How to Travel New Jersey's Garden State Parkway

Travel in Cape May County.

As Cape May County is the first part of the highway, it makes its grand debut at its at-grade intersection with NJ-109 in Lower Township. It runs along the Cape May Peninsula past the Cape Island Wildlife Management Area, Cape May National Golf Club, and Jones Creek, and enters Middle Township serving The Wildwoods and Rio Grande. It passes by several smaller communities then passes the Cape May Court House, The Shore Club golf course, and Cape Regional Medical Center. It then provides access to Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May County Technical School District, and returns to a wooded section of several small towns and service areas before reaching the toll plaza. In Cape May County, this highway has exits for Lower Township (0) where it intersects a subroute that can take you to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, Middle Township (4,6,7,9, 10, 11, 12, 13), Dennis Township (exit 17) and Upper Township (20, 25). In this span, you will encounter one toll booth for the Cape May Toll Plaza. This plaza is located at about 19.38 miles (31.19 km) from the Parkway's southern terminus, and expect to pay about $2.10 here, and more money for additional options. In this span, you may expect to encounter exits for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry (0), The Wildwoods and Wildwood Crest (4), Cape May Court House and Stone Harbor (10), Cape May County Park and Zoo (11) and Corson's Inlet State Park (25).

Cross the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.

The Great Egg Harbor Bridge crosses Great Egg Harbor Bay at 27.77 miles (44.69 km) as a series of four toll bridges. Tolls are collected for cars going southbound. Cash transactions have a toll value of $2.10, while E-ZPass has a discount of $2.02. The toll plaza is on the Atlantic County side of the bridge.

Travel in Atlantic County.

In Atlantic County, after coming off the bridge for a mile or so, it'll begin traveling on a small curve northwest past the Greate Bay Country Club, Somers Point and Ocean City, the Patcong Creek into Egg Harbor Township, and back into uninhabited areas with junctions leading towards Atlantic City. It passes the PRSL Newfield Branch railroad line, Atlantic City Expressway, and Atlantic City International Airport, crossing the Atlantic City Reservoir's flume and passing over NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line. It meets with the populated Pine Barrens (as it passes near Stockton University), crosses into Port Republic and the uninhabited Port Republic Wildlife Management Area, then into some habited develops along the Pine Barrens Byway and crosses the next bridge in the next section. In this county, you'll have exits for Somers Point (exits 29, 30), Egg Harbor Township (36,37, 38), Galloway Township (40, 41, 44) and Port Republic (48). Be aware of the Atlantic City Expressway at exit 38. It'll take you to and from Atlantic City and it's casino sights. Also be aware of exits 41 and 44 as they serve Stockton University from different directions north and south of the college.

Cross the Mullica River Bridge.

The Mullica River Bridge is traveled across, but it doesn't have much else outside the highway. It crosses the Mullica River.

Travel in Burlington County.

In Burlington County, the Pine Barrens Byway departs and continues past New Gretna, crossing over the Bass River and the media widens for its maintenance yard, before the roadway encounters the New Gretna Toll Plaza and through the Bass River State Forest. In this county, expect exits for Bass River Township which has exit 50 for US-9 and exit 52 strictly for CR-654 and the town of New Gretna. At mile marker 53.54 miles (86.16 km), expect to find the New Gretna Toll Plaza - northbound. Expect to pay $2.10 here.

Travel in Ocean County.

In Ocean County, while traveling parallel to the west of US-9, this highway travels in an almost flat northeast direction, though at one point, US-9 does try to cross and then join the highway for a few exits. It passes over Westecunk Creek and the west section of the Eagles Nest Airport. It enters Stafford Township as the development begins to increase along the highway, and provides access to Manahawkin/Long Beach Island, and the golf course before entering Barnegat Township and Barnegat Toll Plaza, Oyster Creek, and Lacey Township, and the branches of the Forked River and service area in the median. It then crosses Cedar Creek and passes Central Regional High School crossing through the Double Trouble State Park, Beachwood, and South Toms River-Toms River Bus Terminal (NJ Transit buses). It passes the abandoned Conrail Barnegat Branch and comes into an interchange serving Lakehurst, Seaside Heights, and Island Beach State Park before reaching the bidirectional Toms River Toll Plaza with Ocean County College to its east and later passes west of a solar farm. In this county, expect exits for Little Egg Harbor Township (58), Stafford Township (63), Barnegat Township (67), Ocean Township (69), Lacey Township and Forked River (74), Berkeley Township (77), South Tom's River (80), Toms River (81, 82, 83), Lakewood Township (89A, 89B or 89C) and Brick Township (90, 91). In this county, you'll experience two toll booths southbound, but only one northbound. At the Barnegat Toll Plaza at 68.61 miles (110.42 km) - a southbound-only toll plaza, expect to pay $2.10, while at the Toms River Toll Plaza ({convert|84.72|mi|km}} for both directions - including this one - expect to pay $1.05. This is the only place where you'll find toll booths collected from both directions.

