Garden State Parkway

The Garden State Parkway (GSP) is a limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the state's southernmost tip at Cape May to the New York line at Montvale. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State". The parkway's official, but unsigned, designation is Route 444. 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. At a length of 172.4 miles (277.5 km), the parkway is the longest highway in the state. Most of the highway has a posted speed limit of 65 mph (105 km/h). The parkway is primarily for passenger vehicle use; trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are prohibited north of exit 105.

Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway highlighted in green
Route information
Maintained by NJTA
Length	172.40 mi (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
	US 40 / US 322 in Egg Harbor Township A.C. Expressway in Egg Harbor Township US 30 in Galloway I-195 / Route 138 / Route 34 in Wall US 9 / Route 440 in Woodbridge Township I-95 / N.J. Turnpike in Woodbridge Township US 1 in Woodbridge Township I-78 in Union/Hillside I-280 in East Orange I-80 in Saddle Brook
North end	Garden State Parkway Connector in Ramapo, New York
Location
Counties	Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Union, Essex, Passaic, Bergen
Highway system
New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate US State Scenic Byways ← Route 440 444 Route 445 →

The parkway was constructed between 1946 and 1957 to connect suburban northern New Jersey with 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. Unofficially, the parkway has two sections: the "metropolitan section" north of the Raritan River and the "shore section" between the Raritan River and Cape May. Most of the metropolitan section is like any other expressway built in the 1950s through heavily populated areas. The shore section parallels US 9 and runs through unspoiled wilderness in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The parkway 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 parkway had been maintained by an agency known as the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA), however in 2003, the agency merged with 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. The parkway has been ranked as the busiest toll highway in the United States based on the number of toll transactions. Along the parkway 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 parkway splits into a local-express lane configuration, which it maintains through South Amboy. Here, the highway crosses the Raritan River into Woodbridge Township, where the parkway meets the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95 or I-95). North of here, the parkway 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 parkway enters New York where it becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, continuing north to the New York State Thruway mainline.

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 parkway runs closely parallel to, or concurrently with US 9. The entire length of the Garden State Parkway carries the unsigned designation of Route 444, and is part of the National Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.

Cape May and Atlantic counties

Garden State Parkway northbound at milepost 10 in Middle Township

The parkway begins at an at-grade intersection with Route 109 in Lower Township. It runs north as a four-lane limited-access highway through the Cape Island Wildlife Management Area in Cape May County, parallel to US 9. After crossing over Jones Creek, the highway enters Middle Township and has an interchange with Route 47, which serves Wildwood to the east and Rio Grande to the west. North of this point, the parkway crosses over the abandoned Wildwood Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL), and later has a partial interchange with Route 147, which provides access to North Wildwood located to the east. Crossing into Cape May Court House, the median narrows and the road has three interchanges serving the community. After a southbound entrance ramp from US 9, the median widens again. Continuing north, the parkway passes west of the borough of Avalon and Sea Isle City, reaching the Ocean View Service Area in the median.

US 9 signed with the parkway just north of exit 25 in Upper Township

North of the service area, the parkway enters Upper Township and reaches the Cape May Toll Plaza northbound. Running west of swampland along the Jersey Shore, the parkway comes to an interchange with Route 50 (the southern terminus of the latter). Further north, the parkway's median contains the John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly Picnic Area, the only one of the original ten picnic areas left along the parkway. Continuing north, the road crosses over the abandoned PRSL Ocean City Branch. Running west of Ocean City, US 9 joins the road before it crosses the Great Egg Harbor Bay on the Great Egg Harbor Bridge. After landing in the Atlantic County community of Somers Point, the southbound roadway has the Great Egg Toll Plaza and immediately north, US 9 leaves the parkway.

Returning to a four-lane arterial, the parkway runs along the western edges of Somers Point, soon crossing over the Patcong Creek into Egg Harbor Township. North of this point, the road has a junction with US 40, US 322 and County Route 563 (CR 563). This is the first of three interchanges with roads that serve Atlantic City, located to the east. The parkway then widens to six lanes and passes over the abandoned PRSL Newfield Branch before a cloverleaf interchange with the limited-access Atlantic City Expressway. Passing to the east of Atlantic City International Airport and to the west of the Atlantic City Reservoir, the parkway enters Galloway Township and passes over NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line before it comes to a partial interchange with US 30 (White Horse Pike). North of this exit, the parkway median is home to the Atlantic Service Area, which also has a barrack of the New Jersey State Police and access to CR 561. The parkway then passes east of Stockton University and winds north into the Port Republic Wildlife Management Area. US 9 then merges back into the parkway, along with the Pine Barrens Byway, and the three routes cross the Mullica River.

Burlington and Ocean counties

Garden State Parkway northbound at milepost 60 in Eagleswood Township

Now in Burlington County, US 9 and the Pine Barrens Byway depart in Bass River Township. Continuing northeast, the parkway passes over US 9 with no access before crossing the Bass River. After reaching a maintenance yard in the median, the parkway northbound has the New Gretna Toll Plaza. Crossing northward through Bass River State Forest, the six-lane highway becomes desolate as it enters Ocean County. After passing through Little Egg Harbor Township and interchanging with CR 539, the parkway enters Eagleswood Township, where it crosses over Westecunk Creek and passes to the west of Eagles Nest Airport. Afterwards, the parkway enters Stafford Township where it has an interchange with Route 72, providing access to Manahawkin and Long Beach Island. Crossing northeast through the Pine Barrens, the parkway heads into Barnegat Township where it has a junction with CR 554 before 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. After crossing the south, middle, and north branches of the Forked River, the parkway has the Forked River Service Area in the median. Further north, the road crosses over Cedar Creek and enters Berkeley Township, where it crosses through Double Trouble State Park. Upon entering the Township of Toms River, the parkway becomes concurrent with US 9 once again at CR 530. After crossing over the Toms River and the abandoned Conrail Barnegat Branch, the parkway meets CR 527 followed by Route 37, which provides access to Lakehurst, Seaside Heights and Island Beach State Park. After reaching a maintenance yard in the median, US 9 leaves the parkway at a junction with Route 166, and immediately north is the Toms River Toll Plaza. This is the only plaza on the parkway mainline where tolls are collected in both directions. North of the toll barrier, the parkway enters Lakewood Township and has an interchange with Route 70, serving Brick Township and Point Pleasant Beach to the east; this interchange also serves CR 528. Crossing through Brick Township, the parkway interchanges with CR 549 before crossing the South Branch Metedeconk River and passing over Route 88 with no access. It then crosses the North Branch Metedeconk River and widens to eight lanes just north of a second exit for CR 549.

