Lakewood, NJ to Avalon, NJ is 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 42m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the state of New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on a well-maintained highway, making it a quick and efficient trip. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. Plan for a smooth journey with minimal complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
70.1 mi
1h 21m
Lakewood Road
4 mi
6m
Avalon Boulevard
3.4 mi
5m
River Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Madison Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Ocean Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
US 9
0.3 mi
<1m
GSP SB Exit 13
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Avalon, NJ.
1
Start on 8th Street
46 ft·7 sec·8th Street
2
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547
0.9 mi·1 min·Madison Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 9
2.6 mi·4 min·River Avenue
4
Continue on US 9
4.0 mi·6 min·Lakewood Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 9
0.3 mi·24 sec·US 9
Toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden State Parkway
6
Merge onto GSP; US 9
70 mi·1 hr 21 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto GSP SB Exit 13
0.2 mi·30 sec·GSP SB Exit 13
Exit 13Toward Swainton, AvalonUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 601
3.4 mi·5 min·Avalon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto CR 619; OD
0.4 mi·39 sec·Ocean Drive
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto West 22nd Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·West 22nd Street
11
Turn left onto Dune Drive
332 ft·16 sec·Dune Drive
12
Turn right onto West 21st Street
98 ft·4 sec·West 21st Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 21st Street
Trip Plan
For this 1h 42m drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding departure time. Leaving Lakewood, NJ any time of day should allow you to reach Avalon, NJ well before dark. Since it's a single-day trip with no recommended stops, consider a single fuel stop along the Garden State Parkway if your tank is low, especially given the $14 estimated fuel cost. Keep an eye on your GPS for any unexpected traffic, though this route is generally predictable. A specific tip: familiarize yourself with the Garden State Parkway's toll system before you depart to ensure a seamless journey.
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 41.1 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avalon, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakewood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 82.2 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lakewood, 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 70.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7.6 mi into trip|~13m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden State Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Garden S...
5
7.8 mi into trip|~13m in|GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|GSP SB Exit 13
Take the exit onto GSP SB Exit 13 toward Swainton, Avalon
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 13
Toward Swainton, Avalon
6
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|CR 601 / Avalon Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 601 / Avalon Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.63 one way
$27.26 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.93
$29.85
premium
$4.93
$15.94
$31.88
diesel
$5.61
$18.15
$36.30
Estimated Tolls: $4.21
Garden State Parkway
(70.1 mi)$4.21
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
$14
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.19
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Lakewood, NJ
Afternoon
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avalon, NJ
Afternoon
in Avalon on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Bass River, NJ
41 mi in
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
15 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 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive utilizing major roadways like the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent driving experience for extended periods, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway. The profile suggests a straightforward path, likely characterized by higher speed limits and less varied scenery. As you progress, the transition will likely be marked by changes in exit numbers and potentially the surrounding landscape, but the core driving environment remains highway-centric.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.1 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lakewood Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 82.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakewood, NJ and Avalon, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Swainton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 82.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.21 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. 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 (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Avalon, NJ before heading back.