Travel in Monmouth County.

As New Jersey curves at its curviest northeast corner, It follows the curves in an almost U-like fashion, curving northeast before zipping northwest, as it follows the shape of the state. It passes west of the Brick Township Reservoir and under the Capital to Coast Trail and a large interchange near Allaire State Park. It serves other interchanges running to Trenton, Point Pleasant Beach, and Belmar, passing west of Shark River Park then entering Tinton Falls and exits for Bradley Beach & Freehold Township, as well as Asbury Park, and past the west of the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, and after expanding to ten lanes wide reaches the Asbury Park Toll Plaza, and local-express lane divider. It passes another solar farm and over the Southern Secondary railroad line (Delaware and Raritan River Railroad) before crossing Swimming River and crossing between the sides of the Naval Weapons Station Earle, past Holmdel Township serving PNC Bank Arts Center and New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Hazlet's NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line before passing over Matawan Creek and the North Jersey Coast Line. In this section, you'll encounter the start of the no commercial traffic and vehicles over 10,000lb at exit 105. In this county, you'll encounter exits for Wall Township (98), Tinton Falls (100A, 100B, 100B-100C, 102, 105), Middletown Township (109), Middletown-Holmdel (114), Holmdel Township (116), Hazlet (117), and Aberdeen Township (118). Although the popular places include Asbury Park attributed to Bruce Springsteen at several places within Tinton Falls' exits, other state memorials include the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial and PNC Bank Arts Center at exit 116. At about 104.20 miles (167.69 km), you'll also notice how some of these lanes shift into additional local and express lanes without an additional cost. However, there are also crossover ramps between the lanes at 117.00 miles (188.29 km). Expect the Asbury Park Toll Plaza - heading northbound at 103.96 miles (167.31 km). Here you can expect a toll of $2.10.

Travel in Middlesex County.

In Middlesex County, the travel starts pretty easy. It travels northwest through Cheesequake State Park until it reaches a curve just south of Perth Amboy, then travels north to bring you over the Raritan River, continues north until just north of Hopelawn then travels northwest again until Iselin where it curves and travels northeast and exits the county to the west of Rahway. In this county, you'll cross the Cheesequake Creek and service area, then over the Conrail Shared Assets Operation Amboy Secondary line, then later the Raritan River Railroad and Raritan Toll Plaza southbound. At the Chevalier Ave exit, all vehicles must have an E-ZPass transponder.It passes under CSAO's Perth Amboy Running Track and reaches the interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike before heading through Woodbridge Township and junction to US-1, before crossing CSAO's Port Reading Secondary Line, before passing several corporate offices, Amtrak's and New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor line at Metropark> it passes Rahway and curves northeast. In the county's southern portion, expect to find exits for Old Bridge Township, Matawan and Cheesequake State Park (120), and Sayreville (123, 124, 125). Pass over the Driscoll Bridge. This bridge at 127.33 miles (204.92 km) passes over the Raritan River as a 15-lane box girder bridge. This bridge is the widest motor vehicle bridge in the world at over 15 lanes (4-3-3-4). Its northbound section is divided into two roadways with its easternmost roadway having access to Outerbridge Crossing & Staten Island (exit 127). On the bridge's exact Wikipedia page they mention that this bridge is tolled. However, it later says that it's tied to the following Raritan Toll Plaza. The bridge doesn't have its own toll plaza but is tied into your toll. In the county's northern portion, expect to find exits for Woodbridge Township (127, 129, 130, 131A, 131B, 132). Common is the mention of the Turnpike's exit 129. It's famous for those traveling on I-95 at exit 11. However, on this highway, it's listed as Trenton (northbound) and Philadelphia (southbound) - although they are both in the same direction a few miles apart from this portion of the state. Also common is the mention of the Metropark Amtrak and New Jersey Transit rail station with access via CR-657. Southbounders will encounter one toll plaza at 125.68 miles (202.26 km) called the Raritan Toll Plaza. At this plaza, expect to pay $2.10.

Travel in Union County.

In this county, this highway travels on a curvy line weaving northwest and northeast as it passes into and through overpasses crossing city streets (as it makes its way towards Newark and the vicinity near it). Although it crosses through Clark, NJ, it crosses the Robinson's Branch Reservoir and west of a park and Winfield Township before crossing the Rahway River before passing around a business park and over CSAO's Lehigh Line, Rahway Valley Railroad, and NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line before passing through Kenilworth and the east of Galloping Hill Golf Course, before the Union Watersphere appears on the parkway's east side, then passing over the Elizabeth River and passes into the Union Toll Plaza (northbound). In this county, expect to find exits for Clark (135), Cranford (136, 137), Kenilworth (138), Union Township (139A, 139B-140A, 140B, 141), and Hillside (142, 142C). At 142.66 miles (229.59 km), northbounders should expect to find the Union Toll Plaza. Travelers can expect to pay $2.10 here.