Monmouth and Middlesex counties

In Wall Township, Monmouth County, the parkway crosses the Manasquan River and passes under the Capital to Coast Trail before reaching exit 98 near Allaire State Park. The interchange involves a pair of collector-distributor roads to reach I-195, Route 34 and Route 138. A park and ride is present in the southeastern cloverleaf with Route 138. Passing to the west of Shark River Park, the parkway reaches the Monmouth Service Area in the median. The service area provides a park and ride for commuters and access to CR 18 (Belmar Boulevard). North of the service area, the parkway enters Tinton Falls and has exits for Route 33 and Route 66. North of the exit for CR 16 (Asbury Avenue), the road widens to ten lanes and reaches the northbound Asbury Park Toll Plaza.

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

After the toll barrier, the road expands into two express and three local lanes in each direction. Just north of the split is an interchange with Route 18 and Route 36. The connector road from the parkway to the terminus of Route 36 and CR 51 (Hope Road) is designated as Route 444S. After crossing the Swimming River and meeting CR 520 (Newman Springs Road), the parkway winds northwest through Middletown, passing over a military road and rail line for the Naval Weapons Station Earle. Now in Holmdel Township, access is provided to the PNC Bank Arts Center and the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Crossing west of Hazlet, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line twice near an interchange for Route 35, Route 36 and nearby Aberdeen. The road connecting the parkway with Routes 36 and 35 is designated as Route 444R. North of this interchange, the parkway widens into a 3-3-3-3 express-local system. It then crosses northwest through Cheesequake State Park, bending into Middlesex County.

The Garden State Parkway in Iselin

After leaving the park, the road has the Cheesequake Service Area in the median, with access to both the express and local lanes of the highway. Crossing into South Amboy, the parkway has a partial interchange with US 9, and 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. 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. On the bridge, the northbound lanes are divided into two roadways; only the eastern roadway has access to exit 127, an interchange for Route 440 and US 9, providing access to the Outerbridge Crossing. Just north of exit 127 in Woodbridge Township, the parkway passes under the abandoned Conrail Raritan Valley RT Line and reaches an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Running northwest through Woodbridge Township as a ten-lane roadway, the parkway has a junction with US 1 and crosses under the Conrail Port Reading Secondary Line as it enters Iselin. Immediately after passing to the east of the Metropark train station and under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, the parkway has an interchange with Route 27 (Lincoln Highway). North of Route 27, the parkway curves northeast, passing the Colonia South and Colonia North service areas, along with the closed Madison Hill Picnic Area.

Union and Essex counties

Crossing into Union County, the highway passes through dense neighborhoods as a ten-lane roadway. It crosses the Middlesex Reservoir in Clark, where the southbound lanes have access to a maintenance yard. The parkway passes west of Winfield Township before crossing the Rahway River into Cranford. After passing over the Conrail Lehigh Line and NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, the parkway reaches a junction with Route 28. In Kenilworth, the highway meets CR 509 and passes to the east of Galloping Hill Golf Course. In Union Township, US 22 crosses the parkway with Route 82 near the Union Watersphere. Here, the parkway narrows to eight lanes, and the northbound lanes have access to the Vaux Hall Service Area. After the service area, the road crosses the Elizabeth River and reaches the Union Toll Plaza northbound. Immediately afterward is an interchange with I-78.

Garden State Parkway northbound at the interchange with I-280 in East Orange

Running northeast into Essex County, the parkway reaches Irvington, where it passes through a short tunnel underneath a parking lot for Irvington Bus Terminal, bounded by Clinton Avenue and Springfield Avenue. North of this point, the parkway gains frontage roads in each direction. 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 parkway regains frontage roads which are known as Oraton Parkway. Here, the parkway has an interchange with I-280 and CR 508, where it loses a lane in each direction. Just north of I-280, the parkway passes under NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines and it eventually crosses the abandoned Erie Lackawanna Railway. Winding into Bloomfield as a six-lane roadway, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line and has an interchange with CR 506 Spur (Bloomfield Avenue). At this point, the frontage roads end. After passing under the Norfolk Southern Railway and reaching an exit for CR 506 (Belleville Avenue), the southbound parkway has the Essex Toll Plaza. After the Brookdale North and Brookdale South service areas, the parkway reaches an interchange with Route 3, where the space between the northbound and southbound roadways contains the Allwood Park and Ride.

Passaic and Bergen counties

View south along the Garden State Parkway at milepost 160, just north of I-80 in Saddle Brook

The parkway then crosses into Passaic County and the city of Clifton, where the route has interchanges with US 46 and Route 19 and passes over NJ Transit's Main Line. Here, the parkway turns northeast and runs through Clifton to the south of Paterson. After crossing the former Erie Railroad and reaching an interchange with Route 20, the parkway crosses the Passaic River and enters Bergen County, where it comes to a second interchange with US 46. The parkway 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. Continuing northeast, the road passes through Saddle River County 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 runs closely parallel with Route 17 before interchanging with it. After passing east of the Paramus Park shopping mall, there is a junction with CR 80 (Ridgewood Avenue/Oradell Avenue), which has a park and ride. Just north of an exit for CR 110 (Linwood Avenue), the parkway enters Washington Township where the southbound lanes have the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza – the northernmost toll plaza on the highway. The parkway then finally narrows from six to four lanes at the exit for CR 502 (Washington Avenue).

