Lakewood, NJ to Butler, NJ is 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 44m via Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily within New Jersey. Expect a route that is predominantly highway driving, making for a straightforward and efficient transit between these two points. It's a good option if you need to get from one area to the other without much fuss or a lengthy time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.2 miles from Lakewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
29.5 mi
41m
US Highway 9
26 mi
38m
NJ 23
6.9 mi
8m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
CR 511 ALT
1 mi
1m
Madison Avenue
1 mi
1m
Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 29.5 mi, about 41m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,419 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~317 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 46 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Butler, NJ.
1
Start on 8th Street
46 ft·4 sec·8th Street
2
Turn right onto US 9; CR 547
1.0 mi·1 min·Madison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 9
26 mi·38 min·US Highway 9
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
5
Merge onto GSP
29 mi·41 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 153BToward NJ 3 West: WayneUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi·1 min·State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 46
3.7 mi·4 min·US 46
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
10
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi·5 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on NJ 23
2.3 mi·2 min·NJ 23
Use the right lane.
12
Take the exit onto CR 511 ALT
1.0 mi·1 min·CR 511 ALT
Toward CR 511 Alt
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 694
1.0 mi·1 min·Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 694
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Continue on CR 511
0.5 mi·58 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1h 44m, this route is easily completed in a single day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the worst of morning rush hour traffic. With only 72.4 miles, you likely won't need extensive stops, but there are opportunities to pull over on the Garden State Parkway if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $12, and plan to fill up before you get too low, especially if you're not familiar with gas station locations along US Highway 9.
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 36.2 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.5 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 54m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Butler, 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 72.4 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 29.5 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 70.3 — 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 right onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
27.4 mi into trip|~42m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
56.9 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
5
57.6 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|CR 694 / Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
At end of road, turn left onto CR 694 / Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.61 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.02
$28.05
premium
$5.24
$14.95
$29.89
diesel
$5.35
$15.25
$30.50
Estimated Tolls: $1.84
Garden State Parkway
(29.5 mi)$1.77
Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.34
$2.90
EV Truck/SUV
29
0
$10.14
$4.63
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Night
in Lakewood on Wednesday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Butler, NJ
Night
in Butler on Wednesday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph6% chanceLive 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
5 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 44m on the road
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.
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...
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...
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 42.4
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 47.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 95% of this 72.4-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the Garden State Parkway measures 29.5 miles. The route transitions to surface roads like NJ 23 as you approach your destination, so be prepared for more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits after a significant period of highway cruising.
95% 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: 29.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 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 (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m 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 29.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.84 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 12 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 Butler, 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 (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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 Butler, NJ before heading back.
