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Trip from Wantage, NJ to Lakewood, NJ

Drive Time

2h 28m

Distance

100 mi

161 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Wantage, NJ, NJ

Wantage, NJ

Garrison Gao

Downtown Lakewood, NJ, NJ

Lakewood, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

The drive from Wantage, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NJ 23, US Highway 9, Garden State Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.7 miles on NJ 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.55 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

50 miles from Wantage, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 28m highway drive covering 100 miles, with most of the trip on NJ 23 and US Highway 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.7 miles on NJ 23.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 23 and US Highway 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near CR 565 / Glenwood Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 100 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 2.8 miles (CR 565 / Glenwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (NJ 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.8 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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
2.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | CR 565 / Glenwood Road

At end of road, turn right onto CR 565 / Glenwood Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
5.3 mi into trip | ~16m in | NJ 23

Turn left onto NJ 23

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
31.8 mi into trip | ~53m in | NJ 23

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
43.4 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | ramp to GSP Southbound

Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound toward GSP Toll South

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward GSP Toll South
8
72.8 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge

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 123 Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge

Towns Along This Route

Between Wantage, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton and Gsp Toll South.

Clifton

38 mi in | ~1h

Gsp Toll South

43.4 mi in | ~1h 6m | via ramp to GSP Southbound

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 23 32.7 mi 43m
US Highway 9 25.9 mi 38m
Garden State Parkway 23 mi 31m
Garden State Parkway Southbound 6.2 mi 8m
US 46 3.7 mi 4m
Glenwood Road 2.5 mi 6m
Lake Wallkill Road 2.4 mi 9m
NJ 3 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: NJ 23 — 32.7 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wantage, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.

1

Start on Kelly Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Kelly Road
2

Turn right onto Lake Wallkill Road

2.4 mi · 9 min · Lake Wallkill Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto CR 565

2.5 mi · 6 min · Glenwood Road
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left onto NJ 23

26 mi · 36 min · NJ 23
Use the left lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23

6.2 mi · 7 min · NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

297 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
8

Merge onto US 46

2.1 mi · 2 min · US 46
9

Continue on US 46

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Turn slight left onto NJ 3

1.3 mi · 1 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound

0.3 mi · 36 sec · ramp to GSP Southbound
Toward GSP Toll South Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto GSP

22 mi · 30 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
15

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 123 Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge Use the slight right lane.
17

Merge onto US 9

26 mi · 38 min · US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on US 9

1.0 mi · 2 min · Madison Avenue
19

Turn left onto 8th Street

46 ft · 2 sec · 8th Street
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

8th Street

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 50 miles from Wantage, NJ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.7 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 80 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50 miles or 1h 16m 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 1m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wantage, 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 Wantage, NJ

This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 2h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wantage, 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 NJ 23 for about 32.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50 mi from Wantage, NJ · 1h 16m into the drive

Downtown New York City, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

50 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.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50 miles from Wantage, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lakewood, NJ

The final approach into Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 near mile 48.3
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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 41.4
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 58.6
View on nps.gov
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour $10 near mile 6.9
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...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 55.2
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.55 one way

$33.09 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $18.11 $36.21
premium $4.92 $19.38 $38.76
diesel $5.64 $22.22 $44.43

Estimated Tolls: $1.75

Garden State Parkway (29.2 mi) $1.75

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

$17

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30 0 $10.50 $4.80
Efficient EV 25 0 $8.75 $4.00
EV Truck/SUV 40 0 $14.00 $6.40

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 3 days ago

Origin

Wantage, NJ

Morning in Wantage on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakewood, NJ

Morning in Lakewood on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

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

2h 28m 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 Wantage, NJ to Lakewood, NJ covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 23, US Highway 9, Garden State Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50 miles from Wantage, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.55 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 15 significant decision points across 100 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 2.8 miles (CR 565 / Glenwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (NJ 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.8 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Wantage, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton and Gsp Toll South.

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