The drive from Ocean Acres, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m 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, NJ 21 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.7 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.46 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.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 81.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 81.2 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.7 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 22 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 60.7 miles.
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 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 63.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
63.9 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
6
65 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
75 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
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 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|NJ 21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
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 Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport and Elizabeth Seaport.
Njtp: New York City
63.9 mi in|~1h 19m
Trenton
63.9 mi in|~1h 19m
Njtp North: New York City
64.9 mi in|~1h 21m
Newark Airport
75 mi in|~1h 34m
Elizabeth Seaport
75 mi in|~1h 34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
60.7 mi
1h 12m
New Jersey Turnpike
9.5 mi
11m
NJ 21
1.9 mi
3m
Nautilus Drive
1.8 mi
4m
US 1
1.7 mi
2m
NJ 81
0.7 mi
1m
West Bay Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Mulberry Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 60.7 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ocean Acres, NJ and Newark, 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
25 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 129Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
11
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
13
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
9.5 mi·11 min·New Jersey Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 13AToward Newark Airport, Elizabeth SeaportUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto NJ 81
0.7 mi·1 min·NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.7 mi·2 min·US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
1.9 mi·3 min·NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, DowntownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
229 ft·7 sec·Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Mulberry Street
21
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi·29 sec·Market Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
CR 510
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 40.6 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.7 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 50m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newark, 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 81.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 60.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.6 mi from Ocean Acres, NJ
· 50m into the drive
The midpoint is around 40.7 miles from Ocean Acres, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Newark, NJ
The final approach into Newark, 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...
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 81.2
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 75.6
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 78.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.46 one way
$26.92 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.74
$29.49
premium
$4.93
$15.75
$31.50
diesel
$5.61
$17.93
$35.86
Estimated Tolls: $4.97
Garden State Parkway
(60.7 mi)$3.64
New Jersey Turnpike
(9.5 mi)$1.33
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
$13
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.53
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
8:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Newark, NJ
Morning
in Newark on Saturday
Local time
8:36 AM
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
16 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 46m 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 Newark, NJ covers 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m 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, NJ 21. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.6 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 $13.46 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 81.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 63.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ocean Acres, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport and Elizabeth Seaport.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
