Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
10:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive 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
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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.
Lakewood, NJ
James Kampeis
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 .
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
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
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
Turn left onto East 12th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Between Lakewood, NJ and North Wildwood, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Whitesboro.
Gsp
Whitesboro
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and North Wildwood, NJ.
Start on 8th Street
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547
Continue on US 9
Continue on US 9
Take the exit onto US 9
Merge onto GSP; US 9
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.4 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$14.93 one way
$29.85 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
10:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in North Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
10:43 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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