Winding through suburban Bergen County, the parkway reaches the Montvale Service Area, the northernmost service area on the road. Immediately north is an exit for CR 94 (Grand Avenue); this is the northernmost exit of the Garden State Parkway, which crosses into New York in Montvale. From there, the route becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, bringing access southbound to CR 41 (Red Schoolhouse Road) in Rockland County. The connector meets I-87/I-287 (New York State Thruway) in Nanuet, marking the northern end.

History

Proposals and construction

Stone overpass on the Garden State Parkway in Union County

Most of the Garden State Parkway was originally planned in 1946 as a bypass of pre-1953 Route 4, which ran from Cape May to the George Washington Bridge by way of Paterson. Construction on this limited-access highway, known as the Route 4 Parkway, began in 1947 in Union County. However, due to a lack of funds, only 11 miles (18 km) of it were completed by 1950 (this segment, between exits 129 and 140, can be distinguished by the stone facing on the overpasses). The solution was for the state to establish the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA) in 1952 to oversee construction and operation as a self-liquidating toll road from Cape May to the New York state line.

The landscape architect and engineer in charge of the newly named Garden State Parkway was Gilmore David Clarke of the architectural 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.

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. This segment of the parkway opened in 1957 along with the Garden State Parkway Connector of the New York State Thruway.

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

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.

The parkway was planned to be the southern terminus of the unbuilt Driscoll Expressway, a 38-mile (61 km) toll road that was to run from Toms River to the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick; this plan was abandoned in 1977. 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. The idea is still being revisited after frequent traffic jams on Route 47.

Interchange projects

Exit 154

The original design of exit 154 when the parkway opened included a single ramp from the parkway northbound to US 46 eastbound in Clifton and a single ramp from US 46 eastbound to the parkway southbound. For drivers to reach US 46 westbound from the parkway southbound, they had to use exit 153 and u-turn at Bloomfield Avenue on Route 3 eastbound. The same applied to drivers trying to get from US 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound.

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. The announcement, held at the Cliftonia Restaurant on Lexington Avenue in Clifton, was attended by numerous local politicians, including several city councilmen and city manager William Holster. The new interchange would connect parkway drivers southbound with US 46 westbound and US 46 eastbound traffic to the parkway northbound. These would include the existing ramps from the parkway northbound to US 46 east and US 46 eastbound to the parkway southbound. The ramp from US 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound would be 2,400 feet (730 m) long, starting just west of Broad Street and crossing over the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Boonton Branch tracks to reach the parkway northbound with a viaduct. The southbound parkway to US 46 ramp westbound would also be 2,400 feet (730 m), this time crossing over the Paterson Spur (future Route 19) of the parkway and Broad and Grove Streets in Clifton. The new ramps, costing $1.7 million (1957 USD), would increase capacity for 8,100 new cars northbound and relieve traffic on city streets in Clifton. Tonti noted that this was the choice over building new ramps at exit 153, as they felt the US 46 interchange needed improvement at a 2.5x rate. However, a toll was not immediately on the table. If a toll was to be added, it would be 10 cents.

In February 1958, Tonti announced the acceptance of bids on the new project were to start in April. In March, the Highway Authority announced that the bids would come in on April 17 for the now $1.95 million project. The proposed start date of construction would be May 1 with completion in December. On May 1, the Highway Authority announced the project bid went to Thomas Nichol Company, Inc. of Farmingdale for a total of $1,112,465, lower than the engineers' estimation of $1,275,000 for the project and the $1.95 million announced. The new ramps, which would create 40 new full-time jobs now included toll booths. Construction began immediately. By May 28, the first signs of improvement came to reality. However, the total cost of the project became $2.25 million as the steelwork was added to the cost.

In June 1958, the Highway Authority filed a lawsuit to help condemn property of the Port Murray Dairy Company and Bee Gee Realty Company for the construction of the interchange. The Highway Authority recommended $6,200 for the property seized from the dairy company and $1,500 for the realtor. In July, they approved a contract of $38,451 for the installation of tolling facilities at exit 154 to the Electronic Signal Company, Inc. of Jamaica, Queens. By August 1958, the piers for the new viaduct from US 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound were finishing up. In September, the completed piers had roadway construction on top of them.

On December 25, 1958, the Highway Authority announced that the new ramps would open on December 26. The ramps, expanded from 2,400 feet (730 m) to 2,800–3,200 feet (850–980 m), were now projected to serve 3 million people per year. The new tolls opened the next month without a formal ceremony. The dedication occurred on January 15, 1959, when the Highway Authority and several city officials attended a ceremony and a luncheon. During 1959, traffic counts noted 1.5 million cars used the new ramps at exit 154.

Exit 114

In March 1961, the Highway Authority announced that plans were being made to construct a new interchange in the Holmdel–Middletown area. This new interchange would help relieve local congestion with the opening of more industrial parks in the area. Plans came down to either Red Hill Road or Nutswamp Road for the location of the new interchange. At the same time, Holmdel wanted a new interchange for the expected influx of traffic with the opening of the Bell Laboratories complex. By June, the Highway Authority made it known that their preference was to build a new interchange at Red Hill Road.

At the same time, exit 116 for Telegraph Hill Park was being used as an unofficial entrance and exit for traffic for Holmdel. Holmdel claimed the Highway Authority, who wanted Red Hill Road improved to facilitate construction of the new interchange, threatened to close it in May 1961. However, the Highway Authority denied this claim from Holmdel, and stated it was too early to know how much the Bell Laboratories facility would add to traffic. Holmdel stated the cheapest method for dealing with traffic to get to Bell Labs was to keep exit 116 open for the traffic to use.

