Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 2m
Distance
94.6 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Camden, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Garfield, NJ
C. M.
Camden, NJ to Garfield, NJ is 94.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m via New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, making it a straightforward local excursion. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's ideal for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect consistent travel speeds. This route offers a practical way to get from one part of New Jersey to another without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Camden, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 66.5 mi | 1h 17m |
| NJ 21 | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| Kaighns Avenue | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| NJ 73 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| NJ-73 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Baird Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Camden, NJ and Garfield, NJ.
Start on CR 551
Turn right onto Atlantic Avenue
Turn left
Turn slight right
Keep slight right at fork onto South 8th Street
Turn right onto CR 607
Turn left onto CR 608
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 30
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on NJ 38
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 38
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ-73
Continue on NJ 73
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJTP
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 81
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
Take the exit
Turn right onto Ackerman Avenue
Continue on Outwater Lane
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Since this is a 2-hour drive that can easily be completed in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning, perhaps after the initial rush hour, could offer a smoother start. The longest continuous stretch is 66.5 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so plan for a brief stop around that mark if you prefer to break up the driving. Fuel costs are estimated at $16, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you begin. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially on the New Jersey Turnpike, as it can be a busy corridor.
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.
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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garfield, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Camden, 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 Camden, NJ
This is one driving day of about 94.6 miles and 2h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.3 miles from Camden, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New Jersey Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 93.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 38 / Kaighns Avenue toward Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Shopping Malls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Ackerman Avenue, Botany Village, Garfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$16.26 one way
$32.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $17.84 | $35.68 |
| premium | $5.13 | $19.10 | $38.19 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $22.22 | $44.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.30
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
$16
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.28 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.24 | $6.05 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Camden on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Garfield on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is largely highway, with 88% of the route on major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike. You'll experience a long stretch of 66.5 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike before transitioning to NJ 21 and Kaighns Avenue. Expect a considerable number of exits and merges as you navigate these busy arteries, especially as you approach urban areas. The profile is mostly highway, so be prepared for steady cruising punctuated by traffic flow changes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near NJ 38 / Kaighns Avenue.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 94.6 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 3 miles (NJ 38 / Kaighns Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
153 ft
Total Descent
128 ft
Highest Point
125 ft
~40.6 mi in
Elevation Range
120 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Camden, NJ and Garfield, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport and Downtown.
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
Njtp North: New York
Newark Airport
Elizabeth Seaport
Downtown
Founded 1626
Camden is a city in Camden County, New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times. Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well worth the trip.
Top landmarks
Bergen County is in the Gateway region at the northeastern corner of New Jersey. Bergen County and its many inner suburbs constitute a highly developed part of the New York City metropolitan area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 94.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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