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Trip from North Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

144 mi

232 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

39 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 48m ★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m

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 North Cape May, NJ, NJ

North Cape May, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Downtown Elizabeth, NJ, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 144 miles and takes about 2h 58m 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, US 9, Carlton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 126.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.83 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

72 miles from North Cape May, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 58m highway drive covering 144 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and US 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 126.5 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 23 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 126.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Lincoln Boulevard.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 144 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 0.5 miles (Lincoln Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

7
0.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | Lincoln Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto Lincoln Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
3.7 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward GSP North
8
130.4 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Take the exit onto GSP / Garden State Parkway toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island

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 127 Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridg...
9
131.6 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 127 Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, S...
7
131.8 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 9 North: Woodbridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge

Towns Along This Route

Between North Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.

Gsp North

130.4 mi in | ~2h 35m | via GSP

Staten Island

130.4 mi in | ~2h 35m | via GSP

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 126.5 mi 2h 28m
US 9 9.2 mi 14m
Carlton Street 1.5 mi 2m
Lincoln Boulevard 1.4 mi 1m
Sandman Boulevard 1.1 mi 1m
East Edgar Road 0.7 mi 1m
Shore Road 0.6 mi 1m
Pacific Avenue 0.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 126.5 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.

1

Start on Pacific Avenue

0.5 mi · 2 min · Pacific Avenue
2

At end of road, turn left onto Lincoln Boulevard

1.4 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on US 9

1.1 mi · 1 min · Sandman Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn right onto NJ 109

0.6 mi · 1 min · Shore Road
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward GSP North Use the straight lane.
6

Merge onto GSP

19 mi · 21 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
8

Merge onto GSP

34 mi · 39 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

50 mi · 58 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 31 sec
11

Continue on GSP

22 mi · 26 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto GSP

1.2 mi · 2 min · Garden State Parkway
Exit 127 Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 127 Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge Use the slight left lane.
15

Merge onto US 9

9.2 mi · 14 min · US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on US 1; US 9

1.5 mi · 2 min · Carlton Street
18

Turn right

60 ft · 6 sec
19

Turn right

383 ft · 28 sec
20

Turn right

278 ft · 22 sec
21

Turn right onto East Jersey Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · East Jersey Street
22

Turn right

34 ft · 2 sec
23

Arrive at destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72 miles from North Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.5 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 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Cape May, 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 North Cape May, NJ

This is one driving day of about 144 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Cape May, 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 126.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72 mi from North Cape May, NJ · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

72 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 72 miles from North Cape May, 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 126.5 miles.

Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ

The final approach into Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour $10 near mile 144
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 144
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...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 144
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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 139
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.83 one way

$47.66 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $26.07 $52.15
premium $4.92 $27.90 $55.81
diesel $5.64 $31.99 $63.98

Estimated Tolls: $7.58

Garden State Parkway (126.5 mi) $7.58

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

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

39 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Middle Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Plaza at Cape May Courthouse - Tesla Supercharger

Cape May Court House, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Ocean View, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Stafford Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Somers Point, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

JR's Fresh Market - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 20 Tesla: 9 Blink Network: 5 Non-Networked: 1 EV Connect: 1 EVIUM: 1 CHARGEUP: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.2 0 $15.12 $6.91
Efficient EV 36 0 $12.60 $5.76
EV Truck/SUV 57.6 0 $20.16 $9.22

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 4 years ago

Origin

North Cape May, NJ

Afternoon in North Cape May on Monday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elizabeth, NJ

Afternoon in Elizabeth on Monday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°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

21 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

2h 58m 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 North Cape May, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 144 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 9, Carlton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72 miles from North Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.83 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.
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 17 significant decision points across 144 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 0.5 miles (Lincoln Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between North Cape May, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Elizabeth, NJ to North Cape May, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

144.9 mi 2h 55m

Continue From Elizabeth, NJ

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