This 104.2-mile drive from Vernon Valley to Brick, New Jersey, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. With 81% of the journey on highways, expect a relatively quick transit through the Northeast region of New Jersey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $17, making it an affordable option for a day trip or a quick weekend getaway. This drive is designed for efficiency, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal fuss and maximum time at your destination. Plan for a smooth ride with this efficient route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Vernon Valley, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
49.1 mi
1h 2m
Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
9.8 mi
11m
NJ 23
6.2 mi
7m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Vernon Warwick Road
5.5 mi
9m
NJ 70
5.2 mi
6m
Newfoundland Road
5 mi
6m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 49.1 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Valley, NJ and Brick, NJ.
1
Start on Walnut Hill Drive
260 ft·11 sec·Walnut Hill Drive
2
Continue on Thistle Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Thistle Avenue
3
Turn left onto Vlietstra Drive
485 ft·22 sec·Vlietstra Drive
4
Turn right onto CR 517
0.4 mi·51 sec·McAfee - Glenwood Road
5
Continue on CR 517
0.4 mi·53 sec·Aster Street
6
Continue on CR 517
0.7 mi·1 min·McAfee - Glenwood Road
7
Turn left onto CR 644
1.4 mi·3 min·Vernon Crossing
8
Turn right onto NJ 94; CR 515
5.5 mi·9 min·Vernon Warwick Road
9
Continue on CR 515
3.2 mi·5 min·Stockholm Vernon Road
10
Turn left onto NJ 23
5.0 mi·6 min·Newfoundland Road
11
Continue on NJ 23
9.8 mi·11 min·Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
6.2 mi·7 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
297 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
15
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi·2 min·US 46
16
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi·1 min·US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
1.3 mi·1 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound
0.3 mi·36 sec·ramp to GSP Southbound
Toward GSP Toll SouthUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
27 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 98Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
Given the manageable 2-hour and 20-minute duration for this 104.2-mile trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule. With a fuel cost of about $17, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. The longest continuous stretch is 49.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway, so plan any brief pauses before or after this segment if needed. Since this is a highway-focused drive, keeping your gas tank at least half full is always a good practice, especially when anticipating longer stretches without services. Arriving earlier in the day can help you maximize your time in Brick.
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 52.1 miles from Vernon Valley, NJ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 23 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 15m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brick, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vernon Valley, 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 Vernon Valley, NJ
This is one driving day of about 104.2 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Vernon Valley, 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 49.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.9 and 94.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
26.9 mi into trip|~42m in|NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
38.5 mi into trip|~55m in|ramp to GSP Southbound
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound toward GSP Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll South
6
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
94 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, 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 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar,...
7
94.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.28 one way
$34.55 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.92
$37.84
premium
$4.93
$20.21
$40.42
diesel
$5.61
$23.01
$46.01
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Garden State Parkway
(55.3 mi)$3.31
Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
(9.8 mi)$0.69
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
$17
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
19 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Riverdale, NJ
Tesla
16 DCFC
Pompton Lakes Towne Square Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Vernon Valley, NJ
Late night
in Vernon Valley on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brick, NJ
Late night
in Brick on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 to 15 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
45 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
2h 20m 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 53.9
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 79.1
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 10.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the 104.2 miles utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including one stretch of 49.1 miles without needing to exit. The route begins on roads like the Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike and NJ 23 before merging onto the parkway, offering a mix of local access and high-speed travel. Expect a consistent driving experience as you transition from more local roads to the uninterrupted flow of the parkway. This profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is generally possible.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 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 Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.9 miles in near NJ 23.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 104.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.9 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Vernon Valley, NJ and Brick, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton, Gsp Toll South and Trenton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 104.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.00 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 Brick, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.9 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brick, NJ before heading back.
