Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
50.8 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Newark, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This 50.8-mile drive from East Newark, NJ to Lakewood, NJ takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily be on US Highway 9, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway, with 86% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, making it an economical option. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this route is ideal for a quick excursion within the Northeast region, and no overnight stay is necessary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 9 | 25.9 mi | 38m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard North | 1 mi | 1m |
| Madison Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Van Buren Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Newark, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.
Start on Grant Avenue
Turn left onto Hamilton Street
Turn right onto CR 697
Continue on Jackson Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Turn right onto Van Buren Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1; US 9
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit onto Exit 11
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto US 9
Continue on US 9
Turn left onto 8th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from East Newark, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 23.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.42 one way
$16.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.22 | $18.45 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.85 | $19.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.92
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 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 | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in East Newark on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
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.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 50.8-mile journey. With 86% of the drive on major roadways, you'll encounter efficient travel for most of the 1 hour and 17 minutes. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 25.9 miles on US Highway 9. This segment offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover significant ground efficiently. The transition between the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and US Highway 9 will feel familiar to those accustomed to interstate travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Newark, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: Newark Airport, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike Toll, Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge and Gsp South - among others.
Njtp: Newark Airport
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike Toll
Njtp South: Trenton
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 50.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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