Garden State Parkway

The Garden State Parkway (GSP) is a controlled-access toll road that runs north–south through eastern New Jersey. It starts near Cape May and goes up to the New York state line at Montvale. The name comes from New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State". The parkway is officially called Route 444 by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). At the north end, it becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, which links to the New York State Thruway in Ramapo, New York.

The Garden State Parkway is the longest highway in New Jersey, about 172 miles (277 km) long. It was the busiest toll road in the United States in 2006. Most of the highway north of the Raritan River goes through busy areas. Between the Raritan River and Toms River, the road passes through less crowded suburbs. South of Toms River, the highway runs through natural areas in the Pine Barrens and wetlands, with small towns and Jersey Shore beaches along the way.

The parkway was built between 1946 and 1957. It was made to connect suburban Northern New Jersey with the Jersey Shore and to reduce traffic on older roads like U.S. Route 1 (US 1), US 9 and Route 35. The parkway uses an open system for collecting tolls. Drivers pay flat fees at 11 toll plazas along the road, as well as at some entrances and exits. Tolls can be paid with cash or the E-ZPass electronic system. There are 11 service areas along the route where travelers can get food and fuel.

Route description

The Garden State Parkway is a long road in New Jersey that runs from Cape May up to the New York state line. It starts at New Jersey Route 109 in Cape May County and goes north along the Jersey Shore. The parkway passes through many areas, including the Pine Barrens, Ocean County, and Middlesex County.

As it continues north, the parkway splits into local and express lanes in some sections. It crosses important rivers like the Raritan River and the Passaic River. The parkway also connects to major highways such as the New Jersey Turnpike and I-95.

The parkway is a key route for traveling along the shore and connecting North Jersey with southern parts of the state. It has many toll plazas and service areas along its length. The number of lanes varies, and the speed limit is usually 65 mph but can be lower in some areas. The entire parkway is part of the National Highway System, meaning it is important for the country's economy and travel.

History

1950s

Plans for the Garden State Parkway began in 1942 to connect to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. After World War II, traffic on New Jersey’s coast grew, making travel slow. Construction started in 1947, and the first part opened in 1950 from Route 27 to Cranford. The parkway was designed to feel natural, with many trees and simple signs. It was extended over time, but construction slowed because of lack of funds.

1960s

In the 1960s, more parts of the parkway opened, and tolls were collected for the first time in 1954. The road was extended north to the New York state line. Safety rules were added, such as banning pedestrians and later motorcycles. New exits and interchanges were built to help people get on and off the road more easily.

1970s

The 1970s brought more improvements, including the completion of the Great Egg Harbor Bridge and new exits. Speed limits were changed, and safety projects continued. The parkway was planned to connect with other major roads, but some projects were stopped because of environmental worries.

1980s

In the 1980s, new exits were added, and old ones were improved. Widening the road helped reduce traffic jams. Toll plazas were updated, and some parts of the road were repainted to help traffic flow better.

1990s

During the 1990s, more work was done on exits and overpasses. New toll systems like E-ZPass were introduced to make paying tolls easier. Projects focused on safety and updating the road to handle more traffic.

2000s

The 2000s brought big changes, including the parkway being taken over by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. New exits were built, and old ones were improved. Toll plazas were changed to one-way plazas to reduce traffic, and major bridge projects were finished.

2010s

In the 2010s, projects focused on updating exits, improving safety, and adding new lanes. Exits were rebuilt to better serve local communities, and toll collection was updated with new technology. Major reconstruction projects improved the road’s infrastructure.

2020s

In the 2020s, the parkway saw improvements like temporarily stopping cash tolls because of the COVID-19 pandemic and adding new toll gantries. Projects to replace old overpasses and improve road surfaces continued, keeping the parkway safe and efficient for drivers.

Future

There are plans to improve a part of the Garden State Parkway between exits 80 and 83. This part of the road needs better safety features.

In 2020, there were ideas to change exit 29 to work better, because exit 30 gets very busy during summer. Some people were worried this would just move the traffic problem somewhere else. There are also plans to make many other exits better and safer, and to make parts of the parkway wider in the future. Some people think instead of widening the road, they should add light rail.

Tolls

The Garden State Parkway has drivers pay a set amount at different spots along the road. This is different from another road in New Jersey, where the toll depends on how far you travel. Drivers can pay with cash or use an electronic system called E-ZPass.

As of January 1, 2026, the usual toll for a car is $2.40 with cash and $2.25 with E-ZPass. One special spot, the Toms River Toll Plaza, charges less: $1.20 with cash and $1.13 with E-ZPass. Some entrances and exits have smaller tolls. There are special discounts for off-peak travel, senior citizens, drivers of green vehicles, and trailers.

There are three types of lanes at toll spots. Full-service lanes have staff who can give change and receipts. Exact-change lanes are for drivers who have the exact amount in coins. And there are lanes just for E-ZPass tags.

Services

All service areas on the Garden State Parkway are in the middle of the road. In the 1950s, four companies provided fuel and other car services. One company even had employees who helped drivers with directions.

In 2021, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority decided to rename the service areas after famous people from New Jersey. Two service areas operated by McDonald’s closed in 2022 and were replaced by 2023.

The parkway was designed to feel like a state park, and picnic areas were places where drivers could stop to rest. These areas had trees, grills, benches, water, and restrooms. Over time, most picnic areas closed because they were not safe for fast traffic or because they were better used for maintenance. The last picnic area, John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly in Upper Township, closes at night and does not allow fires or camping.

The emergency assistance number for the Garden State Parkway is #GSP, or #477 on a phone. The New Jersey State Police, especially Troop D, handle most calls for help on the parkway. Other emergency services like fire and first aid are provided by local areas.

Exit list

The Garden State Parkway was the first highway in the United States to use mileage-based exit numbers. Before this, the numbers for northbound and southbound roads were different. This was because the New Jersey Highway Authority saw each direction as a separate road, so many exits had different numbers.