This 101.7-mile drive from Wildwood Crest to Hamilton, New Jersey, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours. Designed as a single-day excursion, it focuses heavily on highway travel, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $17 for this journey. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a practical option for those looking for an efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. With no recommended stops and the longest continuous stretch being 96.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway, this route is ideal for a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Wildwood Crest, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
96.3 mi
1h 52m
Wildwood Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
New Jersey Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Rio Grande Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
NJ 33
0.5 mi
<1m
Old Corlies Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Rosemary Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Gully Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 96.3 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wildwood Crest, NJ and Hamilton, NJ.
1
Start on East Rosemary Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Rosemary Road
2
Turn right onto CR 621
0.8 mi·1 min·New Jersey Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 47
0.5 mi·50 sec·Rio Grande Avenue
4
Turn straight onto NJ 47
2.2 mi·3 min·Wildwood Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
6
Merge onto GSP
15 mi·17 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
8
Merge onto GSP
34 mi·39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
47 mi·55 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 100AToward NJ 33 East: Ocean Grove, Bradley BeachUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 33
0.5 mi·58 sec·NJ 33
12
Turn right onto (17)
0.2 mi·31 sec·Old Corlies Avenue
13
Turn right onto Gully Road
155 ft·4 sec·Gully Road
14
Arrive at destination
Gully Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short distance of 101.7 miles and a duration of just over 2 hours, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can leave whenever it suits your schedule, with flexibility being a key advantage. Plan for minimal stops, as the route is designed for efficient travel, with the longest stretch on the Garden State Parkway being over 96 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the long Parkway segment, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The estimated fuel cost is around $17.
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 50.9 miles from Wildwood Crest, NJ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.3 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
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 Wildwood Crest, 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 Wildwood Crest, NJ
This is one driving day of about 101.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Wildwood Crest, 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 96.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 100.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Turn right onto CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
19.4 mi into trip|~24m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
100.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
$16.86 one way
$33.72 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.47
$36.93
premium
$4.93
$19.72
$39.45
diesel
$5.61
$22.45
$44.91
Estimated Tolls: $5.78
Garden State Parkway
(96.3 mi)$5.78
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
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.90
$4.07
EV Truck/SUV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
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
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Morning
in Wildwood Crest on Sunday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hamilton, NJ
Morning
in Hamilton on Sunday
Local time
9:44 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
2h 1m 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 101.7
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?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, accounting for 95% of the journey. You'll spend the majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a substantial 96.3-mile stretch without interruption. The drive begins on local roads like Wildwood Boulevard and New Jersey Avenue before merging onto the Parkway, offering a consistent, high-speed transit experience. This profile suggests a smooth, uninterrupted flow for most of the 101.7 miles, making it efficient for covering distance.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.3 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 Wildwood Boulevard. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 621 / New Jersey 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 101.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 101.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.78 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.
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 0.1 miles (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 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.
