Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
56.5 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Island Heights, NJ
Aisling Kerr
The drive from Edison, NJ to Island Heights, NJ covers 56.5 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Route 37 East, I 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.4 mi | 53m |
| Route 37 East | 3 mi | 4m |
| I 287 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| NJ 440 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Island Heights, NJ.
Start on this road
Continue on Reed Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 529
Turn left onto NJ 27
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 287
Continue on NJ 440
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 37
Continue on NJ 37
Turn right onto (627)
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Edison, 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 2.7 and 52.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 287
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.71 one way
$19.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $10.65 | $21.31 |
| premium | $5.13 | $11.40 | $22.81 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $13.27 | $26.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.72
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Edison on Saturday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Island Heights on Saturday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly 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.
56.5 mi in 1h 13m, mostly highway — 45.4 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Route 37 East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 287.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.7 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
361 ft
Total Descent
420 ft
Highest Point
230 ft
~20.2 mi in
Elevation Range
221 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Edison, NJ and Island Heights, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Island Beach State Park.
Gsp South
Island Beach State Park
Founded 1651
Edison is a city in Middlesex, New Jersey. The city is named after Thomas Alva Edison who carried out most of his life's work, including the invention of the phonograph and the lightbulb, here. Menlo Park, where Edison's laboratories were located has a Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum honoring him. The town of Edison now has a large concentration of Asians, and Oak Tree Road in Edison is the place to visit if you are looking for Indian food or Indian stores.
Top landmarks
Founded 1887
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 56.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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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