Garden State Parkway

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 north to the New York state line at Montvale. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State". The parkway has an unsigned reference number of Route 444 by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). 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, New York.

The Garden State Parkway is the longest highway in the state at approximately 172 miles (277 km), and was the busiest toll road in the United States in 2006. Most of the highway north of the Raritan River runs through heavily populated areas. Between the Raritan River and 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, interspersed with small towns and Jersey Shore beach communities.

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. 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.

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, with some sections having up to 15 lanes, especially near the Driscoll Bridge. The speed limit is usually 65 mph but can be lower in some areas. Commercial trucks over a certain weight are not allowed north of a certain exit. 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, aiming to connect to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. After World War II, traffic on New Jersey’s coast increased, making travel slow and difficult. Construction started in 1947, and the first section opened in 1950, running from Route 27 to Cranford. The parkway was designed to feel natural, with many trees and simple signs. It was extended over the years, but construction slowed due to lack of funds.

1960s

In the 1960s, more sections 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 measures were added, such as banning pedestrians and later motorcycles. New exits and interchanges were built to improve access and reduce congestion.

1970s

The 1970s saw more improvements, including the completion of the Great Egg Harbor Bridge and new exits. Speed limits were adjusted, and safety projects continued. The parkway was planned to connect with other major roads, though some projects were canceled due to environmental concerns.

1980s

In the 1980s, new exits were added, and existing ones were improved. Widening projects helped reduce traffic congestion. Toll plazas were updated, and some sections of the road were restriped to improve traffic flow.

1990s

During the 1990s, more improvements were made to exits and overpasses. New toll systems like E-ZPass were introduced, making toll collection easier. Projects focused on safety and updating the infrastructure to handle increasing traffic.

2000s

The 2000s brought major changes, including the transfer of control of the parkway to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. New exits were built, and existing ones were improved. Toll plazas were converted to one-way plazas to reduce congestion, and major bridge projects were completed.

2010s

In the 2010s, projects focused on modernizing 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 temporary suspension of cash tolls due to the COVID-19 pandemic and new toll gantries. Projects to replace old overpasses and improve road surfaces continued, ensuring the parkway remains 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, since 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 uses a system where 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, ranging from $0.90 to $2.40 for cash and a bit less for E-ZPass users. 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, with some very fast lanes where drivers can zoom through at highway speeds.

Tokens used to be sold for paying tolls, but they are no longer used. On September 27, 2022, a big agreement was made to change the parkway to an all-electronic toll road, meaning there will be no more toll booths, though a completion date has not been set.

Services

All service areas on the Garden State Parkway are located in the center median. In the 1950s, four companies provided gasoline and other car needs. One company even had female employees in uniforms who helped drivers with directions and small services.

In 2021, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority decided to rename the service areas after famous New Jerseyans. 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 relax. These areas had trees for shade, 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 jurisdictions.

Exit list

The Garden State Parkway was the first highway in the United States to use mileage-based exit numbers. In the past, the exit numbers for northbound and southbound roads were not the same. This happened because the New Jersey Highway Authority thought of each direction as a separate road, leading to many exits having different numbers.