Lakewood, NJ to Hawthorne, NJ is 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 36m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's a practical option for a quick transit or a short hop. You'll be spending most of your time on well-maintained parkways and highways. This route is ideal for those prioritizing speed and efficiency over a leisurely scenic journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.3 miles from Lakewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
31.2 mi
43m
US Highway 9
26 mi
38m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Madison Avenue
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Wagaraw Road
0.6 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Lafayette Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 31.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Hawthorne, 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
31 mi·43 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CR 509
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto River Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·River Street
13
Turn left onto CR 650
0.1 mi·14 sec·CR 650
14
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.6 mi·52 sec·East Main Street
15
Continue on CR 504
0.2 mi·21 sec·Goffle Road
16
Turn slight right onto CR 504
0.6 mi·58 sec·Wagaraw Road
17
Turn left onto CR 665
0.5 mi·1 min·Lafayette Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto CR 654
419 ft·16 sec·Diamond Bridge Avenue
19
Turn left onto Royal Avenue
76 ft·3 sec·Royal Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Royal Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of under two hours, this is a trip you can easily complete in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving during off-peak hours to minimize potential traffic delays on the Garden State Parkway. Given the $11 fuel cost, you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to top off before you leave Lakewood. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto NJ 19 as you near Hawthorne, as this is a key point in the route.
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 32.3 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.2 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 49m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hawthorne, 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 64.6 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 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 31.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.1 — 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 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
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
61 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Grand Street
7
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.73
$23.46
premium
$4.93
$12.53
$25.06
diesel
$5.61
$14.26
$28.53
Estimated Tolls: $1.87
Garden State Parkway
(31.2 mi)$1.87
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
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
Efficient EV
16.2
0
$5.65
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.04
$4.13
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hawthorne, NJ
Morning
in Hawthorne on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
24 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 62.3
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 42.3
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 46.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is 91% highway, meaning you'll be on fast-paced roads for the majority of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.2 miles on the Garden State Parkway. This highway-focused profile suggests a consistent driving experience with limited need to navigate complex local roads. The drive will likely feel efficient, with traffic patterns typical of major New Jersey thoroughfares. You'll transition smoothly between the Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9, and finally NJ 19.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Lakewood, NJ to Hawthorne, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Del Water Gap along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 64.6 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 (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.87 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 Hawthorne, 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 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hawthorne, NJ before heading back.
