Hamilton, NJ to Park Ridge, NJ is 71.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward transit between these two points. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, it’s a good option for a quick trip, whether for business or leisure, with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.6 miles from Hamilton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
65.4 mi
1h 25m
Pascack Road
1.3 mi
3m
Werimus Road
1.2 mi
2m
Woodcliff Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
NJ 33
0.6 mi
1m
Van Emburgh Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Washington Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Old Corlies Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 65.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, NJ and Park Ridge, NJ.
1
Start on Gully Road
155 ft·5 sec·Gully Road
2
Turn left onto (17)
0.2 mi·33 sec·Old Corlies Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 33
0.6 mi·1 min·NJ 33
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Merge onto GSP
2.4 mi·2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
63 mi·1 hr 22 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 168Toward CR 502: Washington, WestwoodUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
114 ft·10 sec
Toward CR 502 West: Ho-Ho-KusUse the left lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 502
0.2 mi·29 sec·Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 71
0.5 mi·50 sec·Van Emburgh Avenue
12
Continue on CR 71; CR 112
0.5 mi·53 sec·Werimus Road
13
Continue on CR 71
0.7 mi·1 min·Werimus Road
14
Turn right onto CR 90
0.9 mi·1 min·Woodcliff Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 63
1.3 mi·3 min·Pascack Road
16
Arrive at destination
CR 63
Trip Plan
Given this route's 1h 36m duration, it's easily manageable in a single day. Aim to leave after the morning rush hour to avoid significant congestion, especially on the Garden State Parkway. With only 71.2 miles, you won't need many stops, but plan for a brief break around the halfway point if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart. Pay close attention to the exit numbers as you get closer to Park Ridge, as the Garden State Parkway can have many exits in quick succession.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.6 miles from Hamilton, NJ, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.4 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.6 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park Ridge, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hamilton, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hamilton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 71.2 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Hamilton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 65.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|(17) / Old Corlies Avenue
Turn left onto (17) / Old Corlies Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
67 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward CR 502: Washington, Westwood
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 168
Toward CR 502: Washington, Westwood
8
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 502 West: Ho-Ho-Kus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 502 West: Ho-Ho-Kus
7
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|CR 502 / Washington Avenue
Turn left onto CR 502 / Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.80 one way
$23.61 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.93
$25.86
premium
$4.93
$13.81
$27.62
diesel
$5.61
$15.72
$31.44
Estimated Tolls: $3.92
Garden State Parkway
(65.4 mi)$3.92
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
EV Truck/SUV
28.5
0
$9.97
$4.56
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hamilton, NJ
Morning
in Hamilton on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Park Ridge, NJ
Morning
in Park Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
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
12 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
1h 36m 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.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 56.5
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 39.3
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 14.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 93% of the 71.2 miles on elevated roads. You'll spend the longest stretch, 65.4 miles, on the Garden State Parkway. The transition to surface roads like Pascack Road and Werimus Road happens towards the end of your drive, marking the shift from high-speed cruising to more localized travel. Expect a lot of exits and potential merging as you navigate the latter part of the route.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Pascack Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near (17) / Old Corlies Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start ((17) / Old Corlies Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67 miles: 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 Hamilton, NJ and Park Ridge, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 502: Washington, Westwood and Cr 502 West: Ho-Ho-Kus.
Cr 502: Washington
67 mi in|~1h 27m
Westwood
67 mi in|~1h 27m
Cr 502 West: Ho-Ho-Kus
67.2 mi in|~1h 28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.92 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.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Park Ridge, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start ((17) / Old Corlies Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown 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 Park Ridge, NJ before heading back.
