Origin
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Morning in Point Pleasant Beach on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ to Menlo Park, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
41.3 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Mary V
Menlo Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 41.3-mile drive from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ to Menlo Park, NJ is a quick trip, estimated to take around 53 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that easily fits into a single day, making it ideal for a quick excursion. With a projected fuel cost of about $7, this route is quite budget-friendly. The drive is predominantly on major roadways, with 88% of the journey on highways, offering a smooth and efficient transit between these two New Jersey locations within the Northeast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 41.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 41.3-mile drive, with 88% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.3 miles, primarily on the Garden State Parkway. You'll also navigate sections of NJ 34 and Hawthorne Avenue, which may offer a slight change of pace from the parkway's consistent flow. Overall, this route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, prioritizing getting you to your destination swiftly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 33.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 41.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll North
6
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Garden State Parkway toward GSP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward GSP North
8
40.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward NJ 27: Iselin, Metuchen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 132
Toward NJ 27: Iselin, Metuchen
6
40.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 27: Lincoln Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 27: Lincoln Highway
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and Menlo Park, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and Gsp North.
Gsp Toll North
5.7 mi in
|
~7m
Gsp North
6.2 mi in
|
~8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 33.3 mi | 41m |
| NJ 34 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Hawthorne Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Philip Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cincinnati Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 33.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and Menlo Park, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 35
236 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cincinnati Avenue
2
Continue on NJ 35
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Hawthorne Avenue
3
Continue on NJ 34
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 34
4
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
287 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
5
Continue on NJ 34
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
NJ 34
6
Continue on NJ 34
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
NJ 34
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward GSP North, I 195 West
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Garden State Parkway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North
10
Merge onto GSP
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
12
Continue on GSP
28 mi
·
34 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 132
Toward NJ 27: Iselin, Metuchen
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
369 ft
·
9 sec
Toward NJ 27: Lincoln Highway
15
Turn straight onto NJ 27
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
16
Turn right onto Philip Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Philip Street
17
Arrive at destination
Philip Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.7 mi from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Menlo Park, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Menlo Park, NJ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.85 one way
$13.69 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.01 | $16.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.00
Garden State Parkway
(33.3 mi)
$2.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Menlo Park, NJ
Morning in Menlo Park on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
53m 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 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ to Menlo Park, NJ covers 41.3 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 34, Hawthorne Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.7 miles from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.85 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 41.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and Menlo Park, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and Gsp North.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Return Trip
Menlo Park, NJ to Point Pleasant Beach, NJPlan the drive back the other way.
40.9 mi
52m
Continue From Menlo Park, NJ
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