With a large cost to improve local roads for the Bell Labs project, the township requested that the county take over maintenance of Red Hill Road, which was due to cost $127,240 (1961 USD). Holmdel did not want to stick the entire $830,000 bill for improving all Bell roads on Holmdel taxpayers via a bond and had to be convinced by the Highway Authority that the feds would not pony up money for the improvement with the construction of a new interchange. The proposed interchange was to be tolled and locals wanted the Highway Authority to give free passes to Holmdel taxpayers. This was determined to be unlikely as it would ruin the benefits of the interchange and set a bad precedent. In June, the county agreed to take over maintenance of Red Hill Road, along with several other roads in the area.

In November 1961, the Highway Authority and Holmdel agreed to a new interchange at Red Hill Road. The township decided that it was necessary with the opening of Bell Labs and its traffic. Workers for Bell would get off at the interchange and use Crawfords Corners Road via Red Hill to access the facility. The exit would come with 10 cent tolls that would bring revenues of nearly $88,477 over a 30-year stretch. Bell Labs would provide $15,440 by 1963. The new exit would also result in an average of 2,247 cars using the new interchange. As part of the plan, the ramp at exit 116 would be closed to non-emergency automobile traffic. Tolls at exit 105 would jump to 25 cents and exit 109 would become 15 cents.

On December 14, 1961, the Highway Authority made an appropriation of $50,000 for the engineering work for the new interchange. The same day, Holmdel Township accused the Highway Authority of reneging on a promise to keep open Telegraph Hill Road to automobile traffic. However, the Highway Authority and Holmdel announced in November that Telegraph Hill Road's access would close with the new interchange opening. The Highway Authority stated there was no written agreement about the decision to keep Telegraph Hill Park open to residents via this access road in 1952 when they acquired the land. However, there were no complaints from locals and the original agreement was no longer binding in any way.

Red Bank officially protested the new interchange in January 1962. With the toll at exit 109 going from 10 cents to 15 cents to help facilitate construction, the township felt it was necessary to make sure there were no further increases at all by stopping the current one. At the same time, Tonti announced that exit 109 would see needed improvements, including improved lighting for the new interchange. In February 1962, the protest became official until the clear cost of the interchange was made to the public. Red Bank requested the proposed $478,000 interchange be delayed. The Highway Authority announced they were considering Red Bank's request but due to a lack of support from Bell Labs, among others. Middletown and Holmdel's mayors both voiced their support for the project in the face of Red Bank's complaints. However, Tonti would only make the final decision for the construction of an interchange based on what the chairwoman of the Highway Authority, a resident of Red Bank, said. The reports on the interchange would be finished on March 8. Tonti announced a meeting with Red Bank to get his point across on March 7 to see if they would drop their objections.

The meeting with Red Bank was not fruitful. Tonti announced a year's delay in the construction of the new interchange. An attorney representing Monmouth County requested a 90-day delay as they prepare estimates for the county to review the costs of the interchange. Tonti declined this because the 90-day delay would put construction into the winter. The county also requested the funds for the $478,000 project be set aside and not be used for any other project. Tonti also declined that as two other projects (construction of a new interchange with the Bergen–Passaic Expressway (I-80) and a widening project) also were in need of funds. In return, the Highway Authority would look into building an entire interchange at Telegraph Hill Road, which was used by on average 898 cars a day. Tonti also declined the proposal by Middletown to build an interchange at Dwight Road instead because it would cost more due to construction of new overpasses.

In April 1962, the county stepped in and wanted to know the status of the new interchange. Joseph Irwin, the chairman of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, offered to urge a quick decision and speedy construction of a new interchange if they got the Highway Authority's support. Tonti stated that the funds were available for the project until the next meeting on April 12, a hard deadline for Monmouth County. Tonti agreed to look at their recommendations, which included a connector to Dwight Road, at the April 12 meeting. The recommendation proved fruitless, as the interchange was shelved for 1962.

Exit 116 for the PNC Bank Arts Center, the site of the former Telegraph Hill service road

On May 3, 1962, the Highway Authority decided to go through with the plan to close the Telegraph Hill Road service road. Their decision, which would affect traffic for those going to Bell Labs and everyone else who used the service road, would happen once the alternate arrangements are made.

Objection was almost immediate. Holmdel Township, already without the interchange they wanted, opposed the closure near immediately. Bell Labs, who supported a new interchange at Red Hill Road, also requested they keep the Telegraph Hill Road ramps, which were untolled, open. On May 16, thirteen days after the announcement, the Freeholders and the Monmouth County Municipal Association joined the opposition of the closure of the road. The closure, now slated for 7 am on May 30, also had a growing opposition base in Holmdel. However, the Highway Authority stood firm in their plan to close the ramp on May 30, 1962.

The county started talking with Governor Richard J. Hughes and the Highway Authority to see if they could change their minds. Holmdel got signatures from 750 local residents to oppose the closure of the road and requesting a new meeting to discuss it. Despite the protests, the Highway Authority went through with the closing on May 30 with barricades put up and those who passed through them would be considered toll evaders.

However, on June 13, the Red Hill Road interchange proposal came out of the dead. A meeting between the Highway Authority Board, Middletown, Holmdel and Monmouth County representatives noted the halted interchange proposal would be reconsidered at a meeting on June 21. However, this time, the proposal would be delayed again if there was no way to agree to a deal. If a deal was agreed to on June 21, they were hoping work could start immediately and be finished by the end of 1962. Red Bank, the primary opposition, did not attend this meeting. Meanwhile, the lawyers at the Highway Authority noted that their lawyers were looking into re-opening the Telegraph Hill Road access road closed May 30.

