Garden State Parkway

Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway highlighted in green
Route information
Maintained by NJTA
Length	172.40 mi[1] (277.45 km)
Existed	1947–present
History	Completed in 1957
Tourist routes	Pine Barrens Byway
Restrictions	No trucks north of exit 105
Major junctions
South end	Route 109 in Lower Township
Major intersections	US 40 / US 322 in Egg Harbor Township A.C. Expressway in Egg Harbor Township US 30 in Galloway Township I-195 / Route 138 / Route 34 in Wall Township US 9 / Route 440 in Woodbridge Township I-95 / N.J. Turnpike in Woodbridge Township US 1 in Woodbridge Township I-78 in Hillside I-280 in East Orange I-80 in Saddle Brook
North end	Garden State Parkway Connector in Chestnut Ridge, NY
Location
Counties	Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Union, Essex, Passaic, Bergen
Highway system
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate US State Scenic Byways ← Route 440 444 → Route 445

The Garden State Parkway (GSP) is a controlled-access toll road that stretches the north–south length of eastern New Jersey from the state's southernmost tip near Cape May to the New York state line at Montvale. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State". The parkway is designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) as Route 444, although this designation is unsigned. At its north end, the road becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, a component of the New York State Thruway system that connects to the Thruway mainline in Ramapo. The parkway is the longest highway in the state at approximately 172 miles (277 km), and, according to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, was the busiest toll road in the United States in 2006.^[2] The highway has a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) for most of its length, and is primarily for passenger vehicle use; trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are prohibited north of exit 105.

The parkway was constructed between 1946 and 1957 to connect suburban northern New Jersey with the Jersey Shore resort areas along the Atlantic coast and to alleviate traffic on traditional north–south routes running through each town center, such as U.S. Route 1 (US 1), US 9, and Route 35. During planning, the road was to be a toll-free highway designated as the Route 4 Parkway. Most of the highway north of the Raritan River is like any other expressway built in the 1950s through heavily populated areas. Between the Raritan River and the township of Toms River, the highway passes through lighter suburban development, while south of Toms River, the road mostly runs through unspoiled wilderness in the Pine Barrens and swampland. The highway has seen many improvements over the years, including the addition and reconstruction of interchanges, bridge replacements, widening of the roadway, and removal of at-grade intersections. Previously, the road had been maintained by an agency known as the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA), however in 2003, the agency merged into the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), which now maintains the parkway along with the New Jersey Turnpike.

The parkway uses an open system of toll collection with flat-fee tolls collected at 11 toll plazas along the roadway, as well as at several entrances and exits. Tolls can be paid using cash or via the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system. Along the route are 11 service areas, providing food and fuel to travelers. Historically, the road had ten picnic areas along its length, but only one remains open today.

Route description[]

The Garden State Parkway begins at Route 109 in Cape May County. It runs north along the Jersey Shore, crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay and passing to the west of Atlantic City. The parkway passes through the sparsely populated Pine Barrens until it reaches the township of Toms River in Ocean County. North of Asbury Park, the route splits into a local-express lane configuration, which it maintains through South Amboy. Here, the highway crosses the Raritan River into Woodbridge Township, where it meets the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95 or I-95). North of here, the GSP passes through densely populated communities in Middlesex and Union counties and intersects I-78 near Newark. The parkway eventually passes to the south and east of Paterson and meets I-80 in Saddle Brook. After traversing the suburban northern section of Bergen County, the road enters the state of New York where it becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, continuing north to the New York State Thruway mainline.^[1][3]

The parkway serves as a major route connecting North Jersey with all of the state's shore points, and as such, is subject to frequent congestion. The number of lanes on the parkway ranges from four in Cape May, Atlantic, and Bergen counties, to 15 on the Driscoll Bridge. Much of the highway runs closely parallel to, or concurrently with US 9.^[3] The entire length of the Garden State Parkway carries the unsigned designation of Route 444,^[1] and is part of the National Highway System,^[4] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.^[5]

Cape May and Atlantic counties[]

Garden State Parkway southbound, approaching the southern terminus at Route 109 in Lower Township

The parkway begins at an at-grade intersection with Route 109 in Lower Township, Cape May County, where Route 109 continues south towards the city of Cape May and west towards US 9 and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. The GSP runs north as a four-lane controlled-access highway on the Cape May peninsula through the Cape Island Wildlife Management Area, running west of swampland, separating the highway from the Jersey Shore communities. Trees occupy the median and the sides of the road for the next several miles. After passing to the east of Cape May National Golf Club, crossing over Jones Creek, and passing a pond in the median, the highway enters Middle Township and has an interchange with Route 47, which serves The Wildwoods resort area and the community of Rio Grande. North of this point, the parkway crosses over the abandoned Wildwood Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL), and afterwards, the trees in the median disappear and the highway has a partial interchange with Route 147, which provides access to North Wildwood, Whitesboro, and Burleigh. Crossing into the county seat of Cape May Court House, the median narrows and US 9 appears within yards of the southbound lanes of the parkway as it passes west of the Wildwood Golf and Country Club. The two highways then split apart and the GSP bisects residential areas before reaching an interchange for County Route 657 (CR 657), which serves the Cape Regional Medical Center and the borough of Stone Harbor.^[1][3][6]

Garden State Parkway southbound in Cape May Court House

Past this point, the road comes to an interchange for CR 609, which provides access to the Cape May County Park & Zoo and a building complex containing the Cape May County Technical School District. After a southbound entrance ramp from US 9, the parkway leaves Cape May Court House and returns to a desolate wooded setting with a wide tree-filled median. Continuing north, the parkway has an interchange with CR 601, serving the borough of Avalon and Swainton. North of this point, the highway enters Dennis Township and has a partial junction with CR 625, serving Sea Isle City before reaching the Toni Morrison Service Area in the median. North of the service area, the parkway enters Upper Township and reaches the Cape May Toll Plaza northbound immediately before meeting the southern terminus of Route 50, which serves Seaville, at a partial interchange. After passing east of several homes and a golf course, the parkway has the John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly Picnic Area in the median before it crosses over the abandoned PRSL Ocean City Branch. Continuing north, the highway comes to a diamond interchange with US 9 and CR 623, which serves Ocean City and Marmora. North of this exit, US 9 begins to run concurrently with the GSP, and the two routes run east of the community of Beesleys Point before the median narrows, and they cross the Great Egg Harbor Bay on the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.^[1][3][6]

