Passaic, NJ to Ventnor City, NJ is 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 41m via the Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the southern part of the state. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a quick and efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Given the relatively short travel time, it's ideal for a same-day excursion or an easy start to a longer trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.1 miles from Passaic, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
109.9 mi
2h 12m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Tilton Road
2.4 mi
4m
Downbeach Express
1.8 mi
2m
Ventnor Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
Bloomfield Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Broadway
1 mi
1m
North Jerome Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 109.9 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and Ventnor City, NJ.
1
Start on Passaic Avenue
95 ft·7 sec·Passaic Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 618
0.2 mi·20 sec·Paulison Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 622
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
4
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi·17 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
5
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi·20 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
6
Continue on CR 622
0.6 mi·55 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
160 ft·2 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
8
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CR 622
411 ft·9 sec·Darling Avenue
10
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Passaic Avenue
11
Continue on CR 652
0.4 mi·50 sec·East Passaic Avenue
12
Turn right onto CR 655
0.2 mi·31 sec·Watchung Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
14
Merge onto GSP
20 mi·28 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
89 mi·1 hr 43 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 36Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate CityUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto CR 563
2.4 mi·4 min·Tilton Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Mill Road
21
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi·48 sec·Margate Boulevard
22
Continue on CR 563
1.8 mi·2 min·Downbeach Express
23
Continue on CR 563
0.8 mi·1 min·North Jerome Avenue
24
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD
1.7 mi·2 min·Ventnor Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Dorset Avenue
52 ft·2 sec·Dorset Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Dorset Avenue
Trip Plan
For this drive, leaving in the morning will put you at your destination with plenty of afternoon time. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 100 miles on the Garden State Parkway, so plan for your fuel needs accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Keep an eye out for the exit for Tilton Road, as it marks the final approach to Ventnor City.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Passaic, NJ, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 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 28 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ventnor City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Passaic, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Passaic, NJ
This is one driving day of about 128.2 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Passaic, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 109.9 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 126.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Turn right onto CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward GSP Toll South
6
30.9 mi into trip|~44m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
6
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.67 one way
$45.34 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$24.83
$49.66
premium
$5.24
$26.47
$52.94
diesel
$5.35
$27.00
$54.01
Estimated Tolls: $6.96
Garden State Parkway
(116.1 mi)$6.96
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
$23
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.46
$6.15
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
EV Truck/SUV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Passaic, NJ
Afternoon
in Passaic on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ventnor City, NJ
Afternoon
in Ventnor City on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph1% 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
1 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
2h 41m 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 17.7
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 44.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 91% of the drive spent on major roadways. You'll be on the Garden State Parkway for the longest stretch, covering 109.9 miles. The transition to surface roads like Tilton Road will occur near the end of your trip, signaling the approach to your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and entries along the Garden State Parkway for much of the drive.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.9 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 618 / Paulison Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.2 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 (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 30.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
154 ft7 ft
Total Climb
191 ft
Total Descent
295 ft
Highest Point
154 ft
~9.2 mi in
Elevation Range
147 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Passaic, NJ and Ventnor City, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 563: Northfield and Margate City.
Ventnor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey.
Ventnor is on the center of Absecon Island. This island consists of Ventnor, Margate, Longport and Atlantic City. Ventnor has a population of 9,900 of year-round locals (2019), and in summer the population grows to about 17,000. This small city is a summer town. The locals refer to the summer crowd as shoebies because the summer day travelers use to bring their lunch in a shoe box. Ventnor was founded in March 1903.
Ventnor's tourism slogan is "Shorely the best".
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m 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 109.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.96 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 14 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 Ventnor City, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 30.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Ventnor City, NJ before heading back.
