Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
60.4 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Seaside Heights, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Seaside Heights, NJ covers 60.4 miles and takes about 1h 26m 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, New Jersey Turnpike, West Central Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 30.3 mi | 35m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| West Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Ocean Avenue | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| NJ 35 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| NJ 34 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Anna O Hankins Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Seaside Heights, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 34
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
Continue on NJ 34
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on West Central Avenue
Turn left onto CR 20
Continue on Ocean Terrace
Turn right onto CR 4
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.2 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 42.5 — 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 NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $11.39 | $22.78 |
| premium | $5.13 | $12.19 | $24.38 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $14.19 | $28.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.78
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
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Seaside Heights on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Partly Sunny
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.
60.4 mi in 1h 26m, mostly highway — 30.3 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.
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 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 60.4 miles you will encounter 21 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
278 ft
Total Descent
292 ft
Highest Point
172 ft
~25.9 mi in
Elevation Range
168 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Seaside Heights, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South, Perth Amboy and Trenton.
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
Trenton
Founded 1665
Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Founded 1913
Seaside Heights is a borough with almost 3,000 residents (2019) in the New Jersey Shore region. Seaside Heights is a beach town on a barrier island that faces the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Barnegat Bay on the west. It is connected to the mainland community of Toms River via the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge (New Jersey Route 37) over the bay. Seaside Park, directly to the south on the same island, is also covered in this article.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 60.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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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