Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
82.2 mi
132 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elmer, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This 82.2-mile drive from Lakewood, NJ, to Elmer, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 47 minutes. Given its manageable length and duration, it's an ideal candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate on the New Jersey Turnpike and Veterans Memorial Highway, with about 60% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $14, making it an economical option. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road sections as you approach your destination in the Northeast region of New Jersey.
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 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 33.7 mi | 38m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 15 mi | 17m |
| Central Jersey Expressway | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| County Line Road | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Buck Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Harding Highway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| East Commodore Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| North-South Freeway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Elmer, NJ.
Start on 8th Street
Turn right onto US 9; CR 547
Turn left onto CR 526
Turn left onto CR 526; CR 638
Turn slight right onto CR 526
Turn right onto CR 527
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 195
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto NJ 168
Turn left onto CR 659
Turn slight left onto CR 753
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 42
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 55
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 553
Turn right onto US 40
Continue on US 40
Arrive at destination
For this relatively short 1 hour and 47-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can leave at your leisure, but aiming to depart after morning rush hour will ensure a smoother start. With no specific stops recommended, the journey is direct, and the $14 fuel cost is minimal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking, to avoid any unexpected detours for gas. A practical tip for this route: be aware of potential tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, as these can add to your overall travel time and cost if not accounted for.
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmer, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Lakewood, 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 23.2 and 61.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 Toll, NJTP: New York, Camden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 168 North: Camden, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 55 / Veterans Memorial Highway toward NJ 55 South: Glassboro, Vineland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.63 one way
$27.26 round trip
| 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: $4.72
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
$5
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Elmer on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
52°F
Bristol, PA
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
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
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, 60%, dedicated to highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a period of consistent speed. As you transition off the turnpike and onto Veterans Memorial Highway and the Central Jersey Expressway, the character of the drive will likely evolve. This blend means you'll experience periods of faster, more direct travel interspersed with sections that may require more attention to local road conditions and traffic patterns.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.2 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.2 miles you will encounter 20 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 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakewood, NJ and Elmer, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York, Camden, Njtp, Njtp South: Camden, Trucks-Buses-Cars and Wilmington - among others.
Njtp: New York
Camden
Njtp
Njtp South: Camden
Trucks-Buses-Cars
Wilmington
Philadelphia
Vineland
Cr 553: Clayton
Glassboro
Centerton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 82.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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