Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Late night in Lakewood on Monday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, NJ to Margate City, NJ
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
62.1 mi
100 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, NJ
James Kampeis
Margate City, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Lakewood to the coast, this 62.1-mile journey to Margate City is an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly accessible route for a spontaneous weekend outing. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical choice for travelers navigating within New Jersey. The path primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, Lakewood Road, and River Avenue to bridge the distance between these two Northeast locations. Because the duration is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you to focus your energy on enjoying the destination as soon as you arrive.
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
31.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by a highway-focused approach, with 78% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a steady rhythm, spending your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 47.9 miles along the Garden State Parkway. While the initial segments involve local roads like Lakewood Road and River Avenue, the drive transitions into a consistent interstate experience for the majority of the trip. Expect a straightforward, efficient transit rather than a winding backroads adventure. The progression from the Lakewood area toward the shore is predictable, providing a reliable and fast-moving experience for drivers who prefer to minimize time on local surface streets.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 47.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lakewood Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden State Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden S...
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
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 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
6
62.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Lakewood, NJ and Margate City, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Cr 563: Northfield.
Gsp
7.6 mi in
|
~13m
|
via US 9
Cr 563: Northfield
55.7 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 47.9 mi | 55m |
| Lakewood Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| River Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Tilton Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Downbeach Express | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Madison Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Jerome Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Margate Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 47.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Margate City, NJ.
1
Start on 8th Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
8th Street
2
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
Use the none lane.
3
Continue on US 9
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
River Avenue
Use the none lane.
4
Continue on US 9
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Lakewood Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 9
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 9
Toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden State Parkway
6
Merge onto GSP; US 9
48 mi
·
55 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto CR 563
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Tilton Road
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Mill Road
10
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Margate Boulevard
11
Continue on CR 563
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Downbeach Express
12
Continue on CR 563
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jerome Avenue
Use the none lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
Ventnor Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 629; OD
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 1 hour and 20-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily manage the entire 62.1-mile distance without needing to plan for formal rest stops, though you should keep your $10 fuel estimate in mind before you head out. Traffic patterns on the Garden State Parkway can fluctuate, so checking road conditions before you leave Lakewood is a smart way to ensure your transit remains smooth. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, feel free to adjust your pace to suit your personal schedule. A great tip for this specific route is to prioritize your fuel up in Lakewood to avoid potentially higher prices closer to the coastal destination.
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 31.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 62.1 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.1 miles or 40m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Margate City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 62.1 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lakewood, 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 47.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.1 mi from Lakewood, NJ · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 62.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Margate City, NJ
The final approach into Margate City, 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 Margate City, 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
$10.28 one way
$20.55 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $11.24 | $22.49 |
| premium | $4.92 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.80 | $27.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.87
Garden State Parkway
(47.9 mi)
$2.87
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
$10
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Margate City, NJ
Late night in Margate City on Monday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
13 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
1h 20m 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 Lakewood, NJ to Margate City, NJ covers 62.1 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lakewood Road, River Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.28 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 straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lakewood, NJ and Margate City, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Cr 563: Northfield.
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