The June 21 meeting proved fruitful, as an announcement was made that plans for a Red Hill Road interchange would go ahead. The plan would be to start construction by August 1. Tonti announced they would rush the bids for the project while Middletown would spend $50,000 to help construct a connection road to Dwight Road as Middletown requested. However, the decision was made to not reopen Telegraph Hill's service road and invest money into permanent moving gates. The proposed bids would be accepted on July 12 for the now $667,000 project from six different contractors who were willing to send bids. The six bids received ranged from $443,423–$506,243. The two lowest bids ($443,423 and $444,444) were held over for study. A week later, the bid was given to L. Zimmerman and Sons of Hillside and their bid $443,423 to construct the new interchange. The project had to be finished by the end of 1962 and they had $648,000 set aside for the work.

Construction equipment arrived by July 31 to begin work. In late August, the Highway Authority approved a contract with Taller and Cooper of Brooklyn, New York to install the tolling facilities for the new interchange. Tonti announced on September 19 that Telegraph Hill Road would reopen on a temporary basis on October 1 after approval from their attorneys. Reopening the interchange would cost $20,000 to improve signage and lighting. The exit opened at 12:01 am on October 1 on the basis that it would stay open until the Red Hill Road interchange was finished. By October 19, the Telegraph Hill access road was being used by an average of 1,025 cars a day. In November, they announced the hope to have the interchange finished by December 15 and it was designated as exit 114.

The Highway Authority announced on December 13 that exit 114 would open at 3 pm on December 20. The Telegraph Hill access road would close that day. The interchange opened on time and Telegraph Hill's access road closed at the same time.

Exits 165–166

Signage for exit 165 northbound

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. This would be in conjunction with the expansion of the parkway to six lanes from the Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook to exit 165 from 1966–1969. The project, costing $3.7 million (1966 USD), would expand the two-ramp interchange to eight ramps, creating a collector-distributor road to serve both ramps. A pair of 10 cent tolls would be instituted as well as drivers were using the ramp to bypass Route 17 from its interchange with the parkway to Ridgewood Avenue. Exit 166 at Linwood Avenue would also be discontinued as part of the new project.

Construction on the new interchange began almost immediately, with the new southbound ramps opening on November 30, 1966. A month later, on December 29, the dual ramps on the northbound direction opened. On January 6, 1967, the ramps at exit 166 were closed to traffic. The tolls went into effect on February 13, a few days after a grand opening of the interchange. This was despite announcing that the tolls would go into effect on February 15.

On May 24, it leaked out that the New Jersey Highway Authority would go back on this closure, and re-open the ramps at exit 166. Paramus officials immediately protested re-opening exit 166 due to the fact that the ramp brought cars into blind curves if they turned left. The borough threatened to put up their own barriers at exit 166 if the re-opening went through at noon on May 26 as planned. 40 minutes prior to scheduled opening, the procedure was called off and a meeting between Paramus and Authority Director D. Louis Tonti scheduled for May 29.

With the aborted re-opening, a war of words broke out in the press between Tonti and the pair of Paramus Mayor Charles E. Reid and Police Chief Carl Jockish. Reid and Jockish believed that the agreement in May 1966 was a permanent one, with exit 166 being closed for good. Tonti responded that it was only temporary in their agreement. Tonti noted that this was temporary so engineers could test the traffic patterns at the new interchange 165. Reid stated that he had documents proving this agreement was a permanent one while Tonti noted that on May 17, he received the results of the traffic study stating that there would be no issues with the re-opening of the ramp. Despite this, Tonti noted that they were willing to move the barriers to prevent left turns to avoid the blind curves. However, Paramus rejected that decision before the slated opening. Tonti noted that state police troopers would be assigned to ensure the ramp stayed closed in case of any confusion.

Signage for exit 166, two miles north of the ramp

On May 30, the Highway Authority announced that they would postpone the opening pending a safety study in helping to avoid a trip to the courts and preventing Paramus from putting up their own barriers. However, by June, a new party involved themselves in the exit 166 fight. Washington Township requested that the ramp be re-opened so emergency vehicles could access the parkway. Mayor Richard Fallon, aware of Paramus' issues, was open to the concept of a moving gate for use by emergency vehicles only and not all automobile traffic. Residents of Washington Township and nearby Westwood were also complaining as the closure of the ramps made their commutes longer, a concern Paramus denied as a legitimate issue. Tonti told The Bergen Record that there would be a decision soon. However, by July 1967, the fire chief of Washington Township had yet to deal with the inconvenience of a closed exit 166.

Tionti and Reid met on July 5, 1967 to discuss the exit 166 debacle, with Tionti requesting additional traffic data for the study. However, Tionti and Reid both wanted different things. Reid wanted to know how much the traffic changed after the construction of the Fashion Center on East Ridgewood Avenue. Tionti wanted additional data on the accidents and movement in the area between exits 165 and 166. Local police in Paramus compiled the previous five years worth of accident and traffic data for Tionti, who demanded the extra reports within two weeks of the meeting.

Tionti announced on September 12, 1967, that exit 166 would open once again after considering all the studies done on the interchange. Despite continued threats from Reid to close the interchange by force, Tionti noted that he would contact the mayor once a date was settled. Washington Township supported the decision, which would help at least 200 people from Washington Township to Park Ridge. The studies also suggested they should eliminate several left turns to help reduce the safety risk of exit 166, including trimming back trees to help visibility.

By September 15, Reid made good on his plan to oppose the re-opening, slated for September 22. Reid announced that any plans to re-open the ramps would be met with their own barricades or a court injunction. The Highway Authority expected a result similar to the dispute in May, when they sent their machinery out ready to go to remove the barricades while Paramus sent their own to build their own. Reid noted that he wanted to get the matter in front of a judge, whether it be through an injunction or a lawsuit.

However, on September 21, a judge found in favor of the New Jersey Highway Authority and ordered the barricades removed from exit 166. Despite the local protests by Paramus, who wanted a permanent closure, the judge ruled that the borough could not re-barricade the ramp from traffic. Paramus, despite the injunction, planned to continue the fight for the interchange being closed, planning a full hearing application. Cops would be assigned to make things easier for traffic as the barricades came down on September 22.

