90.4 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hardwick, 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 18.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.2 mi from Hardwick, NJ · 1h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

45 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 45.2 miles from Hardwick, 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.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour $10
Park Closure: Routine Winter Service Levels in Effect
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free near mile 37.4
View on nps.gov
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...

23 mi from route ~56 min detour $10 near mile 49.9
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...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 68.6
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...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 24.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.96 one way

$29.92 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $16.37 $32.74
premium $4.92 $17.52 $35.04
diesel $5.64 $20.08 $40.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Panther Valley Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Allamuchy, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Piscataway, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Bridgewater, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Dunkin Donuts - Hope, NJ (DC)

Hope, NJ

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Duke Farms

Hillsborough, NJ

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

Target T1224 (Bridgewater, NJ)

Bridgewater, NJ

Electrify America

3 DCFC

Holiday Inn - Budd Lake

Budd Lake, NJ

Blink Network

2 DCFC

QUICKCHEK CP-QC186-1

Whitehouse station, NJ

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 Blink Network: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 CHARGELAB: 1 Non-Networked: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.1 0 $9.49 $4.34
Efficient EV 22.6 0 $7.91 $3.62
EV Truck/SUV 36.2 0 $12.66 $5.79

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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

Hardwick, NJ

Morning in Hardwick on Monday

Local time

6:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakewood, NJ

Morning in Lakewood on Monday

Local time

6:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

3 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 24m 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 Hardwick, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 90.4 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 9, US 206, I 287. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.2 miles from Hardwick, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.96 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 22 significant decision points across 90.4 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 16.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (US 206): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.7 miles (US 206): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hardwick, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Sh 183 North, Somerville, Princeton, Bound Brook and Highland Park.

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