Origin
Country Lake Estates, NJ
Morning in Country Lake Estates on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Country Lake Estates, NJ to Middletown, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Country Lake Estates, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Country Lake Estates, NJ to Middletown, NJ is 51.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via the Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within New Jersey, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a quick, no-fuss journey. Given its relatively short duration and minimal stops, it's an ideal option for a day trip or a quick commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 22.6 mi | 26m |
| NJ 70 | 17.2 mi | 24m |
| Lakehurst Circle | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Spring Lake Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Holland Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Van Schoick Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Red Hill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kings Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 22.6 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Country Lake Estates, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
1
Start on Spring Lake Boulevard
60 ft
·
7 sec
·
Spring Lake Boulevard
2
Continue on Spring Lake Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Spring Lake Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 70
13 mi
·
17 min
·
NJ 70
4
Enter roundabout onto NJ 70
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
NJ 70
Toward NJ 70 East: Joint Base MDL Lakehurst, Toms River, Brick
5
Continue on NJ 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 70
Toward NJ 70 East: Joint Base MDL Lakehurst, Toms River, Brick
6
Continue on NJ 70
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
NJ 70
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 70
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Lakehurst Circle
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NJ 70
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 70
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Woodbridge
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward GSP North, CR 528: Lakewood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto GSP
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto GSP
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Garden State Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 114
Toward Holmdel, Middletown
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 52
440 ft
·
11 sec
·
Red Hill Road
18
Continue on CR 52
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Schoick Road
19
Turn right onto Holland Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Holland Road
20
Turn left onto Red Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Red Hill Road
21
Turn right onto Kings Highway
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Kings Highway
22
Arrive at destination
CR 50
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Country Lake Estates, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 14.1 and 48 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
NJ 70
Enter roundabout onto NJ 70 toward NJ 70 East: Joint Base MDL Lakehurst, Toms River, Brick
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 70 East: Joint Base MDL Lakehurst, To...
6
15.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
NJ 70 / Lakehurst Circle
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 70 / Lakehurst Circle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North, CR 528: Lakewood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP North, CR 528: Lakewood
7
24.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP North
8
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Holmdel, Middletown
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 114
Toward Holmdel, Middletown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.93 | $19.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.36
Garden State Parkway
(22.6 mi)
$1.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Middletown, NJ
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.6 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience, primarily on well-maintained parkways and major roads like NJ 70. The route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower local roads.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 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 NJ 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.1 miles in near NJ 70.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 14.1 miles (NJ 70): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (NJ 70 / Lakehurst Circle): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Country Lake Estates, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Toms River, Brick, Gsp Toll North: Woodbridge, Gsp North, Cr 528: Lakewood and Holmdel.
Toms River
14.1 mi in
|
~20m
|
via NJ 70
Brick
14.1 mi in
|
~20m
|
via NJ 70
Gsp Toll North: Woodbridge
23.5 mi in
|
~35m
Gsp North
24.1 mi in
|
~36m
Cr 528: Lakewood
24.1 mi in
|
~36m
Holmdel
48 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.36 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 Middletown, 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 14.1 miles (NJ 70): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (NJ 70 / Lakehurst Circle): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. 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 Middletown, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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