This 139.6-mile drive from Erma, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Garden State Parkway and US 9, with a small portion on Shore Road. Given that 95% of this trip is highway, it’s a straightforward journey. The estimated fuel cost is $23, making it an affordable option for a day trip within the Northeast region. This route is a solid choice if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two New Jersey points without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.8 miles from Erma, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
123 mi
2h 24m
US 9
9.2 mi
14m
Shore Road
2.3 mi
4m
Carlton Street
1.5 mi
2m
South Delsea Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East Edgar Road
0.7 mi
1m
East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 123 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erma, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on US 9
2.3 mi·4 min·Shore Road
2
Turn right onto NJ 47
0.7 mi·1 min·South Delsea Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 4Toward GSP Toll NorthUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto GSP
15 mi·17 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
6
Merge onto GSP
34 mi·39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
9
Continue on GSP
22 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto GSP
1.2 mi·2 min·Garden State Parkway
Exit 127Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 127Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 9 North: WoodbridgeUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto US 9
9.2 mi·14 min·US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi·1 min·East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi·2 min·Carlton Street
16
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
17
Turn right
383 ft·28 sec
18
Turn right
278 ft·22 sec
19
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Jersey Street
20
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under three hours, this drive is comfortably manageable in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a break is 123 miles on the Garden State Parkway, so plan for a stop around that mark to refuel or stretch your legs. Given the $23 fuel cost, it’s an economical trip, but always check your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway segments. Leaving early can help you avoid potential traffic, particularly as you approach Elizabeth.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Erma, NJ, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Erma, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erma, NJ
This is one driving day of about 139.6 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Erma, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 123 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 127.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|NJ 47 / South Delsea Drive
Turn right onto NJ 47 / South Delsea Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 4
Toward GSP Toll North
8
125.9 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Take the exit onto GSP / Garden State Parkway toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
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 127
Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridg...
9
127.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, S...
7
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.14 one way
$46.29 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$25.35
$50.70
premium
$4.93
$27.07
$54.15
diesel
$5.61
$30.82
$61.64
Estimated Tolls: $7.37
Garden State Parkway
(123 mi)$7.37
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Erma, NJ
Night
in Erma on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Night
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
$10
near mile 139.6
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 139.6
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 139.6
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 134.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 139.6-mile trip, with 95% of it on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Garden State Parkway, including one uninterrupted stretch of 123 miles. While the profile is mainly highway, the inclusion of US 9 and Shore Road might introduce brief moments of slightly slower, more local traffic, but the dominant feeling is one of steady, efficient travel. This route prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly over leisurely sightseeing.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123 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 US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near NJ 47 / South Delsea Drive.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 139.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (NJ 47 / South Delsea Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Erma, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Staten Island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 139.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.37 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 Elizabeth, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (NJ 47 / South Delsea Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Elizabeth, NJ before heading back.