Garden State Parkway northbound in Egg Harbor Township

The highway surfaces into the city of Somers Point, Atlantic County, where the southbound roadway has the Great Egg Toll Plaza before US 9 leaves the parkway at a partial junction. Past this point, the median widens and the parkway passes west of the Greate Bay Country Club and some homes before a partial interchange with Laurel Drive, which provides access to Somers Point and Ocean City. After passing to the west of more residences, the median briefly becomes a Jersey barrier as the route crosses the Patcong Creek into Egg Harbor Township, where developments begin to appear on the west side of the highway. Eventually, the parkway crosses into uninhabited area again before heading into a commercial area and widening to six lanes. Here, the road has a junction with US 40, US 322, and CR 563, marking the first of three interchanges with roads that serve Atlantic City, located to the east. The median then transitions to a Jersey barrier and the parkway passes over the abandoned PRSL Newfield Branch before a partial junction with CR 608 and a cloverleaf interchange with the controlled-access Atlantic City Expressway (which heads west towards Philadelphia), where the northbound and southbound roadways split apart again. Upon leaving the commercial area, the highway passes to the east of Atlantic City International Airport and crosses over a flume of the Atlantic City Reservoir, which has a basin on each side of the highway. Continuing north, the highway enters Galloway Township and passes over NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line before it comes to a partial interchange with US 30, serving the city of Absecon. North of this exit, the median is home to the Frank Sinatra Service Area, which also has a barrack of the New Jersey State Police. Immediately north of the service plaza, the parkway has an interchange with CR 561, serving the community of Pomona. The parkway then enters the sparsely populated Pine Barrens, passing to the east of Stockton University and reaching a junction with CR 575/CR 561 Alt. Past this point, the road turns northeast and crosses into the city of Port Republic as it winds north into the uninhabited Port Republic Wildlife Management Area. With some occasional development appearing along the sides of the road, the median narrows to a Jersey barrier as US 9 merges back onto the parkway, along with the Pine Barrens Byway, and the three routes cross the Mullica River.^[1][3][6]

Burlington and Ocean counties[]

Garden State Parkway northbound in Bass River Township

The highway surfaces into Bass River Township, Burlington County, and US 9 and the Pine Barrens Byway depart at a partial interchange. Continuing northeast past the community of New Gretna, the parkway passes over US 9 with no access before crossing the Bass River and the median widens and contains a maintenance yard. Past this point, the median temporarily narrows again as the northbound lanes have the New Gretna Toll Plaza. Crossing northward through Bass River State Forest, the six-lane highway becomes desolate as it enters Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County. Here, the GSP interchanges with CR 539, which serves Tuckerton, before entering Eagleswood Township, where it crosses over Westecunk Creek and passes to the west of Eagles Nest Airport. Afterwards, the parkway enters Stafford Township where development along the road begins to increase. Here, the highway has an interchange with Route 72, which provides access to Manahawkin and Long Beach Island. The parkway then forms a border between residential neighborhoods to the west and forest to the east before passing to the east of a golf course and entering Barnegat Township, where the concentration of houses shifts to the east. After an interchange with CR 554, the parkway passes by residential neighborhoods on both sides of the highway before the median shortly narrows and the southbound roadway has the Barnegat Toll Plaza. Now in Ocean Township, the parkway meets CR 532 and crosses over Oyster Creek before entering Lacey Township, where it crosses the south, middle, and north branches of the Forked River before reaching an interchange with CR 614, serving the community of Forked River, and the Celia Cruz Service Area in the median.^[1][3][6]

Garden State Parkway southbound at CR 614 in Lacey Township

Father north, the road crosses over Cedar Creek and enters Berkeley Township, passing west of a golf course and Central Regional High School while traversing Double Trouble State Park. The route then crosses into the borough of Beachwood and passes west of several homes before entering the borough of South Toms River, where the median narrows and the parkway becomes concurrent with US 9 once again at a junction with CR 530. After crossing the Toms River and entering the township of Toms River, the highway passes west of the Toms River Bus Terminal serving NJ Transit buses. Past this point, the road crosses the abandoned Conrail Barnegat Branch and reaches an exit for CR 527 before passing trees and reaching a cloverleaf interchange with Route 37, which provides access to Lakehurst, Seaside Heights, and Island Beach State Park. After heading northwest between trees on the west and neighborhoods on the east, the GSP turns northeast as the median widens and contains a maintenance yard, and US 9 leaves the parkway at a junction with Route 166. Past the interchange, the parkway reaches the bi-directional Toms River Toll Plaza and passes by lighter suburban development in addition to parkland, with Ocean County College to the east. Upon entering Lakewood Township, the parkway has an interchange with Route 70, serving Brick Township and Point Pleasant Beach to the east; this interchange also serves CR 528. Running along the border of Lakewood and Brick townships, the route has an interchange with CR 549 before crossing the South Branch Metedeconk River and passing over Route 88 with no access. Now entirely within Brick Township, the route crosses the North Branch Metedeconk River and reaches a second exit for CR 549, where a pedestrian bridge for the Brick Park and Ride, located to the east, passes over the parkway. North of this interchange, the road widens to eight lanes and passes west of a solar farm.^[1][3][6]

Monmouth and Middlesex counties[]

Garden State Parkway northbound in Wall Township

Upon entering Wall Township, Monmouth County, the southbound lanes have a truck inspection area and the parkway passes west of Brick Township Reservoir through woods. The parkway crosses the Manasquan River and passes under the Capital to Coast Trail before reaching a large interchange near Allaire State Park. The interchange includes a pair of collector-distributor roads and serves the eastern terminus of I-195 (which runs west across Central Jersey towards Trenton), Route 34 (which runs southeast towards Point Pleasant Beach), and Route 138 (which runs east towards Belmar). A park and ride is present in the southeastern cloverleaf with Route 138. Passing to the west of Shark River Park, the median contains the Judy Blume Service Area, which provides a park and ride for commuters and access to CR 18. The parkway then enters Tinton Falls and has exits for Route 33, which runs east towards Bradley Beach and west towards Freehold Township, and Route 66, which heads east towards Asbury Park. Soon afterwards, the parkway passes to the west of the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets and has a partial exit for CR 16, where the road widens to ten lanes. North of this point, the parkway reaches the northbound Asbury Park Toll Plaza.^[1][3]

Garden State Parkway northbound at the interchange with Route 18 and Route 36 in Tinton Falls

Immediately north of the toll barrier, the road divides into a local-express lane configuration with two express and three local lanes in each direction. The parkway passes to the east of a solar farm before reaching an interchange with the Route 18 freeway and Route 36, which head north towards New Brunswick and east towards Long Branch, respectively. The connector road from the parkway to the terminus of Route 36 and CR 51 is designated by NJDOT as Route 444S.^[7] North of the interchange, the GSP passes over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' (CSAO) Southern Secondary line and bisects residential neighborhoods before crossing the Swimming River into Middletown, where the road has an interchange with CR 520, which contains a park and ride and serves Red Bank and Lincroft. The parkway then passes over Normandy Road, which serves as a road and railroad link between the two sections of Naval Weapons Station Earle. Continuing northwest past houses and parks, the route has an interchange with CR 52 as it enters Holmdel Township, where it serves the PNC Bank Arts Center and the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Upon entering Hazlet, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line before reaching an interchange for Route 35 and Route 36, which serves Keyport. At this point, the express roadway in each direction gains a third lane. Immediately north of here is a southbound exit and entrance at CR 3, where the parkway briefly enters Aberdeen Township and passes over the Matawan Creek before crossing the North Jersey Coast Line for a second time. Upon entering Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, and reaching an interchange for CR 689 serving Matawan, the highway enters Cheesequake State Park.^[1][3]

