Trip from Lakewood, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

90.2 mi

145 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lakewood, NJ, NJ

Lakewood, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

If you are looking to escape Lakewood for the coast, the trip to North Wildwood covers 90.2 miles of New Jersey transit. You can comfortably complete this journey in about 1 hour and 51 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for roughly $15 in fuel costs for the round trip. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares to move you efficiently from the Northeast region toward your destination. Because the transit time is under two hours, it offers a flexible schedule for those wanting to maximize their time on the shore. Overall, this is a practical, no-nonsense drive designed for speed and convenience rather than a slow-paced sightseeing tour.

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

45.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as you navigate your way south. With 86% of the journey spent on high-speed roads, you will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on the Garden State Parkway. You can settle in for a long, uninterrupted stretch of 77.4 miles on the Parkway, which serves as the backbone of this trip. As you transition from Lakewood Road onto the Parkway and finally onto North Wildwood Boulevard, the character of the drive remains consistent and efficient. It is a functional commute that prioritizes steady cruising speeds over the technical turns of local backroads, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal navigation stress.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 77.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lakewood Road. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Lakewood, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ is easy. At 1h 51m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

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 5 key points

These 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
85.2 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
4
90.1 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | East 12th Avenue

Turn left onto East 12th Avenue

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

Between Lakewood, NJ and North Wildwood, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Whitesboro.

Gsp

7.6 mi in | ~13m | via US 9

Whitesboro

85.2 mi in | ~1h 43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 77.4 mi 1h 29m
Lakewood Road 4 mi 6m
North Wildwood Boulevard 3.3 mi 5m
River Avenue 2.6 mi 4m
Madison Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
West Spruce Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
New Jersey Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
West Anglesea Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 77.4 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and North Wildwood, 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

77 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 6 Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn right onto NJ 147

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Wildwood Boulevard
9

Continue on NJ 147; OD

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Spruce Avenue
10

Continue on NJ 147; OD

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West Anglesea Drive
11

Continue on CR 621; OD

0.5 mi · 48 sec · New Jersey Avenue
12

Turn left onto East 12th Avenue

0.1 mi · 28 sec · East 12th Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

East 12th Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 1 hour and 51-minute transit, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the route is short enough to drive straight through without fatigue. Keep in mind that the primary challenge here is the reliance on the Garden State Parkway; check local traffic reports before departing, as this major artery can experience congestion. Because fuel costs are estimated at a modest $15, you can easily top off your tank in Lakewood before heading out to avoid paying premium prices near the tourist zones. Staying flexible with your departure time remains your best strategy for a smooth arrival in North Wildwood.

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 45.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.1 miles or 56m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Wildwood, 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 90.2 miles and 1h 51m.

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 77.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.1 mi from Lakewood, NJ · 56m 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 45.1 miles from Lakewood, 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 77.4 miles.

Arriving in North Wildwood, NJ

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.93 one way

$29.85 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $16.33 $32.66
premium $4.92 $17.48 $34.96
diesel $5.64 $20.04 $40.08

Estimated Tolls: $4.64

Garden State Parkway (77.4 mi) $4.64

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

$15

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.1 0 $9.47 $4.33
Efficient EV 22.6 0 $7.89 $3.61
EV Truck/SUV 36.1 0 $12.63 $5.77

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 2 days ago

Origin

Lakewood, NJ

Night in Lakewood on Sunday

Local time

10:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Wildwood, NJ

Night in North Wildwood on Sunday

Local time

10:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°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

1 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

1h 51m 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 North Wildwood, NJ covers 90.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lakewood Road, North Wildwood Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.1 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 $14.93 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.
The drive from Lakewood, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ is easy. At 1h 51m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 North Wildwood, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Whitesboro.

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Explore More

Return Trip

North Wildwood, NJ to Lakewood, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

90.4 mi 1h 52m

Explore more options from Lakewood, NJ or browse trips ending in North Wildwood, NJ.

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