The drive from Ocean City, NJ to Edison, NJ covers 106 miles and takes about 2h 14m 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, NJ 18, NJ 34 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.4 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.57 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
53 miles from Ocean City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 106 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 14m highway drive covering 106 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.4 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 28 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 67.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
154 ft7 ft
Total Climb
235 ft
Total Descent
151 ft
Highest Point
154 ft
~98.4 mi in
Elevation Range
147 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.4 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 106 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 27.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
27.4 mi into trip|~35m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, 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 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar,...
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North, I 195 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP North, I 195 West
8
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 195 West: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 195 West: Trenton
8
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward NJ 34 North: Matawan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 35B
Toward NJ 34 North: Matawan
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ocean City, NJ and Edison, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Gsp North.
Trenton
71.6 mi in|~1h 27m
Gsp North
71.9 mi in|~1h 28m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
67.4 mi
1h 18m
NJ 18
21.4 mi
24m
NJ 34
7 mi
9m
East 9th Street
1.7 mi
3m
US 1
1.6 mi
2m
NJ 52
1.5 mi
2m
Plainfield Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
NJ 33
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ocean City, NJ and Edison, NJ.
1
Start on East 9th Street
1.7 mi·3 min·East 9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on NJ 52
1.5 mi·2 min·NJ 52
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Laurel Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Laurel Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the ramp
201 ft·4 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·44 sec·this road
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Merge onto GSP
23 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
44 mi·51 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 98Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward GSP North, I 195 West
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 195 West: TrentonUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 138
0.2 mi·16 sec·NJ 138
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 35BToward NJ 34 North: MatawanUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto NJ 34
3.4 mi·4 min·NJ 34
14
Enter roundabout onto NJ 33; NJ 34
451 ft·6 sec·NJ 33; NJ 34
15
Continue on NJ 33; NJ 34
1.0 mi·1 min·NJ 33; NJ 34
16
Take the exit onto NJ 34
3.6 mi·5 min·NJ 34
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
18
Merge onto NJ 18
21 mi·24 min·NJ 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 1 North: NewarkUse the left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto US 1
0.9 mi·1 min·US 1
21
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi·16 sec·US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 1
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 1
0.4 mi·34 sec·US 1
24
Turn right
462 ft·39 sec
25
At end of road, turn left onto CR 529
1.3 mi·3 min·Plainfield Avenue
26
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft·17 sec·Central Avenue
27
Turn right onto Reed Street
523 ft·28 sec·Reed Street
28
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 53 miles from Ocean City, NJ, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edison, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ocean City, 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 Ocean City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 106 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ocean City, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53 mi from Ocean City, NJ
· 1h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 53 miles from Ocean City, 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 67.4 miles.
Arriving in Edison, NJ
The final approach into Edison, 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 Edison, NJ.
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.
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
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 106
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.57 one way
$35.15 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.25
$38.49
premium
$4.93
$20.56
$41.11
diesel
$5.61
$23.40
$46.81
Estimated Tolls: $4.04
Garden State Parkway
(67.4 mi)$4.04
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
$18
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.8
0
$11.13
$5.09
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
EV Truck/SUV
42.4
0
$14.84
$6.78
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Ocean City, NJ
Morning
in Ocean City on Saturday
Local time
9:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Edison, NJ
Morning
in Edison on Saturday
Local time
9:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ocean City, NJ to Edison, NJ covers 106 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 18, NJ 34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53 miles from Ocean City, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.57 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 106 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 27.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ocean City, NJ and Edison, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Gsp North.