Garden State Parkway northbound approaching the Driscoll Bridge

After crossing the Cheesequake Creek near a marina and leaving the park, the road enters Sayreville and has the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area in the median, with access to both the express and local lanes of the highway. Passing to the southwest of South Amboy, the parkway has a partial interchange with US 9 and passes over CSAO's Amboy Secondary line. After a northbound entrance and southbound exit at CR 670, the lanes, now as a 4-3-3-4 configuration, merge as they cross the abandoned Raritan River Railroad and reach the Raritan Toll Plaza southbound. North of the toll barrier is an exit for Chevalier Avenue; all southbound vehicles exiting here must have an E-ZPass transponder.^[1][3][6] Paralleling US 9 and Route 35, the parkway becomes 15 lanes as it crosses the Raritan River on the Driscoll Bridge, the widest motor vehicle bridge in the world.^[8] On the bridge, the northbound lanes are divided into two roadways; only the eastern roadway has access to exit 127, an interchange for US 9 and the Route 440 freeway, providing access to the Outerbridge Crossing to Staten Island. Just north of exit 127 in Woodbridge Township, the parkway runs in between the northbound and southbound lanes of US 9. After passing under CSAO's Perth Amboy Running Track, US 9 splits off to the east and the parkway reaches an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Running northwest through Woodbridge Township as a ten-lane roadway, the highway has a junction with US 1 and crosses under CSAO's Port Reading Secondary line as it enters the community of Iselin, passing to the east of several corporate offices. Immediately after passing under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor east of the Metropark station serving Amtrak and NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, the GSP has an interchange with Route 27 (Lincoln Highway), which serves Rahway to the northeast. North of this point, the parkway curves northeast through densely populated neighborhoods, passing the Colonia South and Colonia North service areas.^[1][3][6]

Union and Essex counties[]

Garden State Parkway southbound in Union Township

Crossing into Clark, Union County, the highway continues to pass through dense neighborhoods as a ten-lane roadway with a Jersey barrier. After crossing the Middlesex Reservoir and passing an interchange with CR 613, the southbound lanes have access to a maintenance yard. The highway then passes west of a park and Winfield Township before crossing the Rahway River into Cranford, where there is a junction with CR 607 and CR 615. After passing west of a business park and over CSAO's Lehigh Line and the inactive Rahway Valley Railroad, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line and reaches a junction with Route 28, which serves Roselle Park to the east. Upon entering Kenilworth, the highway passes many businesses before the road meets CR 509, passes to the east of Galloping Hill Golf Course, and enters Union Township, where the parkway has a junction with CR 619. Immediately afterwards, the road comes to an interchange with US 22 and Route 82 serving Hillside, where the GSP briefly runs in between the carriageways of US 22 and the Union Watersphere appears on the east side of the parkway. Here, the parkway narrows to eight lanes, and the northbound lanes have access to the Whitney Houston Service Area. After the service area, the road crosses the Elizabeth River and briefly enters Hillside, where it reaches the northbound Union Toll Plaza before an interchange with I-78.^[1][3]

Garden State Parkway northbound in East Orange

Running northeast into Irvington, Essex County, the highway passes west of a park and east of many houses before reaching a pair of interchanges for local roads and passing through a short tunnel underneath a parking lot for Irvington Bus Terminal, serving NJ Transit buses. North of this point, the parkway gains frontage roads in each direction, which are mostly lined by residences. The frontage road for the northbound lanes is called Eastern Parkway, and the frontage road for the southbound lanes is called Western Parkway. After an interchange with CR 510, the frontage roads end, and the parkway briefly enters the city of Newark where it bisects Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, the northern end of which is in East Orange. After leaving the cemetery, the highway regains frontage roads which are known as Oraton Parkway. After passing East Orange General Hospital's Eastern Pavilion, the parkway comes to an interchange with I-280 and CR 508, which serve Downtown Newark. At the interchange, the GSP loses a lane in each direction and passes under NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines near East Orange station. The parkway continues to run in between frontage roads containing many houses before passing west of several apartment buildings and hospitals and crossing the abandoned Orange Branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway. Winding into Bloomfield as a six-lane roadway, the GSP crosses NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line and has an interchange with the Newark-Pompton Turnpike (CR 506 Spur), where the frontage roads end. After passing under Norfolk Southern's Boonton Line and reaching an exit for CR 506, the parkway enters a more suburban area and the southbound parkway has the Essex Toll Plaza. The highway then briefly enters Nutley before crossing back into Bloomfield, where the Jersey barrier becomes a grassy median and the parkway reaches a diamond interchange for CR 655 serving Montclair and passing the Larry Doby and Connie Chung service areas to the west of the Upper Montclair Country Club.^[1][3][6]

Passaic and Bergen counties[]

Garden State Parkway northbound in Clifton

The parkway then crosses into Passaic County and the city of Clifton, where it reaches an interchange with Route 3. At this point, the space between the northbound and southbound roadways contains the Allwood Road Park and Ride serving NJ Transit buses. After passing under a set of power lines and bisecting a residential area, the route has an incomplete interchange with US 46. Immediately north, the parkway meets the southern terminus of the Route 19 freeway, which heads north towards the city of Paterson. Past this point, the highway curves northeast and passes over NJ Transit's Main Line before the median transitions to a Jersey barrier and the highway has a northbound exit and southbound entrance at CR 702, serving the city of Passaic. The parkway heads northeast past many homes before heading into a business district and crossing Norfolk Southern's Passaic Spur line. After passing many more residences near the route, the parkway reaches a partial interchange with the southern terminus of Route 20. Immediately afterwards, the parkway crosses the Passaic River and enters Elmwood Park, Bergen County, where it comes to a second interchange with US 46, serving Garfield. Passing more homes, followed by several businesses, the highway then passes over the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's New Jersey Subdivision line and under NJ Transit's Bergen County Line before reaching an interchange with I-80 and the northbound Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook.^[1][3]

