If you are planning a quick getaway from Lakewood to Wildwood, you can expect a straightforward trip covering 91.1 miles. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway to navigate the Northeast corridor, which keeps the journey efficient and predictable. With a fuel budget of approximately $15, this is a cost-effective route that allows you to spend more of your vacation fund on the beach. Since the entire drive stays within New Jersey, you won’t have to worry about crossing state lines or navigating complex regional transitions. It is a simple, no-fuss route that gets you from inland Lakewood to the coastal energy of Wildwood without any required overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.6 miles from Lakewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
77.4 mi
1h 29m
Lakewood Road
4 mi
6m
North Wildwood Boulevard
3.3 mi
5m
River Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
New Jersey Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Madison Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
West Spruce Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
West Anglesea Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Wildwood, 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
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 6Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, WhitesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto NJ 147
3.3 mi·5 min·North Wildwood Boulevard
9
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Spruce Avenue
10
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Anglesea Drive
11
Continue on CR 621; OD
1.5 mi·2 min·New Jersey Avenue
12
Turn right onto West Wildwood Avenue
142 ft·11 sec·West Wildwood Avenue
13
Turn left
38 ft·2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule best. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the 91.1-mile path, but it is wise to ensure your tank is ready for the $15 fuel cost before heading out. Keep in mind that since the Garden State Parkway accounts for the longest stretch of your drive, traffic flow can be heavy during peak travel times. Monitor local traffic reports for the Parkway, as even minor delays can impact your 1 hour and 53 minute estimate. By staying focused on the transition from the Parkway to North Wildwood Boulevard, you can ensure a smooth arrival at your destination.
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 45.6 miles from Lakewood, NJ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.6 miles or 57m 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 Wildwood, 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 91.1 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 77.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 91.1 — 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
85.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
4
91.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.10 one way
$30.21 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$16.54
$33.08
premium
$4.93
$17.67
$35.34
diesel
$5.61
$20.11
$40.23
Estimated Tolls: $4.64
Garden State Parkway
(77.4 mi)$4.64
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
$15
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.3
0
$9.57
$4.37
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
EV Truck/SUV
36.4
0
$12.75
$5.83
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Morning
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wildwood, NJ
Morning
in Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Bass River, NJ
46 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
22 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 53m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 85% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will find that the backbone of your journey is a 77.4-mile stretch along the Garden State Parkway, which allows for consistent speeds and fewer interruptions. As you exit the Parkway, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto Lakewood Road and eventually North Wildwood Boulevard. While the majority of the drive feels like an interstate grind, the final segments bring you closer to the coastal environment. Expect a steady, functional driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic backroads.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lakewood Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lakewood, NJ to Wildwood, NJ is easy. At 1h 53m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 Wildwood, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Whitesboro.
Wildwood is on the Southern Shore of New Jersey. It is primarily a resort town whose population swells in the summer months (June - August) with vacationers coming mainly from New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Quebec. There are also a significant number of seasonal workers from Pennsylvania, Ireland and Eastern Europe. Together with the small bordering towns of North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, Wildwood is often called "the Wildwoods."
The longest stretch is about 77.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.64 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 Wildwood, NJ before heading back.
