The drive from Ocean Acres, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 74.8 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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, Nautilus Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.2 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.03 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.
Midpoint
37.4 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 74.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 74.8 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and US 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 59.2 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 19 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 59.2 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 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward GSP Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward GSP Toll North
8
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m 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
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m 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
6
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ocean Acres, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.
Gsp North
61.2 mi in|~1h 15m|via GSP
Staten Island
61.2 mi in|~1h 15m|via GSP
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
59.2 mi
1h 10m
US 9
9.2 mi
14m
Nautilus Drive
1.8 mi
4m
Carlton Street
1.5 mi
2m
East Edgar Road
0.7 mi
1m
West Bay Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Buccaneer Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 59.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ocean Acres, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Buccaneer Lane
332 ft·16 sec·Buccaneer Lane
2
Turn right onto (111)
1.8 mi·4 min·Nautilus Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 554
0.7 mi·1 min·West Bay Avenue
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward GSP Toll NorthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto GSP
36 mi·41 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
22 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto GSP
1.2 mi·2 min·Garden State Parkway
Exit 127Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 127Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 9 North: WoodbridgeUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto US 9
9.2 mi·14 min·US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi·1 min·East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi·2 min·Carlton Street
14
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right
383 ft·28 sec
16
Turn right
278 ft·22 sec
17
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Jersey Street
18
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
19
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.4 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.2 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.4 miles or 47m 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 19m
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 Ocean Acres, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ocean Acres, NJ
This is one driving day of about 74.8 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 59.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.4 mi from Ocean Acres, NJ
· 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 37.4 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
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
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...
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 74.8
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 74.8
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 69.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.03 one way
$24.07 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$13.54
$27.09
premium
$4.95
$14.59
$29.18
diesel
$5.98
$17.61
$35.22
Estimated Tolls: $3.55
Garden State Parkway
(59.2 mi)$3.55
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.4
0
$7.85
$3.59
Efficient EV
18.7
0
$6.54
$2.99
EV Truck/SUV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Ocean Acres, NJ
Morning
in Ocean Acres on Saturday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
6:13 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
3 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
1h 38m 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 Ocean Acres, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 74.8 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 9, Nautilus Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.4 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.03 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ocean Acres, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