Garden State Parkway northbound in Paramus

Continuing northeast, the road passes through Saddle River County Park and crosses the Saddle River into Rochelle Park. After leaving the park, it crosses a pair of interchanges for Route 208 and Route 4 as it enters Paramus near the Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping mall. North of Route 4, the parkway passes east of the Arcola Country Club and runs closely parallel with Route 17 before interchanging with it. Past this interchange, the median becomes grass-filled. After passing east of businesses and west of homes, the parkway passes in between the Paramus Park shopping mall and New Bridge Medical Center before reaching a junction with CR 80, which serves Oradell and has a park and ride. After bisecting residential neighborhoods, the parkway has a partial junction with CR 110 before entering Washington Township where the southbound lanes have the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza – the northernmost toll plaza on the highway. North of the toll plaza, the median becomes substantially wider and trees begin to appear within it. The Garden State Parkway finally narrows from six to four lanes at the exit for CR 502, serving Westwood. Winding through suburban Bergen County past many homes, the parkway briefly enters Hillsdale before entering Woodcliff Lake, where there is a northbound exit and southbound entrance for Chestnut Ridge Road. The parkway then enters Montvale, where it reaches the James Gandolfini Service Area, the northernmost service area on the road. Immediately north is an exit for CR 94; this is the northernmost exit of the Garden State Parkway, which crosses into the state of New York soon afterwards. From there, the route becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, a component of the New York State Thruway system, which heads north towards the Thruway mainline (I-87/I-287) in Nanuet.^[1][3]

History[]

Early proposals and construction[]

Following World War II, traffic increased substantially on highways along the New Jersey coast. Due to the high traffic volume and presence of numerous traffic lights, it took motorists over three hours to travel between Paterson and Atlantic City. In 1946, plans were made to construct a high-speed parkway to provide a bypass of Route 4, which, prior to 1953, ran from Cape May to the George Washington Bridge by way of Paterson, largely following present-day US 1, US 9, and Route 35.^[9][10] This parkway would be constructed using state funds and be known as the Route 4 Parkway. Construction began in 1947, and the first section to open was a 10-mile (16 km) section between Route 35 in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, and Centennial Avenue in Cranford, Union County, which opened in stages by November 1, 1950. This was soon extended north to Union Township. This segment, which now runs between exits 129 and 140, can be distinguished from the rest of the GSP by the stone facing on the overpasses. However, due to a lack of funds, construction of the Route 4 Parkway stalled. The solution was for the state to establish the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA) in 1952 to oversee construction and operation of the remainder of the parkway as a self-liquidating toll road from Cape May to the New York state line.^[11][12]

Stone overpasses on the Garden State Parkway in Union County

The landscape architect and engineer in charge of the newly named Garden State Parkway was Gilmore David Clarke of the engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, who had worked with Robert Moses on the parkway systems around New York City. Clarke's design prototypes for the parkway combined the example of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a model of efficiency with parallels in the German Autobahn routes of the 1930s, with the Merritt Parkway model that stressed a planted "green belt" for beauty. Both design models featured wide planted medians to prevent head-on collisions and mask the glare of oncoming headlights. The Garden State Parkway was designed to have a natural feel. Many trees were planted, and the only signs were those for exits—there were no distracting billboards. Most of the signs were constructed from wood, or a dark-brown metal, instead of the chrome bars used on most other highways. The guardrails were also made from wood and dark metal. Most early overpasses were stone, but were later changed to concrete, with green rails and retro etchings, popular around the 1950s and 1960s. The parkway was designed to curve gently throughout its length so that drivers would remain alert and not fall asleep at the wheel.^[11][12]

The old alignment at the Beesley's Point Bridge heading southbound with a white center line (instead of yellow)

The bridge carrying the parkway over the Raritan River opened on July 30, 1954,^[13] and the bridge over the Passaic River opened on May 26, 1955. This extended the parkway's northern terminus to US 46 in present-day Elmwood Park.^[14] On July 1 of that year, the portion of the highway from US 46 to Route 17 in Paramus opened.^[15] Before the Great Egg Harbor Bridge was completed in 1956, the parkway temporarily detoured onto US 9 and over the Beesley's Point Bridge. That bridge was closed in 2004 and demolished in 2014; US 9 now detours onto the parkway instead.^[16]

The final portion of the parkway to open from Paramus to the New York state line near Montvale was originally proposed as part of a northern extension of Route 101, a highway that was intended to run from Kearny to Hackensack. The extension, Route S101, would have continued northward from Hackensack to the state line via Paramus. Route 101 was never built, and only the Paramus–Montvale segment saw any later construction.^[17] This segment of the parkway opened in 1957 along with the Garden State Parkway Connector of the New York State Thruway.^[18]

Garden State Parkway southbound approaching exit 154

In December 1957, D. Louis Tonti, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Highway Authority, announced plans to construct the missing ramps at exit 154 in Clifton. These ramps would connect drivers from US 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound, and from the parkway southbound to US 46 westbound. In May 1958, the project bid went to Thomas Nichol Company, Inc. of Farmingdale, and construction began immediately.^[19] The new ramps opened in December, and the toll booths on the ramps opened the following month.^[20] The total cost of the project was $2.25 million,^[21] which was half a million higher than the original estimate.^[22] During 1959, traffic counts noted 1.5 million cars used the new ramps at exit 154.^[23]

Garden State Parkway northbound at exit 114

In June 1961, the Highway Authority announced plans to construct a new interchange at Red Hill Road in the Holmdel–Middletown area.^[24] This new interchange would help relieve local congestion with the opening of Bell Labs and more industrial parks in the area.^[25] As part of the plan, the ramp at exit 116 would be closed to non-emergency automobile traffic,^[26] despite disapproval from locals.^[27] On December 14, the Highway Authority made an appropriation of $50,000 for the engineering work for the new interchange.^[28] Construction began in July 1962,^[29] and it was completed by December.^[30]

On December 23, 1963, the ramps connecting the parkway and I-80 opened to traffic. Construction of these ramps cost $4.5 million, and it replaced the preexisting interchange at Midland Avenue. Toll booths were constructed on the northbound exit and the southbound entrance to the parkway from I-80.^[31]

On March 8, 1965, the northbound exit and southbound entrance at exit 30 in Somers Point was permanently closed, with traffic directed to use the intersection with US 9, which later became exit 29, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south. The interchange at exit 30 was reconstructed with toll plazas on the southbound exit and northbound entrance.^[32]

In May 1966, the borough of Paramus and the New Jersey Highway Authority agreed to a complete replacement of exit 165 (Ridgewood Avenue) to improve safety and capacity. The project, costing $3.7 million (equivalent to $22.7 million in 2019^[33]), would expand the two-ramp interchange to eight ramps, creating a collector-distributor road to serve both ramps.^[34] Construction on the new interchange began almost immediately, with the new southbound ramps opening on November 30, 1966.^[35] A month later, on December 29, the dual ramps on the northbound direction opened, and the tolls went into effect on February 13.^[36] On January 6, 1967, the ramps at exit 166 were closed to traffic,^[37] but they reopened in September.^[38]

In early 1967, the parkway was expanded from four to six lanes between the Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook and the interchange with Route 4 in Paramus. The following year, the road was expanded to six lanes between Route 17 and Ridgewood Avenue/Oradell Avenue, and in 1969, the section between Route 4 and Route 17 was widened. This widening made the entire 80-mile (130 km) stretch from Ocean County to Paramus six lanes wide.^[34]

