Driving from Woodcliff Lake to Lakewood, NJ, covers 72 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused journey through the Northeast, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel for the trip. Since the entire route stays within New Jersey, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the northern part of the state toward the central coast. This drive is ideal for those who prefer an efficient, direct path to their destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Woodcliff Lake, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
36.4 mi
48m
US Highway 9
25.9 mi
38m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Werimus Road
1.4 mi
2m
Madison Avenue
1 mi
2m
Van Emburgh Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Washington Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 36.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.
1
Start on CR 71; CR 90
0.9 mi·1 min·Werimus Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 71
0.5 mi·53 sec·Werimus Road
3
Continue on CR 71
0.5 mi·57 sec·Van Emburgh Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 502
0.1 mi·19 sec·Washington Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·49 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
6
Merge onto GSP
1.1 mi·1 min·Garden State Parkway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
34 mi·46 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
0.4 mi·29 sec·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 123Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old BridgeUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto US 9
26 mi·38 min·US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 9
1.0 mi·2 min·Madison Avenue
14
Turn left onto 8th Street
46 ft·2 sec·8th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
8th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour and 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the 72-mile distance in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is estimated at $12, so topping off your tank before you leave Woodcliff Lake will ensure a smooth, uninterrupted run. If you are sensitive to heavy traffic, check for congestion on the Garden State Parkway before you head out. Enjoy the simplicity of this short, highway-reliant route.
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 miles from Woodcliff Lake, NJ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Woodcliff Lake, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woodcliff Lake, NJ
This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Woodcliff Lake, 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 36.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 72 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll South
6
3.3 mi into trip|~5m 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 / slight left lanes.
6
44.4 mi into trip|~1h 1m 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
44.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
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 123
Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
6
72 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.94 one way
$23.87 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.07
$26.15
premium
$4.93
$13.96
$27.93
diesel
$5.61
$15.90
$31.79
Estimated Tolls: $2.56
Garden State Parkway
(42.6 mi)$2.56
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.30
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Morning
in Woodcliff Lake on Sunday
Local time
6:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, NJ
Morning
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
24 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 42m 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...
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 29.8
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 24.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 95% of your journey will be spent on highways. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway Southbound and US Highway 9 to navigate the state. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 36.4-mile stretch along the Garden State Parkway, which serves as the backbone of this trip. Because the route is so heavily focused on major interstates, the drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm. It is a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 10 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 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m 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 36.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.56 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 Lakewood, 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 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 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 Lakewood, NJ before heading back.