The fight continued into November 1967, when Paramus demanded the Highway Authority expand the collector-distributor road to two lanes for the benefit of a new industrial park in the area. Tionti refused to meet with the borough due to the pending lawsuit on exit 166, with a hearing scheduled in December.

21st century

In 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 April 10, 2006, all traffic was shifted onto the new span, and the original two were closed for rehabilitation. On May 20, 2009, all northbound traffic was shifted back onto the original spans, and the new one was made exclusively for southbound traffic.

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.

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 has subsequently 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. The second phase from exits 63 to 48 was complete in November 2014. 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.

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). In April 2008, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded the project contract to the engineering firm Gannett Fleming for the design, and to Union Paving & Construction Company for building the ramps. 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, and the ramp connecting the parkway southbound with I-78 eastbound opened on December 10, 2010.

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 and Stone Harbor. 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.

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. 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 is linked with an existing path leading to Ocean City.

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. Federal Judge William Martini dismissed the suit on March 26, 2015.

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. Additionally, the speed limit is 45 mph (70 km/h) approaching and traversing the Driscoll Bridge.

Commercial trucks with a registered weight of over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are not allowed to use the northern parts of the parkway. All trucks are prohibited north of exit 105, just past the Asbury Park Toll Plaza. From Tinton Falls to the southern end of the parkway at Cape May, trucks are allowed, but must pay additional tolls. Buses are allowed for the entire length of the parkway. 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. 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.

On February 1, 1961, the New Jersey Highway Authority outlawed motorcycles from the entire length of the parkway. The ban was enacted after a year ridden with 20 motorcycle accidents, involving two fatalities. Outlawed at the same time were scooters and bicycles. Anyone caught using a motorcycle would be fined $200 or jailed for 30 days. However, the ban was lifted on November 1, 1975 after pressure from entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes and other motorcyclists.

Tolls

Southbound at the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza

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. In 2001, the parkway was ranked as the busiest toll highway in the United States by the number of toll transactions, totaling 609 million.

As of 2012, the standard car toll is $0.75 on the main road at two-way toll plazas and $1.50 at one-way toll plazas. Some entrances and exits require a toll of either $0.50, $0.75, $1.00, or $1.50. It costs $8.25 to travel the entire length of the parkway in a car.

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

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

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. 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. Historically, these lanes also accepted tokens, 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.

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. Full-service lanes also accept E-ZPass tags.

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. There were also larger bus tokens, primarily for use by Atlantic City-bound buses. As E-ZPass became more widespread, tokens were phased out. Token sales were discontinued on January 1, 2002, and they were no longer accepted effective January 1, 2009.

E-ZPass was first installed at the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza in December 1999, and the system was completed on September 19, 2000. 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. NJHA E-ZPass customers were charged a $1-per-month account fee, causing many customers to turn in their NJHA E-ZPass transponders in favor of a transponder 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.

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". 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.

Literature from the time of the parkway's 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.

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.

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.

There were ten operational picnic areas:

Name	Location	Milepost	Direction	Opened	Closed	Notes
John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly	Upper Township	22.7 miles (36.5 km)	Both	October 20, 1965	–	John B. Townsend was a physician from Ocean City who became the New Jersey Highway Authority's second Vice Chairman in 1955. The word Shoemaker comes from the last name of the landowner in the way of the parkway's alignment during its initial construction. The term Holly comes from the holly tree that was on Shoemaker's property. The tree is presumed to be 300 years old and one of, if not, the oldest holly tree in the United States. The bathrooms at Shoemaker Holly were demolished in August 2014.
Stafford Forge	Stafford Township	61.6 miles (99.1 km)	Both	May 27, 1955	1990s
Oyster Creek	Lacey Township	71.3 miles (114.7 km)	Both	May 27, 1955	1980s–1990s	The murder of Maria Marshall orchestrated by her husband Robert O. Marshall occurred in the Oyster Creek picnic area on the night of September 7, 1984. The story was made into a novel and television movie on NBC.
Double Trouble	Double Trouble	79.0 miles (127.1 km)	Southbound		February 23, 1961	The NJHA chose to abandon the picnic area due to the outbreak of mosquitoes from a nearby cranberry bog.
Polhemus Creek	Brick Township	82.0 miles (132.0 km)	Northbound	June 4, 1955	1980s–1990s
Herbertsville	Wall Township	94.65 miles (152.32 km)	Southbound	May 27, 1955	1980s	Converted to a maintenance yard of the same name and heavy vehicle weigh station.
Telegraph Hill	Holmdel Township	115.85 miles (186.44 km)	Both	April 24, 1957	2010s	The picnic area was off exit 116, next to the PNC Bank Arts Center.
Glenside	Woodbridge Township	130.2 miles (209.5 km)	Southbound		October 23, 1987	Closed due to illegal use for sex and drugs
Madison Hill	Woodbridge Township	134.9 miles (217.1 km)	Northbound	November 1, 1950	1980s–1990s	Madison Hill was an overlook constructed for the Route 4 Parkway rather than the whole Garden State Parkway.
Tall Oaks	Cranford	137.0 miles (220.5 km)	Southbound		July 1988	Closed due to illegal use for sex and drugs

Services

Service areas

Approaching the Montvale service area, the last rest area on the northbound side of the Parkway before heading into New York.