The south end of the parkway at Route 109 in Lower Township, looking north

The parkway was planned to be the southern terminus of the unbuilt Driscoll Expressway, a 38-mile (61 km) toll road that was planned in the early 1970s to run from Toms River to the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick; this plan was abandoned in 1977.^[39] The parkway was also planned to be the southern terminus for Route 55 at milepost 19. This was canceled after the conclusion that the highway ran through too many wetland areas.^[40] The idea has since been revisited after frequent traffic jams on Route 47.^[41][42]

21st century[]

Garden State Parkway northbound approaching the Driscoll Bridge in 2002, before the southbound span was built

On September 25, 2002, construction began on a new span of the Driscoll Bridge just west of the original spans, consisting of seven lanes and emergency shoulders. On May 3, 2006, all traffic was shifted onto the new span, and the original two were closed for rehabilitation.^[43] On May 20, 2009, all northbound traffic was shifted back onto the original spans, and the new one was made exclusively for southbound traffic.^[44]

On July 9, 2003, Governor Jim McGreevey's plan to merge the operating organizations of the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike into one agency, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), was completed.^[45]

In May 2005, Governor Richard Codey announced plans for a widening of the parkway between exit 63 in Stafford Township and exit 80 in the borough of South Toms River from two to three lanes in both directions. However, the NJTA later made plans to widen the parkway from exit 80 all the way south to exit 30 in the city of Somers Point. The project was divided into three phases. The first phase from exits 80 to 63 was complete in May 2011.^[46] The second phase from exits 63 to 48 was complete in November 2014.^[47] The third phase from exits 48 to 30 was completed in 2018, and included construction of new bridges across the Mullica River from the city of Port Republic to Bass River Township.^[48]

Flyover ramp from the GSP northbound to I-78 westbound, opened in 2009

In 2008, a $150 million project began to add new ramps at the interchange with I-78, supplying the missing movements between the two highways. Previously, the parkway northbound did not have an exit to I-78 westbound, and the parkway southbound did not have an exit to I-78 eastbound. The lack of connections was due to the cancellation of the extension of I-278 (which would have connected northbound parkway traffic with I-78 westbound) and Route 75 (which would have connected southbound parkway traffic with I-78 eastbound via I-280).^[49] In April 2008, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded the project contract to the engineering firm for the design, and to Union Paving & Construction Company for building the ramps.^[50] The ramp connecting the parkway northbound with I-78 westbound opened on September 16, 2009 with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Governor Jon Corzine,^[51] and the ramp connecting the parkway southbound with I-78 eastbound opened on December 10, 2010.^[50]

In 2011, talks began on whether to allow commercial traffic including trucks on the Garden State Parkway north of exit 105, which would have required the removal of the old stone arch overpasses in Middlesex and Union counties.^[52]

Former traffic light at exit 9 (Shell Bay Avenue) before construction of overpass in 2014

As originally built, in Cape May County, the parkway had three traffic lights (at exits 9, 10, and 11), but these were eliminated in 2014–2015, with construction of three overpasses in Cape May Court House.^[53] Construction began in early 2013, years after the scheduled start date due to a wetland mitigation plan that had not been approved by the federal government. The project cost $125 million, and was complete by September 2015.^[54]

The southbound bridge over the Great Egg Harbor Bay was replaced with a wider span parallel to the older span as part of a $79.3 million project. Construction began in 2013 and continued into 2019.^[55] The new southbound bridge temporarily carried both northbound and southbound traffic so the northbound bridge could receive new decking and strengthening. The project also included the addition of a mixed-use walkway along the new southbound span that will allow pedestrian and bicycle connections between Upper Township and Somers Point. However, NJDOT and the city of Somers Point blocked the path from opening until it could be linked with an existing path leading to Ocean City.^[56] In March 2020, NJDOT announced that the path was set to open on May 6,^[57] but it did not open until July 8.^[58]

On July 22, 2014, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority filed a federal lawsuit against Jersey Boardwalk Pizza, a pizza chain in Florida, for using a logo too similar to the signs for the Garden State Parkway.^[59] Federal Judge William Martini dismissed the suit on March 26, 2015.^[60][61]

In June 2018, an improvement project began at the interchange with I-280 and CR 508 (Central Avenue). The project involves widening the entrance ramp to the parkway southbound from one to two lanes and adding a second deceleration lane on the parkway northbound. To accommodate the wider roadway, the overpass carrying Central Avenue over the parkway is being rebuilt.^[48] Five nearby bridges are also being rehabilitated as part of the project. The project is expected to cost $63 million and be completed in August 2022.^[62][63]

Southbound approaching exit 30 in Somers Point

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has plans to close exit 30 in Somers Point, which connects to Laurel Drive, a residential street that leads to US 9 and becomes Route 52, an access road to Ocean City. With the closure of exit 30, exit 29 will be converted to a full interchange to redirect traffic heading to Ocean City from points north along US 9 and CR 559 to reach Route 52. The planned closure of exit 30 is being made in order to reduce summertime traffic congestion along the parkway from vehicles exiting at the interchange along with reducing summertime traffic levels along Laurel Drive. The proposed closure of exit 30 and conversion of exit 29 to a full interchange has received opposition from officials in Somers Point and Ocean City along with residents along CR 559 fearing increased traffic congestion.^[64]

Regulations[]

Typical entrance sign for the parkway

The speed limit on the parkway is 65 mph (105 km/h) for most of its length. However, it is posted at 55 mph (90 km/h) on a 5-mile (8.0 km) section near Toms River and on a 40-mile (64 km) section between Sayreville and Paramus.^[65] The NJTA may temporarily reduce the speed limit when special hazards exist.^[66]

Commercial trucks with a registered weight of over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are not allowed to use the parkway north of exit 105, just past the Asbury Park Toll Plaza. South of this point, trucks are permitted, but must pay additional tolls. Buses are allowed for the entire length of the parkway.^[67] In April 2011, New Jersey Transportation Commissioner James Simpson announced the NJTA was looking into the possibility of allowing trucks on the northern portion of the Garden State Parkway.^[68] However, the idea was quickly abandoned after the agency found the road had engineering concerns that would make the consideration of allowing trucks on this segment impossible.^[69]

On February 1, 1961, the NJHA outlawed motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles from the entire length of the parkway. The ban was enacted after a year involving 20 motorcycle accidents and two fatalities. Motorcyclists who used the highway faced a fine of $200 or a 30-day jail sentence.^[70] However, the motorcycle ban was lifted on November 1, 1975, after pressure from entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes and other motorcyclists.^[71][72]

Tolls[]

