Camden, NJ to Wildwood Crest, NJ is 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Jersey, connecting the Northeast region of the state to the southern coast. Expect a local feel for most of the trip, with a moderate amount of highway driving. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a single-day excursion, offering a relatively quick transition from inland areas to the shore.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Camden, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
40.5 mi
47m
New Stage Road
5.8 mi
9m
Court House South Dennis Road
5.8 mi
9m
Garden State Parkway
5.4 mi
6m
North-South Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
North Delsea Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Delsea Drive
2.9 mi
4m
East Creek Mill Road
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 40.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camden, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ.
1
Start on CR 551
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
2
Turn left onto Morgan Street
328 ft·6 sec·Morgan Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 676 South, NJTP: Walt Whitman Bridge, Atlantic CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 676
4.3 mi·5 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 55
41 mi·47 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward NJ 55 South: Glassboro, VinelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
Given the relatively short duration of 1h 45m, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows you to maximize your time at your destination. While no specific stops are data-indicated, plan for a brief break if needed, especially during the 40.5-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $13 budget suggests a straightforward fill-up. Since this is a single-day drive, you won't need overnight planning.
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 39 miles from Camden, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.5 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 39 miles or 47m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wildwood Crest, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Camden, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Camden, NJ
This is one driving day of about 77.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Camden, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 40.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 73.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 676 South, NJTP: Walt Whitman Bridge, Atlantic City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 676 South, NJTP: Walt Whitman Bridge,...
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|I 676 / North-South Freeway
Merge onto I 676 / North-South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
5.5 mi into trip|~8m in|NJ 55 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 55 / Veterans Memorial Highway toward NJ 55 South: Glassboro, Vineland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 55 South: Glassboro, Vineland
5
68.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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.
6
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward NJ 47 South: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
$13
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Camden, NJ
Morning
in Camden on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Morning
in Wildwood Crest on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Patchy Fog
NE 5 mph0% 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
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
1h 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by frequent turns, giving it a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. Only 13% of the drive is on highways, meaning you'll navigate a good number of local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 40.5 miles along Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you transition back to more varied road segments. The drive progresses through a mix of conditions, from faster highway sections to more winding local streets.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.5 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
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 77.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 676 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (NJ 55 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Camden, NJ and Wildwood Crest, NJ, road signs point toward Vineland and Gsp South.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.5 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.33 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 Wildwood Crest, 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 676 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (NJ 55 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wildwood Crest, NJ before heading back.
