If you are planning to travel from the Jersey Shore to the Hamilton area, this 73.9-mile trip is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes. Because it is a short, highway-focused drive, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $12 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. Navigating this route is efficient, as it relies heavily on major thoroughfares to move you across the state. It is an ideal option for travelers who prefer a direct, no-nonsense path rather than a scenic, time-consuming detour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from Ventnor City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
64.5 mi
1h 15m
Tilton Road
2.1 mi
3m
Downbeach Express
1.8 mi
2m
Ventnor Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
North Jerome Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Margate Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
East Mill Road
0.5 mi
<1m
NJ 33
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ventnor City, NJ and Hamilton, NJ.
1
Start on Dorset Avenue
52 ft·9 sec·Dorset Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 629; OD
1.7 mi·2 min·Ventnor Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 563
0.8 mi·1 min·North Jerome Avenue
4
Continue on CR 563
1.8 mi·2 min·Downbeach Express
5
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi·48 sec·Margate Boulevard
6
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Mill Road
7
Turn slight right onto CR 563
2.1 mi·3 min·Tilton Road
Use the slight right / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CR 651
0.4 mi·54 sec·Fire Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 40; US 322
0.2 mi·19 sec·Black Horse Pike
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
11
Merge onto GSP
17 mi·19 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
47 mi·55 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 100AToward NJ 33 East: Ocean Grove, Bradley BeachUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto NJ 33
0.5 mi·58 sec·NJ 33
15
Turn right onto (17)
0.2 mi·31 sec·Old Corlies Avenue
16
Turn right onto Gully Road
155 ft·4 sec·Gully Road
17
Arrive at destination
Gully Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1.5-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak traffic hours. Because there are no scheduled stops required for a drive of this length, you can easily make the trip in one sitting. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Garden State Parkway to ensure you don't have to navigate off the highway for gas during the longest 64.5-mile stretch. If you are traveling during standard commuting times, be prepared for increased volume on the Parkway near major interchanges. Using the Downbeach Express early in your drive will help you bypass local congestion as you head toward the highway system.
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 36.9 miles from Ventnor City, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ventnor City, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ventnor City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 73.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Ventnor City, 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 64.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 72.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in|CR 651 / Fire Road
Turn right onto CR 651 / Fire Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
8.1 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward GSP Toll North
5
8.3 mi into trip|~14m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
25.4 mi into trip|~33m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward NJ 33 East: Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach
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 100A
Toward NJ 33 East: Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.25 one way
$24.50 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.42
$26.84
premium
$4.93
$14.33
$28.66
diesel
$5.61
$16.32
$32.63
Estimated Tolls: $3.87
Garden State Parkway
(64.5 mi)$3.87
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.2
0
$7.76
$3.55
Efficient EV
18.5
0
$6.47
$2.96
EV Truck/SUV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ventnor City, NJ
Morning
in Ventnor City on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hamilton, NJ
Morning
in Hamilton on Sunday
Local time
6:37 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
2 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 31m 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.
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 73.9
Park Closure: Dead Horse Bay (Brooklyn) Remains Closed to the Public
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 88% of the journey spent on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 64.5 miles—cruising along the Garden State Parkway. The remaining portion of the drive utilizes Tilton Road and the Downbeach Express to transition between your starting point and the primary interstate. Behind the wheel, you should expect a consistent, high-speed pace that favors functionality over winding backroads. It is a classic interstate-focused commute that remains predictable from start to finish.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.5 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 Tilton Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in near CR 651 / Fire Road.
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 73.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 7.5 miles (CR 651 / Fire Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.3 miles (GSP / 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.
On the drive from Ventnor City, NJ to Hamilton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
8.1 mi in|~13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 73.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.87 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 Hamilton, 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 7.5 miles (CR 651 / Fire Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area. 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 Hamilton, NJ before heading back.