Southbound at the Great Egg Toll Plaza

Toll plaza on the southbound entrance ramp at exit 165

The Garden State Parkway uses an open system of tolling where tolls are collected at somewhat regular intervals along its length and at certain entrances and exits. This contrasts with the New Jersey Turnpike, which uses a closed system where a motorist receives a ticket with the toll rates at the highway's entrance, and turns in the ticket along with the toll upon exiting at toll gates.^[73]

As of September 13, 2020, the standard car toll is $0.95 on the main road at two-way toll plazas and $1.90 at one-way toll plazas. Some entrances and exits require a toll of either $0.65, $0.95, $1.25, or $1.90. It costs $10.45 to travel the entire length of the parkway in a car.^[74]

There are three different lane types at the toll plazas. However, not all plazas have every type of lane at all times.^[75]

The first type is full-service lanes. These lanes are staffed and toll collectors can provide change and receipts to drivers.^[76]

The second type is exact-change lanes. In these lanes, motorists deposit coins in a toll basket and each coin is mechanically counted. Payment of tolls is enforced by photo, a system that went into effect on October 17, 2011.^[77] The Union Toll Plaza was the first to use an automated toll-collection machine; a plaque commemorating this event includes the first quarter collected at its toll booths.^[78] Historically, these lanes also accepted tokens,^[79] and were common on main roadway toll plazas. However, between September and October 2018, exact-change lanes were discontinued on mainline toll plazas; they continue to be used for exit and entrance ramp toll plazas.^[80]

The third type of lane is for the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system. Dedicated lanes only accept vehicles with E-ZPass tags. The speed limit in these lanes is 15 mph (24 km/h), or 55–65 mph (89–105 km/h) in Express E-ZPass lanes.^[81] Full-service lanes also accept E-ZPass tags.^[82]

Garden State Parkway tokens, which were discontinued after January 1, 2009

Tokens, available for purchase at full-service toll plaza lanes, were introduced in 1981 at a price of $10 for a roll of 40 tokens; as the toll was 25 cents at the time, most drivers continued to use quarters. However, when the toll was increased to 35 cents in 1989, rolls were priced at 30 tokens for $10; between the slight discount and the convenience of using a single coin, tokens gained in popularity.^[79] There were also larger bus tokens, primarily for use by Atlantic City-bound buses.^[83] As E-ZPass became more widespread, tokens were phased out. Token sales were discontinued on January 1, 2002,^[79] and they were no longer accepted effective January 1, 2009.^[84]

E-ZPass was first installed at the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza in December 1999, and the system was completed in August 2000.^[85] Beginning on November 19, 2001, E-ZPass customers were charged the approximate token rate of 33 cents during peak hours, or 30 cents during off-peak hours instead of 35 cents, the cash toll rate at the time. Due to tremendous cost overruns in implementing the E-ZPass system on New Jersey's toll highways, the discount was eliminated the next year.^[86] NJHA E-ZPass customers were charged a $1-per-month account fee,^[86] causing many customers to turn in their transponders and obtain one from an out-of-state authority which did not charge a monthly fee. E-ZPass discounts continue to be available for off-peak travel, senior citizens, drivers of green vehicles, and trailers.^[73]

Historical picture of a Garden State Parkway toll plaza

To reduce congestion, 10 of the 11 toll plazas on the roadway were converted into one-way plazas between September 2004 and February 2010, dubbed "one-way tolling".^[87] Under this program, the toll is doubled in one direction, and the other direction is toll-free. The Cape May (in Upper Township), Great Egg (in Somers Point), New Gretna (in Bass River Township), Barnegat (in Barnegat Township), Asbury Park (in Tinton Falls), Raritan (in Sayreville), Union (in Hillside), Essex (in Bloomfield), Bergen (in Saddle Brook), and Pascack Valley (in Washington Township) toll plazas had been converted to one-way toll plazas. The Toms River Toll Plaza (in Toms River) is the only location on the parkway mainline where a toll is collected in both directions.^[74]

Literature from the time of construction indicates that the parkway would become toll-free once bonds used for its construction were paid off. However, additional construction projects, plus the expectation that the parkway will pay for its own maintenance and policing (and the massive E-ZPass project) make it unlikely it will become toll-free in the foreseeable future.^[84]

Picnic areas[]

The John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly picnic area

One of the objectives of the parkway was to become a state park its entire length, and its users would enjoy park-like aesthetics with minimal intrusion of urban scenery. Along the ride, users were permitted to stop and picnic along the roadway to further enjoy the relaxation qualities the parkway had to offer. All picnic areas had tall trees that provided shade and visual isolation from the roadway. Grills, benches, running water, and restrooms were provided. Over time as the parkway transformed into a road of commerce, the picnic areas were closed for a variety of reasons. Their ramp terminals became insufficient to accommodate the high-speed mainline traffic and in addition to the decreasing number of users, the picnic areas were becoming more effective as maintenance yards and were converted as such or closed altogether.^[88]

The one remaining picnic area, John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly, is closed from dusk to dawn. Posted signs within the picnic area prohibit fires and camping.^[88]

There were ten operational picnic areas:

Services[]

Service areas[]

Northbound exit for the Forked River Service Area

All service areas are located in the center median, unless otherwise noted.

Assurance sign to the Ocean View Service Area

In the 1950s, four petroleum companies were hired to provide gasoline and vehicular necessities—Esso, Texaco, Atlantic and Cities Service. The Cities Service company was the petroleum provider at Monmouth, Forked River, Atlantic City (Absecon at the time) and Ocean View (Seaville at the time) and offered a service where female employees were hired for those service area showrooms, wore uniforms and were known as the Park-ettes. Their duties included providing directions and other information to motorists as well as rendering odd bits of service such as sewing a missing button on a patron's coat.^[107]

On July 27, 2021, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority unanimously voted in favor of renaming the service areas along the Garden State Parkway after New Jerseyans who were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.^[108][109]

Emergency assistance[]

On the Garden State Parkway, the emergency assistance number is #GSP, which is #477 in number form. The New Jersey State Police is the primary police agency that handles calls for service on the parkway. Other emergency services such as fire and first aid are usually handled by the jurisdictions in which that section of the parkway passes.^[75]

Exit list[]

Many entrances and exits have tolls. In general, exits have tolls when they precede a barrier toll, and exits are free when they follow a barrier toll. Conversely, entrances that precede a barrier toll are free, and tolls are paid at entrances just beyond a barrier toll. There are no tolls between exits 129 and 141, as this was the original road segment that predates the New Jersey Highway Authority.^[3][11]

The parkway was the first highway in the United States to use mileage-based exit numbers.^[110] Historically, the exit numbers on the northbound and southbound roadways were not symmetrical. The New Jersey Highway Authority considered each as a separate road and as a result, many exits had non-matching numbers.^[111]

