Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
62.5 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Beach, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the Northeast, this 62.5-mile journey from Long Beach to Middletown is a highly efficient choice. You can easily complete the drive in about 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budget approximately $10 for fuel to cover the distance, which primarily relies on the Garden State Parkway. Because the route is compact, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever suits you best. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that keeps you moving through the New Jersey landscape without unnecessary detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 48.4 mi | 56m |
| Manahawkin Bay Bridge | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| North Central Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Long Beach Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Holland Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Van Schoick Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 8th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Red Hill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto CR 607
Turn slight right
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 89
Turn right onto NJ 72
Continue on NJ 72
Continue on NJ 72
Take the exit
Continue on GSP Northbound entrance ramp
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 52
Continue on CR 52
Turn right onto Holland Road
Turn left onto Red Hill Road
Turn right onto Kings Highway
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.3 miles from Long Beach, 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 0.1 and 59.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto CR 607 / Long Beach Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 89 / North Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NJ 72 / West 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Holmdel, Middletown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.36 one way
$20.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.35 | $22.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.12 | $24.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$10
Total
$20
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Destination
Morning in Middletown on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
61°F
Maple Shade, NJ
31 mi in
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
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 77% of this route is dedicated to high-speed travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a 48.4-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. Navigating the Manahawkin Bay Bridge and North Central Avenue rounds out the remainder of the commute. The transition from the coast toward Middletown is consistent, offering a steady pace rather than technical, winding backroads. You will find that the personality of this drive is functional and direct, designed for those who want to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Manahawkin Bay Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 607 / Long Beach Boulevard.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (CR 607 / Long Beach Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (CR 89 / North Central Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NJ 72 / West 8th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Beach, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Manahawkin, Gsp Toll North, Gsp North and Holmdel.
Manahawkin
Gsp Toll North
Gsp North
Holmdel
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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