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Trip from Newark, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h

Distance

146.8 mi

236 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 50m ★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 54m

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

borough in New Jersey, United States

Wildwood Crest, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Newark, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ covers 146.8 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, South Wildwood Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 125 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.34 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

73.4 miles from Newark, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 146.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h highway drive covering 146.8 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 125 miles on Garden State Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 125 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

240 ft -2 ft

Total Climb

340 ft

Total Descent

365 ft

Highest Point

240 ft

~31.4 mi in

Elevation Range

242 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 0.2 miles in near Mulberry Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 146.8 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 0.2 miles (Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Mulberry Street

Turn right onto Mulberry Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
5.4 mi into trip | ~11m in

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
15.2 mi into trip | ~23m in | Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 11 Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
16.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
7
16.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | GSP Southbound entrance

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Newark, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.

Gsp

15.2 mi in | ~23m | via Exit 11

Woodbridge

15.2 mi in | ~23m | via Exit 11

Gsp South

16.6 mi in | ~25m

Perth Amboy

16.6 mi in | ~25m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 125 mi 2h 25m
New Jersey Turnpike 9.4 mi 11m
South Wildwood Boulevard 2.3 mi 3m
US 1 1.7 mi 2m
McCarter Highway 1.5 mi 3m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9 1.4 mi 2m
NJ 81 1.1 mi 2m
Atlantic Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 125 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ.

1

Start on CR 510

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Market Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Turn right onto Mulberry Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mulberry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Turn slight right onto NJ 21

1.5 mi · 3 min · McCarter Highway
Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto US 1; US 9

0.2 mi · 17 sec · US 1; US 9
5

Continue on US 1; US 9

1.5 mi · 2 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7

Continue on NJ 81

1.1 mi · 2 min · NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

315 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
10

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

9.4 mi · 11 min · New Jersey Turnpike
11

Take the exit onto Exit 11

1.4 mi · 2 min · Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11 Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy Use the slight left lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance

0.5 mi · 1 min · GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway Use the slight left lane.
14

Merge onto GSP

3.0 mi · 3 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
16

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

121 mi · 2 hr 20 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 4A Toward NJ 47 South: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest
18

Merge onto NJ 47

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Delsea Drive
19

Continue on NJ 47

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Wildwood Boulevard
20

Continue on NJ 47

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Wildwood Boulevard
21

Continue on NJ 47

0.8 mi · 1 min · Rio Grande Avenue
22

Turn right onto OD

0.8 mi · 1 min · Atlantic Avenue
23

Turn right onto East Rosemary Road

0.1 mi · 27 sec · East Rosemary Road
24

Arrive at destination

East Rosemary Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.4 miles from Newark, NJ, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125 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 32 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.4 miles or 1h 32m 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wildwood Crest, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newark, 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 Newark, NJ

This is one driving day of about 146.8 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Newark, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 125 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.4 mi from Newark, NJ · 1h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.4 miles from Newark, 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 125 miles.

Arriving in Wildwood Crest, NJ

The final approach into Wildwood Crest, 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 Wildwood Crest, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.34 one way

$48.68 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $26.66 $53.31
premium $4.93 $28.47 $56.94
diesel $5.61 $32.41 $64.82

Estimated Tolls: $8.81

Garden State Parkway (125 mi) $7.50
New Jersey Turnpike (9.4 mi) $1.31

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

$24

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44 0 $15.41 $7.05
Efficient EV 36.7 0 $12.85 $5.87
EV Truck/SUV 58.7 0 $20.55 $9.40

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Newark, NJ

Morning in Newark on Saturday

Local time

8:05 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wildwood Crest, NJ

Morning in Wildwood Crest on Saturday

Local time

8:05 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 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 Newark, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ covers 146.8 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, South 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 73.4 miles from Newark, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 146.8 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 0.2 miles (Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 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.

Between Newark, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from -2 ft to 240 ft elevation with about 340 ft of total climbing.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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