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Old exit	New exit	Destinations	Notes[112]
Cape May	Lower Township	0.00	0.00		–	Route 109 south – Cape May	At-grade intersection
					0	Route 109 north to US 9 – North Cape May	To Cape May–Lewes Ferry
	Middle Township	3.90	6.28		4	Route 47 – The Wildwoods, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Rio Grande	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exit 4A (south) and 4B (north) southbound; formerly exit 4A (north) and 4B (south) southbound; The Wildwoods signed northbound; Wildwood and Wildwood Crest signed southbound
		6.54	10.53		6	Route 147 – North Wildwood, Whitesboro	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		8.40	13.52		9	Shell Bay Avenue to US 9	At-grade intersection until 2014
		9.90	15.93		10	Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor	Access via CR 657; at-grade intersection until 2014
		11.04	17.77		11	Crest Haven Road (CR 609) to US 9	At-grade intersection until 2015; serves Cape May County Park & Zoo
		11.80	18.99		–	US 9	Southbound entrance only
		13.60	21.89		13	To US 9 – Swainton, Avalon	Access via CR 601
	Dennis Township	17.50	28.16		17	Sea Isle City, Dennis Township	Access via CR 625, southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Upper Township	19.38	31.19	Cape May Toll Plaza (northbound)
		20.25	32.59		20	US 9 / Route 50 north – Upper Township	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of Route 50
		25.34	40.78		25	US 9 south – Ocean City	Access via CR 623, southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; serves Corson's Inlet State Park
Great Egg Harbor Bay		27.77	44.69	Great Egg Harbor Bridge
Atlantic	Somers Point	28.78	46.32	Great Egg Toll Plaza (southbound)
		28.90	46.51		29	US 9 north – Somers Point, Ocean City	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		30.00	48.28		30	Somers Point, Ocean City	Access via West Laurel Drive; southbound exit (tolled) and northbound entrance[32]
	Egg Harbor Township	35.82	57.65		36	US 40 / US 322 – Northfield, Pleasantville	Access via CR 563 and CR 651; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		36.08	58.07			CR 563 – Northfield, Margate City	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		36.28	58.39		–	US 40 / US 322 west	Northbound entrance only
		36.59	58.89		37	To US 40 / US 322 – Pleasantville	Access via CR 608, southbound exit and northbound entrance; to CR 563 north
		37.23	59.92		38	A.C. Expressway – Atlantic City, Camden	Signed as exits 38A (east) and 38B (west); former eastern terminus of Atlantic City Expressway; Exit 7 (Atlantic City Expressway)[113]
	Galloway Township	40.04	64.44		40	US 30 east – Absecon, Atlantic City	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		41.70	67.11		41	CR 561 – Galloway, Pomona	Opened March 13, 2015;[114] serves Stockton University
		43.98	70.78		44	CR 575 / CR 561 Alt. – Pomona, Port Republic, Smithville	Northbound exit and southbound entrance opened August 2015; serves Stockton University
	Port Republic	48.29	77.72		48	US 9 south – Port Republic, Smithville	Southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Burlington	Bass River Township	50.67	81.55		50	US 9 north – New Gretna, Tuckerton	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		52.70	84.81		52	New Gretna	Access via CR 654; southbound exit and northbound entrance
		53.54	86.16	New Gretna Toll Plaza (northbound)
Ocean	Little Egg Harbor Township	58.69	94.45		58	CR 539 – Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Whiting
	Stafford Township	64.11	103.18		63	Route 72 – Long Beach Island, Pemberton	Signed as exits 63A (east) and 63B (west) northbound
	Barnegat Township	67.81	109.13		67	CR 554 – Barnegat, Pemberton	Signed as exits 67A (east) and 67B (west) southbound; full interchange opened October 19, 2010[115]
		68.61	110.42	Barnegat Toll Plaza (southbound)
	Ocean Township	70.45	113.38		69	CR 532 – Waretown	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Lacey Township	75.34	121.25		74	Forked River	Access via CR 614, tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Berkeley Township	77.40	124.56		77	Berkeley	Access via CR 618 / CR 619, tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	South Toms River	80.85	130.12		80	US 9 / CR 619 south / CR 530 – Beachwood, South Toms River	Southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Toms River	81.85	131.72		81	CR 527 (Lakehurst Road) – Toms River
		82.35	132.53		82	Route 37 – Seaside Heights, Lakehurst	Signed as exits 82 (east) and 82A (west); serves Island Beach State Park
		84.10	135.35		83	US 9 north / CR 571 / Route 166 south – Lakewood	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; no southbound exit
		84.72	136.34	Toms River Toll Plaza
	Lakewood Township	89.36	143.81	88	89A[116]	Route 70 – Lakehurst, Brick, Point Pleasant	Tolled interchange; signed as exits 89A (east) and 89B (west) southbound
		90.18	145.13		89B[116]	CR 528 – Lakewood	Tolled interchange; signed as exit 89C southbound
	Brick Township	91.10	146.61		90	CR 549 south – Brick	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		92.62	149.06		91	CR 549 – Lakewood, Brick, Herbertsville, Point Pleasant	Signed as exits 91B (south) and 91A (north) southbound; tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
Monmouth	Wall Township	98.23	158.09	96 97-97A	98	Route 138 east / I-195 west / Route 34 – Belmar, Trenton	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; former exits closed 1973–74; exit 36 (Route 138)[117][118]
	Tinton Falls	101.24	162.93	100	100A	Route 33 east – Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach	Bradley Beach not signed southbound
		101.49	163.33	100A	100B	Route 66 east – Asbury Park	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; former left exit[119]
		101.74– 163.73	163.73– 263.50	100B	100C	Route 33 west – Freehold	Signed as exit 100B southbound
		103.15	166.00		102	Neptune, Asbury Park	Access via CR 16; southbound exit and northbound entrance
		103.96	167.31	Asbury Park Toll Plaza (northbound)
		104.20	167.69	South end of the local-express lanes split
		106.12– 106.39	170.78– 171.22		105	Route 36 north / Route 18 north – New Brunswick, Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls	Tolled northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express and local lanes; access from the Garden State Parkway southbound to Route 18 via CR 38; no commercial vehicles north of this exit; Exit 15 (Route 18); New Brunswick signed northbound only; Tinton Falls signed southbound only
	Middletown Township	110.14	177.25		109	CR 520 – Red Bank, Lincroft	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Middletown–Holmdel township line	113.88	183.27		114	Holmdel, Middletown	Access via CR 52;[120] tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Holmdel Township	115.85	186.44		116	PNC Bank Arts Center	To New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
		117.00	188.29	Crossover ramps between the express and the local lanes
	Hazlet	118.50	190.71		117	Route 35 / Route 36 south – Hazlet, Keyport	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express lanes
