Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
159.9 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Photo: Garrison Gao
The drive from North Cape May, NJ to Passaic, NJ covers 159.9 miles and takes about 3h 18m 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, Lincoln Boulevard, Bloomfield Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 150.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.46 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
79.9 miles from North Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
This is a 3h 18m highway drive covering 159.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Lincoln Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 150.9 miles on Garden State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lincoln Boulevard. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 159.9 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 4.2 miles (GSP / 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.
At end of road, turn left onto Lincoln Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 150.9 mi | 3h 2m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Sandman Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Shore Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Avenue | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North Cape May, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
Start on Pacific Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lincoln Boulevard
Continue on US 9
Turn right onto NJ 109
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 655
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
Turn right onto CR 622
Turn left onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Turn right onto CR 618
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 79.9 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Passaic, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 159.9 miles and 3h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.9 mi from North Cape May, NJ · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 79.9 miles from North Cape May, 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 150.9 miles.
The final approach into Passaic, 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 Passaic, 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.
Regular Gas
$26.46 one way
$52.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $28.95 | $57.90 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.99 | $61.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.52 | $71.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.05
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
$26
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in North Cape May on Saturday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Passaic on Saturday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
80 mi in
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.
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