Travel in Essex County.

With minor adjustments made within the route, the Garden State Parkway in this county travels about midway through the county on a near-north to northeast running past several common cities. These cities run just west of Newark, NJ and many follow parallel to other famous routes. Here, you can examine The Oranges region of East Orange and South Orange along with routes that head towards and away from Newark. On this route, expect to pass from Irvington and underneath the Irvington Bus Terminal (NJ Transit buses) and gains frontage roads (Eastern Parkway-Western Parkway) - all lined by residences. It enters into the city and Newark and bisects Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - losing the frontage roads for a few moments. But once it exits the cemetery, it'll pick up a frontage road (called the Oraton Parkway). It then passes the East Orange General Hospital's Eastern Pavillion and NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines East Orange station and crosses the former Orange Branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway before crossing NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line, before dropping the frontage roads altogether near the interchange with Newark-Pompton Turnpike (CR-506 Spur), then passing into the Essex Toll Plaza (Southbound), and later running to the west of the Upper Montclair Country Club. In this county, you should expect to find exits for Irvington (143, 144), East Orange (145, 147), and Bloomfield (148, 149, 150, 151). For southbounders, expect to find the Essex Toll Plaza at 150.66 miles (242.46 km). But expect to pay $2.10 for toll services here. Wikipedia lists a former exit for 146 (Springdale Avenue towards East Orange, Newark Area). However, according to their documentation, it closed on January 12, 1966, and hasn't been removed from their documentation. If you look at Google Maps maps or know the area, there is no mention of offramps or onramps in the area, and there is no signage for it, it just still exists on their exit listings.

Travel in Passaic County.

In Passaic County, the highway travels mostly straight north from Clifton and the Allwood Road Park and Ride (NJ Transit buses), until a point where it meets NJ-19 with services to I-80, and exits to the left for northbounders, curves northeast, crosses Dundee Lake, and heads into the following county on an unnamed bridge over the Passaic River. The entire county's exits are located within Clifton, NJ, but outside of exit 153 having notable uses (noted soon), not much else is notable in this county. According to the Wikipedia page, inside this county, you'll find this route crossing several railroad lines including the NJ Transit's Main Line and Norfolk Southern's Passaic Spur line, although most of this route passes around residential spots and the city of Paterson and Passaic. In this county, expect exits for Clifton at NJ-3 and the Meadowlands Sports Complex and Lincoln Tunnel (exit 153), US-46 E and US-46 W (exit 154, dependent on travel direction on the highway), NJ-19 to I-80 (exit 155A), Passaic access to CR-702 (155B), and NJ-20 N (exit 156).

Travel in Bergen County.

In Bergen County, the route runs from Elmwood Park through Garfield, NJ, and over the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's New Jersey Subdivision and NJ Transit's Bergen County lines all before reaching an I-80 interchange, before the Bergen Toll Plaza. It then passes Saddle River County Park, crossing the Saddle River tributary and into pairs of interchanges for Paramus near the Westfield Garden State Plaza. It passes the Arcola Country Club and parallels NJ-17, passing the Paramus Park shopping mall and New Bridge Medical Center coming into an entrance in Washington Township and you'll have the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza (southbound). It winds through the Pascack Valley region before it enters Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, and Chestnut Ridge Rd-Saddle River as it enters its final two cities of Montvale and Park Ridge, and soon crosses into New York State as the Garden State Parkway Connector. In this county, expect exits for Elmwood Park (157), Saddle Brook (159), Paramus (160, 161, 163, 165, 166), Washington Township (168), Woodcliff Lake (171), and Montvale (172 and the Garden State Parkway Connector to I-87 at the end). In this county, you'll come across two toll booths. The first - at 160.46 miles (258.24 km) - is the Bergen Toll Plaza and is for northbounders. The second - at 166.25 miles (267.55 km) - is the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza and is for southbounders. Each will cost you $2.10.

Travel the Connector Route in New York State.

In New York State, this route connects itself to the New York State Parkway over a New York State Thruway connector route. It travels for 2.40 mils (6.1×10 km) and encounters one of two exits. This has an unsigned reference route named NY-982L. If you are heading northbound (like this article is describing), you won't have your exit till later, but for those traveling southbound, you'll have the unnumbered exit for "Red Schoolhouse Rd" heading into Chestnut Ridge (Rockland County) at mile marker 2.09 miles (3.36 km). This is the last exit north of the Parkway's commercial and truck-free zone that exists, and all these vehicles must exit. If you are exiting onto the New York Thruway, be careful not to exit onto the route marked for CR-35 towards Nanuet. Although there are routes back onto the Thruway, it's fairly convoluted and according to Wikipedia, is at the same mile marker as the main Thruway exit at 0.0 miles (0 km).