This 106.2-mile drive from Brick, NJ to Sussex, NJ takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll primarily be on the Garden State Parkway and NJ 23, with US 46 also playing a role. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $18. Given its highway-focused profile, this route offers a straightforward way to travel between two points within the Northeast region of New Jersey. It’s an efficient option if you're looking to cover ground without extensive detours, allowing for a full day at your destination or a leisurely return.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Brick, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
63.4 mi
1h 20m
NJ 23
34.4 mi
47m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Cedar Bridge Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
State Route 3
0.9 mi
1m
Brick Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 63.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brick, NJ and Sussex, 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
50 mi·1 hr 5 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 153BToward NJ 3 West: WayneUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi·1 min·State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
3.7 mi·4 min·US 46
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
12
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi·5 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on NJ 23
30 mi·41 min·NJ 23
Use the right lane.
14
Turn straight onto CR 643
0.1 mi·19 sec·Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
CR 643
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 20-minute drive, leaving early in the morning is a good strategy to avoid potential traffic, especially on the Garden State Parkway. Since it's a relatively short trip of 106.2 miles and best suited for a single day, you have flexibility with stops. Plan for one fuel stop if needed, though the $18 fuel cost suggests it might be manageable on a single tank depending on your vehicle. Keep an eye out for transitions between the Garden State Parkway, NJ 23, and US 46, as these can sometimes involve changes in speed limits or traffic patterns.
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 53.1 miles from Brick, NJ, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.4 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 8m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sussex, 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.
+
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 Brick, NJ
This is one driving day of about 106.2 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 63.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 71.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m 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.
7
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
5
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water G...
5
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|NJ 23
Merge onto NJ 23
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.61 one way
$35.21 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.28
$38.57
premium
$4.93
$20.60
$41.19
diesel
$5.61
$23.45
$46.90
Estimated Tolls: $3.81
Garden State Parkway
(63.4 mi)$3.81
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
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 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
31.9
0
$11.15
$5.10
Efficient EV
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
EV Truck/SUV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
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 16, 2026
Origin
Brick, NJ
Afternoon
in Brick on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sussex, NJ
Afternoon
in Sussex on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
7 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 20m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 69.6
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 51.3
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 25.6
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
~46 min detour
$10
near mile 106.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 106.2-mile route, with 96% of the journey taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 63.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway. This means you'll be dealing with consistent speeds and a high-speed environment for most of your travel. While the exact terrain isn't specified, a highway-focused profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency rather than winding country roads, allowing you to maintain momentum as you head north.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 23. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 106.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 2.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (NJ 3 / State Route 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sussex, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 106.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.81 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.
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 Sussex, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (NJ 3 / State Route 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (5 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 Sussex, NJ before heading back.
