Cape May to Elizabethport is 143.1 miles and takes about 2h 57m via Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey for its entirety. You'll primarily be on major parkways and turnpikes, making for a straightforward, high-speed transit. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, it's an efficient way to cover ground if you need to get from the southern tip of the state northward.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.6 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
128.3 mi
2h 30m
New Jersey Turnpike
6.4 mi
7m
Lafayette Street
1 mi
1m
Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
South 1st Street
0.6 mi
1m
3rd Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Atlantic Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Cole Place
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 128.3 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Elizabethport, NJ.
1
Start on this road
82 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto New York Avenue
104 ft·6 sec·New York Avenue
3
Turn right onto Reading Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·Reading Avenue
4
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
324 ft·19 sec·Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn left onto East Street
302 ft·15 sec·East Street
6
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD
102 ft·2 sec·Washington Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD
1.0 mi·1 min·Lafayette Street
9
Turn straight onto GSP
19 mi·22 min·Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway NorthUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
11
Merge onto GSP
34 mi·39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
25 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 129Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
20
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
6.4 mi·7 min·New Jersey Turnpike
21
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 13Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·25 sec
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
24
Turn right
142 ft·14 sec
Toward Goethals Bridge
25
Turn sharp right onto NJ 439
468 ft·9 sec·Brunswick Avenue
26
Continue on NJ 439
379 ft·14 sec·Brunswick Avenue
27
Continue on Cole Place
0.3 mi·40 sec·Cole Place
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Continue on Atlantic Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Atlantic Street
29
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
30
At end of road, turn left onto South 1st Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
31
Turn left onto Broadway
0.1 mi·28 sec·Broadway
32
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Leaving Cape May in the morning, perhaps after 9 AM, should help you avoid the earliest commuter traffic heading north. With a total drive time of under 3 hours, you could technically do this trip without a stop, but consider a brief break on the Garden State Parkway for fuel or a restroom. The $24 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Pay close attention to exit numbers and lane guidance on the New Jersey Turnpike as you near Elizabethport, as it can get busy.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.3 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethport, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cape May, 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 Cape May, NJ
This is one driving day of about 143.1 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cape May, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 128.3 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 139.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1 mi into trip|~3m in|NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
8
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.91 one way
$47.82 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$26.32
$52.63
premium
$5.01
$28.24
$56.47
diesel
$5.60
$31.54
$63.09
Estimated Tolls: $8.59
Garden State Parkway
(128.3 mi)$7.69
New Jersey Turnpike
(6.4 mi)$0.90
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
$24
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.9
0
$15.03
$6.87
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.52
$5.72
EV Truck/SUV
57.2
0
$20.03
$9.16
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 as of Aug 29, 2026
Origin
Cape May, NJ
Night
in Cape May on Saturday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Elizabethport, NJ
Night
in Elizabethport on Saturday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Clear
N 6 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
3 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 57m 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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$10
near mile 143.1
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 143.1
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 143.1
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 138.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 94% highway, so expect a lot of time on major thoroughfares. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 128.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway. You'll transition onto the New Jersey Turnpike, which will feel very different with its dense traffic and frequent exits as you approach the Elizabethport area. Keep an eye out for the increased urban merging as you get closer to your destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 143.1 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 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
119 ft7 ft
Total Climb
223 ft
Total Descent
212 ft
Highest Point
119 ft
~102.4 mi in
Elevation Range
112 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cape May, NJ and Elizabethport, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton and Njtp North: New York City.
Cape May is a resort town in the state of New Jersey, in the United States. It lies at the southernmost point in New Jersey, on the Cape May Peninsula, on the Atlantic Coast. "Cape May" may refer to the small city at the tip of the peninsula, the peninsula itself, or the county which extends about 33 miles northeast of Cape May city to Ocean City. On the other side of the Delaware Bay lies the state of Delaware.
Top landmarks
•Cape May Historic District — historic district in New Jersey, United States
•John B. McCreary House — Victorian building in Cape May, New Jersey
•Harriet Tubman Museum — museum in Cape May, New Jersey
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 143.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.59 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 Elizabethport, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area 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 Elizabethport, NJ before heading back.