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

Name	Location	Milepost	Direction	Opened	Closed	Facilities	Notes
Ocean View	Dennis Township	18.3 miles (29.5 km)	Both	July 8, 1955		Restrooms, fuel, vending machines, tourist information	Formerly known as Seaville.
Atlantic Plaza	Galloway Township	41.4 miles (66.6 km)	Both			Food, restrooms, fuel and information
New Gretna	Bass River Township	53 miles (85 km)	Both		July 1, 1955	Food, restrooms, fuel	Temporary service area built for services until the permanent service areas were completed. Now site of a Parkway maintenance facility.
Forked River	Lacey Township	76.0 miles (122.3 km)	Both	May 19–26, 1955		Food, restrooms, fuel	The snack bar at Forked River opened the weekend of May 19–20, 1955 but full facilities did not open until May 26. Closed on September 10, 2019 for construction; will reopen in May 2020.
Monmouth	Wall Township	100.4 miles (161.6 km)	Both	July 1, 1955		Food, restrooms, fuel
Eatontown	Tinton Falls	107 miles (172 km)	Both		July 1, 1955	Food, restrooms, fuel	Temporary service area built for services until the permanent service areas were completed.
Cheesequake	Old Bridge Township	123.0 miles (197.9 km)	Both	May 12, 1955		Food, restrooms, fuel
Colonia South	Woodbridge Township	132.79 miles (213.70 km)	Southbound			Fuel, convenience stores and restrooms
Colonia North		133.45 miles (214.77 km)	Northbound			Fuel, convenience stores and restrooms
Vaux Hall	Union Township	142.0 miles (228.5 km)	Northbound	May 26, 1955		Food, restrooms and fuel
Brookdale South	Bloomfield	153.3 miles (246.7 km)	Southbound	August 10, 1956		Food, restrooms and fuel
Brookdale North		153 miles (246 km)	Northbound	December 10, 1956		Fuel only	Doubles as barracks for New Jersey State Police.
Montvale	Montvale	171 miles (275 km)	Both	September 18, 1958		Food, restrooms, fuel and information	Travel center burned down in 1991; reopened on May 1, 1993.

Assurance sign to the Ocean View service area, Ocean View, New Jersey.

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.

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.

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.

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.

