Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Passaic, NJ to North Cape May, NJ

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

159.9 mi

257 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 5m ★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Passaic, NJ, NJ

Passaic, NJ

Garrison Gao

Downtown North Cape May, NJ, NJ

North Cape May, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Trip Overview

The drive from Passaic, NJ to North Cape May, NJ covers 159.9 miles and takes about 3h 16m 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, Garden State Parkway Southbound, Lincoln Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.9 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 Passaic, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 16m highway drive covering 159.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. The longest continuous stretch is about 145.9 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 24 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 145.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 618 / Paulison Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 618 / Paulison Avenue

Turn right onto CR 618 / Paulison Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
3.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward GSP Toll South
5
4 mi into trip | ~7m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
30.9 mi into trip | ~44m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
156.7 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward US 9 South: Cape May Ferry

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 9 South: Cape May Ferry

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 145.9 mi 2h 54m
Garden State Parkway Southbound 6.2 mi 8m
Lincoln Boulevard 1.4 mi 2m
Bloomfield Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Sandman Boulevard 1.2 mi 1m
Broadway 1 mi 1m
Shore Road 0.6 mi 1m
Pacific Avenue 0.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 145.9 mi, about 2h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Passaic Avenue

95 ft · 7 sec · Passaic Avenue
2

Turn right onto CR 618

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Paulison Avenue
3

Turn left onto CR 622

1.0 mi · 1 min · Broadway
4

Continue on CR 622

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
5

Continue on CR 622

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
6

Continue on CR 622

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
7

Enter roundabout onto CR 622

160 ft · 2 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
8

Continue on CR 622

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on CR 622

411 ft · 9 sec · Darling Avenue
10

Turn right onto CR 622

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Passaic Avenue
11

Continue on CR 652

0.4 mi · 50 sec · East Passaic Avenue
12

Turn right onto CR 655

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Watchung Avenue
13

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
14

Merge onto GSP

20 mi · 28 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
17

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

125 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Turn right onto NJ 109

0.6 mi · 1 min · Shore Road
19

Take the exit

274 ft · 9 sec
Toward US 9 South: Cape May Ferry Use the slight right lane.
20

Turn left onto Sandman Boulevard

1.2 mi · 1 min · Sandman Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Continue on US 9

1.2 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22

Continue on Lincoln Boulevard

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Lincoln Boulevard
23

Turn right onto Pacific Avenue

0.5 mi · 2 min · Pacific Avenue
24

Arrive at destination

Pacific Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.9 miles from Passaic, NJ, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.9 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 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 79.9 miles or 1h 40m 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 40m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Passaic, 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 Passaic, NJ

This is one driving day of about 159.9 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Passaic, 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 145.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.9 mi from Passaic, NJ · 1h 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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.

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 79.9 miles from Passaic, 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 145.9 miles.

Arriving in North Cape May, NJ

The final approach into North Cape May, 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 North Cape May, 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...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 near mile 5.5
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free
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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 16.5
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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 44.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.46 one way

$52.92 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
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: $9.12

Garden State Parkway (152.1 mi) $9.12

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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Passaic, NJ

Afternoon in Passaic on Monday

Local time

2:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 6 to 18 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Destination

North Cape May, NJ

Afternoon in North Cape May on Monday

Local time

2:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

40°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

40 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 16m 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 Passaic, NJ to North Cape May, NJ covers 159.9 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound, Lincoln Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.9 miles from Passaic, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Passaic, NJ to North Cape May, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

North Cape May, NJ to Passaic, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

159.9 mi 3h 18m

Continue From North Cape May, NJ

Paterson, NJ 162.8 mi · 3h 21m Clifton, NJ 159.6 mi · 3h 18m Jersey City, NJ 153.1 mi · 3h 8m Bayonne, NJ 149.8 mi · 3h 7m

More from Passaic, NJ

Sea Isle City, NJ 141.5 mi · 2h 53m Brigantine, NJ 129.9 mi · 2h 49m Quinton, NJ 129.4 mi · 2h 37m Alloway, NJ 123.6 mi · 2h 37m Harmony, NJ 123.3 mi · 2h 42m Vineland, NJ 116.4 mi · 2h 32m

More trips to North Cape May, NJ

Paterson, NJ 163 mi Bayonne, NJ 150.6 mi Newark, NJ 150.1 mi Elizabeth, NJ 144.9 mi Elizabethport, NJ 144.5 mi Trenton, NJ 107.2 mi

Explore more options from Passaic, NJ or browse trips ending in North Cape May, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Explore maps for Passaic, NJ or North Cape May, NJ on MapSof.net.