Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lakehurst, NJ
Malcolm Garret
The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Lakehurst, NJ covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 9, North Hope Chapel Road, New Jersey Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.1 miles on US Highway 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 9 | 24.1 mi | 35m |
| North Hope Chapel Road | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Kent Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Lakehurst, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
Continue on NJ 439
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
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
Turn slight right onto Kent Road
Turn right onto CR 526
Turn left onto CR 639
Continue on CR 547
Continue on CR 547
Turn left onto NJ 70
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Elizabeth, 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 2.6 and 16.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
$8.55 one way
$17.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $9.42 | $18.83 |
| premium | $5.01 | $10.10 | $20.21 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.29 | $22.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.22
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Elizabeth on Friday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Lakehurst on Friday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
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.
51.2 mi in 1h 18m, mostly highway — 24.1 mi of that is on US Highway 9.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and North Hope Chapel Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
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 19 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 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; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
265 ft
Total Descent
220 ft
Highest Point
146 ft
~32.9 mi in
Elevation Range
137 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Lakehurst, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.
Njtp South: Trenton
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
Founded 1665
Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Founded 1921
Lakehurst, completely surrounded by Manchester Township, is 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 18m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). 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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