	Aberdeen Township	118.79	191.17	117A[121]	118	Aberdeen	Access via CR 3; tolled interchange; southbound exit and entrance
Middlesex	Old Bridge Township	121.13	194.94		120	Laurence Harbor, Matawan	Access via CR 626; to Cheesequake State Park
	Sayreville	124.64	200.59		123	US 9 south – Sayreville, Old Bridge	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		124.99	201.15		124	Main Street (CR 670)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; opened October 25, 1982[122]
		125.28	201.62	North end of the local-express lanes split
		125.68	202.26	Raritan Toll Plaza (southbound)
		126.36	203.36		125	US 9 south / Route 35 – Sayreville, South Amboy (northbound) Chevalier Avenue (southbound)	Northbound entrance opened February 2020; southbound exit opened July 9, 2017, for E-ZPass users only[123]
	Raritan River	127.33	204.92	Driscoll Bridge
	Woodbridge Township	128.22	206.35	127A[124]	127	US 9 north / Route 440 to I-287 – Woodbridge, Staten Island	Signed as exit 129 southbound; southbound exit via New Brunswick Avenue
		129.50	208.41	128	129	I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia	Exit 11 (I-95 /NJ Turnpike); opened September 18, 1969;[125] Trenton signed northbound; Philadelphia signed southbound
		129.50	208.41			US 9 / Route 440 to I-287 – Woodbridge, Perth Amboy	Southbound exit only; northbound access is via exit 127
		130.63	210.23		130	US 1 – Trenton, Newark	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 130B (south) and 130A (north)
		131.33	211.36		131	Wood Avenue South (CR 649)	Signed as exit 131A northbound
		131.83	212.16		131B	Metropark	Access via CR 657; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		131.97	212.39	131[114]	132	Route 27 – Iselin, Metuchen
Union	Clark	136.22	219.22		135	Clark, Westfield	Access via CR 613
	Cranford	137.59	221.43		136	Linden, Roselle	Access via CR 607 / CR 615
		138.74	223.28		137	Route 28 – Roselle Park, Elizabeth, Cranford
	Kenilworth	140.34	225.86		138	CR 509 – Kenilworth
	Union Township	141.10	227.08		139A	Roselle Park	Access via CR 619; northbound exit and entrance[126]
		141.26	227.34	140	139B	Route 82 west – Union	Signed as exit 140A southbound
		141.70	228.04	140A	140	US 22 / Route 82 east – Elizabeth, Somerville, Hillside	Signed as exit 140B southbound
		142.10	228.69		141	Vauxhall Road (CR 630)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Hillside	142.66	229.59	Union Toll Plaza (northbound)
		142.80	229.81	142	142A	I-78 east to N.J. Turnpike – Newark Airport, Newark	Tolled northbound entrance; southbound exit ramp to I-78 east opened December 10, 2010; Exit 52 (I-78); to the Holland Tunnel[50]
		142.90	229.98	142	142B	I-78 west – Springfield	Tolled northbound entrance; northbound exit ramp to I-78 west opened September 16, 2009; Exit 52 (I-78)[51]
		143.00	230.14	142–142A[111]	142C	Maplewood	Access via North Union Avenue; northbound exit and southbound entrance
Essex	Irvington	144.0	231.7	142A[111]	143	To Route 124 – Irvington (northbound) Maplewood, Hillside (southbound)	Access via CR 602 and CR 603; signed as exits 143A (Hillside), 143B (Maplewood) and 143C (To Route 124 - Irvington) southbound
		145.98	234.93		144	CR 510 (South Orange Avenue)	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance
	East Orange	146.93– 147.15	236.46– 236.81	145–145A	145	I-280 / CR 508 – Newark, The Oranges	Tolled southbound entrance; Exit 12 (I-280)[127]
				146		Springdale Avenue – East Orange, Newark Area[128]	Former northbound exit and southbound entrance; closed January 12, 1966[129]
		148.44	238.89		147	East Orange	Access via Springdale Avenue; southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Bloomfield	149.2	240.1		148	CR 506 Spur / CR 509 – Bloomfield, Glen Ridge	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance
		150.22	241.76	148A[130]	149	CR 506 – Glen Ridge, Belleville	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		150.66	242.46	Essex Toll Plaza (southbound)
		151.1	243.2	149A[130]	150	Hoover Avenue (CR 651)	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		152.45	245.34		151	Montclair, Nutley	Access via CR 655; tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
Passaic	Clifton	154.06– 154.45	247.94– 248.56		153	Route 3 to US 46 west – Secaucus, Wayne	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 153A (east) and 153B (west to US 46 west) northbound; no southbound access to Route 3 west or northbound access from Route 3 east; to Meadowlands Sports Complex and the Lincoln Tunnel
		155.91	250.91		154	US 46 east – Clifton (northbound) US 46 west – Clifton (southbound)	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance[131]
		156.4	251.7	155P	155A	Route 19 to I-80 west – Paterson	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		156.68	252.15	155	155B	Passaic	Access via CR 702; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		158.19	254.58		156	Route 20 north – Elmwood Park	Access via US 46; northbound exit and southbound entrance
Bergen	Elmwood Park	158.87	255.68		157	US 46 east – Garfield (northbound) US 46 west to Route 20 – Garfield (southbound)	Same directional movements only
	Saddle Brook	160– 160.35	260– 258.06	158	159	I-80 – Saddle Brook, Paterson, George Washington Bridge	Tolled northbound exit; no direct northbound access to I-80 westbound; Exit 62 (I-80)[31]
		160.46	258.24	Bergen Toll Plaza (northbound)
	Paramus	161.53	259.96		160	To Route 208 – Fair Lawn, Hackensack	Access via CR 62; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		161.88	260.52		161	Route 4 east – Paramus	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		163.06	262.42		163	Route 17 south to Route 4 – Paramus, George Washington Bridge	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; to Meadowlands Sports Complex
		163.29	262.79			Route 17 north – Mahwah	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		164.94	265.45		165	Ridgewood, Oradell	Access via CR 80; tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance;[18] signed as exits 165A (Oradell) and 165B (Ridgewood)
		165.93	267.04		166	Washington, Westwood	Access via CR 110; southbound exit and northbound entrance[18]
	Washington Township	166.25	267.55	Pascack Valley Toll Plaza (southbound)
		167.46	269.50		168	CR 502 – Washington, Westwood	Northbound exit and southbound entrance[18]
	Woodcliff Lake	170.15	273.83		171	Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River	Access via CR S73, northbound exit and southbound entrance[132]
	Montvale	171.52	276.03		172	Montvale, Park Ridge	Access via CR 94; northbound exit and southbound entrance[18]
		172.40	277.45		–	To I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway – New York City, Albany	Continuation into New York; access via Garden State Parkway Connector
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Tolled

See also[]

•  U.S. Roads portal
•  New Jersey portal

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Garden State Parkway.

Route map:

• New Jersey Turnpike Authority & Garden State Parkway Official Website
• History of the Garden State Parkway
• "NJ Route 444" (PDF). (2.82 MB) Straight Line Diagram
• Photos of the Garden State Parkway
• New Jersey Expressways and Tollways
• Garden State Parkway (NJ 444) (Greater New York Roads)