Traveling from the shore town of Ship Bottom to the urban landscape of Jersey City covers 92.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 59 minutes. This straightforward, highway-focused trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at around $15, the route is an affordable way to transition from the coastal environment of the Jersey Shore to the metropolitan Northeast corridor. Because you are staying within New Jersey for the entire journey, the transition between these two regions is seamless. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing, making it ideal if your main goal is reaching your destination as quickly as possible.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.3 miles from Ship Bottom, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
64.3 mi
1h 16m
New Jersey Turnpike
14 mi
17m
Manahawkin Bay Bridge
6.4 mi
9m
Lincoln Highway
1.5 mi
2m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
1.1 mi
1m
US 1 Truck
0.7 mi
1m
Long Beach Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 64.3 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ship Bottom, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on East 19th Street
196 ft·10 sec·East 19th Street
2
Turn right onto CR 607
0.5 mi·1 min·Long Beach Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
423 ft·11 sec
Toward NJ 72 West: Manahawkin
4
Merge onto NJ 72
0.4 mi·43 sec·West 8th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on NJ 72
154 ft·3 sec·West 8th Street
Toward Manahawkin
6
Continue on NJ 72
6.4 mi·9 min·Manahawkin Bay Bridge
Toward Manahawkin
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward GSP Toll NorthUse the right lane.
8
Continue on GSP Northbound entrance ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec·GSP Northbound entrance ramp
Toward GSP North
9
Merge onto GSP
39 mi·46 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
11
Continue on GSP
25 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 129Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
15
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
17
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
14 mi·17 min·New Jersey Turnpike
18
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
1.1 mi·1 min·New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 15EToward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
322 ft·7 sec
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
22
Merge onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
1.5 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.7 mi·1 min·US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck NorthUse the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·Duncan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto Olean Avenue
316 ft·13 sec·Olean Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. However, given that the majority of the route relies on the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, aim to avoid peak rush hours to ensure you maintain that two-hour travel time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Ship Bottom to ensure you don't need to detour for gas while on the turnpike. Use the Manahawkin Bay Bridge as your mental marker for the start of the drive, and stay alert as you transition between the Parkway and the Turnpike, as these roads often see high volumes of traffic. Taking this trip in one go is easy, so pack your essentials and enjoy the direct path north.
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 46.3 miles from Ship Bottom, NJ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.3 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.3 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jersey City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ship Bottom, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ship Bottom, NJ
This is one driving day of about 92.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Ship Bottom, 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 64.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.6 and 91.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
8
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey City
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 15E
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newa...
8
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jers...
7
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jers...
7
91.5 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.37 one way
$30.74 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$16.83
$33.66
premium
$4.93
$17.98
$35.96
diesel
$5.61
$20.47
$40.93
Estimated Tolls: $12.96
Bay Bridge
$7.00
Garden State Parkway
(64.3 mi)$3.85
New Jersey Turnpike
(15.1 mi)$2.11
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
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 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
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
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 15, 2026
Origin
Ship Bottom, NJ
Night
in Ship Bottom on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jersey City, NJ
Night
in Jersey City on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 89.5
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 92.7
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 79.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed journey, as 86% of this trip is comprised of major highways. Your drive begins with the Manahawkin Bay Bridge before you merge onto the Garden State Parkway for a significant 64.3-mile stretch, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. You will eventually transition onto the New Jersey Turnpike to complete the final leg of the trek. This is very much an interstate-focused experience, characterized by steady speeds and consistent traffic patterns rather than the winding, technical roads found in rural areas. While the drive is functional and direct, be prepared for the typical rhythm of heavy-duty commuter arteries that define this part of the Northeast.
86% 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: 64.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 72.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
216 ft5 ft
Total Climb
483 ft
Total Descent
456 ft
Highest Point
216 ft
~59.6 mi in
Elevation Range
211 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ship Bottom, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Gsp North, Njtp: New York City, Trenton and Njtp North: New York City.
Gsp Toll North
7.4 mi in|~11m
Gsp North
7.7 mi in|~12m|via GSP Northbound entrance ramp
Njtp: New York City
72.6 mi in|~1h 29m
Trenton
72.6 mi in|~1h 29m
Njtp North: New York City
73.6 mi in|~1h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 92.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.96 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. 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 Jersey City, 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: at 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Jersey City, NJ before heading back.
