Brick to Mountain Lakes is 77.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via Garden State Parkway and NJ 24, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, specifically moving through New Jersey. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's ideal for a single-day journey. If you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without much fuss, this route is a practical choice. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on well-maintained parkways and interstates, making for an efficient transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Brick, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
52.1 mi
1h 4m
NJ 24
9.4 mi
11m
I 287
5.6 mi
7m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
Cedar Bridge Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Fanny Road
1 mi
1m
Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Brick Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 52.1 mi, about 1h 4m
Traffic on I-287
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~5,466 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,290
Quietest
3 AM
~301 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brick, NJ and Mountain Lakes, NJ.
1
Start on (631)
0.3 mi·38 sec·Brick Boulevard
2
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·15 sec
3
Turn slight right onto CR 528
1.1 mi·2 min·Cedar Bridge Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto GSP
13 mi·15 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
39 mi·49 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 142BToward I 78 West: SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 78
3.6 mi·4 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 48Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
11
Continue on NJ 24
9.4 mi·11 min·NJ 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Toward I 287 North: MahwahUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 287
5.6 mi·7 min·I 287
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 43Toward Intervale Road, Mountain LakesUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 202; CR 511
0.1 mi·13 sec·Intervale Road
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Fanny Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Fanny Road
17
Turn sharp left onto CR 618
0.6 mi·1 min·Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Glen Road
0.2 mi·54 sec·Glen Road
19
Arrive at destination
Glen Road
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 1 hour and 40-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning can help you avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas. With only one recommended day for this trip, you won't need to plan for overnight stops. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $13, but it's always wise to fill up before you start, especially since the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 50 miles. There are no specific stops listed, so plan any breaks you might need beforehand.
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 38.6 miles from Brick, NJ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.1 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 48m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mountain Lakes, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brick, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brick, NJ
This is one driving day of about 77.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Brick, 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 52.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.8 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142B
Toward I 78 West: Springfield
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 287 North: Mahwah
8
75 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Intervale Road, Mountain Lakes
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 43
Toward Intervale Road, Mountain Lakes
7
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 202; CR 511 / Intervale Road
Turn left onto US 202; CR 511 / Intervale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.64 one way
$27.27 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.93
$29.87
premium
$5.24
$15.92
$31.84
diesel
$5.35
$16.24
$32.48
Estimated Tolls: $3.13
Garden State Parkway
(52.1 mi)$3.13
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
$14
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.10
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.75
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.79
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Brick, NJ
Afternoon
in Brick on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Afternoon
in Mountain Lakes on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive 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
5 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
1h 40m 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.
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 69.1
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 74.5
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 26.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily focused on highways, with 92% of the journey taking place on them. You'll experience a significant stretch of 52.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent cruising experience. Expect a profile that is predominantly high-speed driving, transitioning smoothly between the parkway and subsequent interstates like NJ 24 and I-287. While largely a highway grind, it's designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration. The consistent road type means you can settle into a rhythm for much of the 77.1-mile trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.1 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.8 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 77.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
490 ft18 ft
Total Climb
814 ft
Total Descent
346 ft
Highest Point
490 ft
~77.1 mi in
Elevation Range
472 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brick, NJ to Mountain Lakes, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Morristown along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 77.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.13 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mountain Lakes, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mountain Lakes, NJ before heading back.