County	Location	mi	km	Old exit	New exit	Destinations	Notes
Cape May	Lower Township	0.00	0.00		–	Route 109 to US 9 – Cape May, North Cape May	At-grade intersection, access to Cape May–Lewes Ferry; ramp to Route 109 northbound signed as exit 0
	Middle Township	3.90	6.28		4	Route 47 – Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Rio Grande	Toll (northbound exit and southbound entrance); signed as exit 4A (south) and 4B (north) southbound; The Wildwoods signed northbound
		6.54	10.53		6	Route 147 – North Wildwood, Whitesboro	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		8.40	13.52		9	To US 9 / Shell Bay Avenue	Former at-grade intersection, removed 2014
		9.90	15.93		10	Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor	Access via CR 657, former at-grade intersection, removed 2014
		11.04	17.77		11	To US 9 / Crest Haven Road	Access via CR 609, former at-grade intersection, removed 2015
		11.80	18.99		–	US 9	Southbound entrance only, no exit
		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 only)
		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 concurrency with US 9; access to 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 only)
		28.90	46.51		29	US 9 north – Somers Point, Ocean City	Northern terminus of concurrency with US 9; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		30.00	48.28		30	Somers Point, Ocean City	Access via North Laurel Drive; tolled southbound exit; southbound exit and northbound entrance since 1965
	Egg Harbor Township	35.82	57.65		36	US 40 / US 322 – Northfield, Pleasantville, Atlantic City	Access via CR 563 and CR 651, northbound exit and southbound entrance
		36.08	58.07			CR 563 south – Northfield, Margate	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		36.28	58.39		–	US 40 / US 322	Northbound entrance only, no exit
		36.59	58.89		37	To US 40 / US 322 – Pleasantville	Access via CR 608, southbound exit and northbound entrance, access 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 A.C. Expressway; exit opened July 31, 1964
	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 Township, Pomona	Opened March 13, 2015; Access to AtlantiCare Medical Campus and 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 concurrency with US 9; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Burlington	Bass River Township	50.67	81.55		50	US 9 north – New Gretna, Tuckerton	Northern terminus of concurrency with US 9; 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 only)
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	Southbound entrance and northbound exit opened opened on October 19, 2010; signed as exits 67A (east) and 67B (west) southbound
		68.61	110.42	Barnegat Toll Plaza (southbound only)
	Ocean Township	70.45	113.38		69	CR 532 – Waretown	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance)
	Lacey Township	75.34	121.25		74	Forked River	Access via CR 614, toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance)
	Berkeley Township	77.40	124.56		77	Berkeley	Access via CR 618 / CR 619, toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance)
	South Toms River	80.85	130.12		80	US 9 south / CR 619 south / CR 530 – Beachwood, South Toms River	Southern terminus of concurrency with US 9; southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Toms River	81.85	131.72		81	Lakehurst Road (CR 527) – Toms River
		82.35	132.53		82	Route 37 – Seaside Heights, Lakehurst	Signed as exits 82 (east) and 82A (west); access to Island Beach State Park
		84.10	135.35		83	US 9 north / CR 571 / Route 166 south – Lakewood	Northern terminus of concurrency with US 9; no southbound exit
		84.72	136.34	Toms River Toll Plaza
	Lakewood Township	89.36	143.81	88	89	Route 70 – Lakehurst, Lakewood, Brick Township	Signed as exit 89A northbound for Route 70 east and west; 89A (east) and 89B (west) southbound; toll on all ramps
		90.18	145.13			CR 528 – Lakewood, Brick	Signed as exit 89B northbound and 89C southbound; toll on all ramps
	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 Township, Herbertsville, Point Pleasant	Signed as exits 91B (south) and 91A (north) southbound; toll on southbound exit and northbound entrance
Monmouth	Wall Township	98.23	158.09	96–97–97A	98	I-195 west / Route 138 east / Route 34 – Belmar, Brielle, Trenton	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance); former exits 96 (Route 34), 97 and 97A (Route 138); the northbound interchanges closed in May 1973, the southbound interchanges closed on July 1, 1974
	Tinton Falls	101.24	162.93	100	100A	Route 33 east – Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach	Bradley Beach not signed on southbound signage; formerly exit 100
		101.49	163.33	100A	100B	Route 66 east – Asbury Park	No southbound access to Route 66 east; northbound exit and southbound entrance; former left exit
		101.74– 163.73	163.73– 263.50	100B	100C	Route 33 west – Freehold Borough	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 only)
		104.20	167.69	South end of local-express lanes split
		106.12– 106.39	170.78– 171.22		105	Route 36 north / Route 18 – New Brunswick, Eatontown, Long Branch	Toll (northbound entrance); southbound exit and northbound entrance from express and local lanes; no commercial vehicles beyond this exit
	Middletown Township	110.14	177.25		109	CR 520 – Red Bank, Lincroft	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance)
	Middletown–Holmdel township line	113.88	183.27		114	Holmdel, Middletown	Access via CR 52, toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance); exit opened December 21, 1962
	Holmdel Township	115.85	186.44		116	PNC Bank Arts Center	Access to New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
		117.00	188.29	Crossover ramps between express and local lanes
	Hazlet Township	118.50	190.71		117	Route 35 / Route 36 south – Hazlet, Keyport	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance); southbound exit and northbound entrance from express lanes
	Aberdeen Township	118.79	191.17	117A	118	Aberdeen	Access via CR 3, southbound exit and entrance, toll, formerly 117A from February 27, 1974–2016
Middlesex	Old Bridge Township	121.13	194.94		120	Laurence Harbor, Matawan	Access via CR 626, access 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
		125.28	201.62	North end of local-express lanes split
		125.68	202.26	Raritan Toll Plaza (southbound only)
		126.36	203.36		125	US 9 south / Route 35 – Sayreville, South Amboy	No northbound entrance; signed as Chevalier Avenue southbound; southbound exit opened July 9, 2017 for E-ZPass users only
	Raritan River	127.33	204.92	Driscoll Bridge
	Woodbridge				127	US 9 north / Route 440 to I-287 – Woodbridge Township, Staten Island	Signed as exit 129 southbound; southbound exit via New Brunswick Avenue (former exit 127A)
		129.50	208.41	128	129	I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – New York City, Trenton, Camden	Exit 11 on I-95 / Turnpike; exit opened September 18, 1969; Trenton signed northbound; Camden signed southbound
		129.50	208.41			US 9 / Route 440 to I-287 – Woodbridge Township, Perth Amboy	Southbound exit only, northbound exit via exit 127
		130.63	210.23		130	US 1 – Trenton, Newark	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exit 130B (south/Trenton) and 130A (north/Newark)
		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	132	Route 27 – Iselin, Metuchen	Formerly exit 131 until March 2015
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; exit opened December 1959
				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 only)
		142.80	229.81	142	142A	I-78 east to N.J. Turnpike – Newark Airport, Newark	Toll (northbound entrance); southbound exit to I-78 east opened December 10, 2010
		142.90	229.98	142	142B	I-78 west – Springfield	Toll (northbound entrance); northbound exit ramp to I-78 west opened September 16, 2009
		143.00	230.14	142–142A	142C	Maplewood	Access via North Union Avenue, northbound exit and southbound entrance
Essex	Irvington	144.0	231.7	142A	143	To Route 124 – Irvington, Maplewood, Hillside	Access via CR 602 and CR 603, signed as exits 143A (Hillside), 143B (Maplewood) and 143C (Irvington) southbound
		145.98	234.93		144	CR 510 (South Orange Avenue)	Toll (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	Toll (southbound entrance); exit opened October 17, 1967
				146		Springdale Avenue – East Orange, Newark Area	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit closed on January 12, 1966
		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	Toll (northbound exit and southbound entrance)
		150.22	241.76	148A	149	CR 506 – Glen Ridge, Belleville	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; formerly exit 148A until June 1, 1967
		150.66	242.46	Essex Toll Plaza (southbound only)
		151.1	243.2	149A	150	Hoover Avenue (CR 651)	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; formerly exit 149A until June 1, 1967
		152.45	245.34		151	Montclair, Nutley	Access via CR 655, toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance)
Passaic	Clifton	154.06– 154.45	247.94– 248.56		153	Route 3 to US 46 west – Secaucus, Wayne	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance); signed as exits 153A (east) and 153B (west) northbound; no southbound access to Route 3 west
		155.91	250.91		154	US 46 – Clifton	Toll (southbound exit and northbound entrance); exit opened December 30, 1958
		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 to Route 20 – Garfield	Same directional movements only
	Saddle Brook	160– 160.35	260– 258.06	158	159	I-80 – Saddle Brook, Paterson, George Washington Bridge	Toll (northbound exit); no direct northbound access to I-80 westbound; former interchange with Midland Avenue; exit 62 on I-80
		160.46	258.24	Bergen Toll Plaza (northbound only)
	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, access 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, toll (northbound exit and southbound entrance); exit opened July 3, 1957; signed as exits 165A (Oradell) and 165B (Ridgewood)
		165.93	267.04		166	Washington, Westwood	Access via CR 110, southbound exit and northbound entrance; exit opened July 3, 1957
	Washington Township	166.25	267.55	Pascack Valley Toll Plaza (southbound only)
		167.46	269.50		168	CR 502 – Washington, Westwood	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit opened July 3, 1957
	Woodcliff Lake	170.15	273.83		171	Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River	Access via CR S-73, northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit opened July 25, 1985
	Montvale	171.52	276.03		172	Montvale, Park Ridge	Access via CR 94, northbound exit and southbound entrance; last northbound exit in NJ; exit opened July 3, 1957
		172.40	277.45		–	To I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway	Continuation into New York via the GSP 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

External links

Template:Attached KML/Garden State Parkway

KML is from Wikidata

• 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)