Garden State Parkway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Garden State Parkway
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Route information
Maintained by New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Length	172.40 mi (277.45 km)
Existed	1944–present
Major junctions
South end	Route 109 in Lower Township
	A.C. Expressway in Egg Harbor Township Route 37 in Toms River Township I-195 in Wall Township Route 18 / Route 36 in Tinton Falls US 9 / Route 440 in Woodbridge I-95 / N.J. Turnpike in Woodbridge Township I-78 in Union/Hillside Township I-280 in East Orange I-80 in Saddle Brook Township Route 17 in Paramus
North end	G.S. Pkwy. Connector to I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway at Ramapo, NY
Highway system
New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate and US ← Route 440 444 Route 445 →

The Garden State Parkway is a very important road in New Jersey. It's often called the Garden State Pkwy for short. This long road stretches all the way from the southern tip of New Jersey, near Cape May, up to the northern part of the state, near Montvale. It's a special type of road called a toll highway. This means drivers need to pay a small fee to use it. The Parkway is about 172.4 miles long. Back in 2008, it was known as the busiest toll highway in the entire United States!

What is the Garden State Parkway?

The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that runs through almost all of New Jersey. It connects many different towns and cities. This makes it super useful for people traveling across the state. It helps connect the beautiful beaches in the south to the busy areas up north.

Length and Location

The Parkway is really long, stretching for about 172.4 miles. It starts way down south in Lower Township, near Cape May. From there, it goes north through many counties. It finally ends near Ramapo, New York, connecting to other major highways.

Why is it a Toll Highway?

A toll highway means you pay money to drive on it. This money helps pay for the road's upkeep. It covers things like repairs, snow removal, and making sure the road stays safe. The Garden State Parkway has several toll plazas where drivers pay a fee.

How Tolls Work

In the past, people often paid tolls with coins or special tokens. Now, many tolls are collected electronically. This means a special device in your car, like an E-ZPass, automatically pays the toll. It makes driving much smoother and faster.

History of the Parkway

The idea for the Garden State Parkway started a long time ago. It was first planned in 1944. The goal was to create a fast and easy way to travel through New Jersey. It also aimed to help people get to the state's popular shore towns.

Building the Road

Building such a long road took many years. Different parts of the Parkway were opened at different times. Over the years, it has been expanded and improved. This helps it handle all the cars that use it every day.

Importance of the Parkway

The Garden State Parkway is very important for New Jersey. It helps people commute to work and visit family. It also brings many tourists to the state's beaches and attractions. This helps the economy of New Jersey.

Connecting Communities

The Parkway links many different communities. It allows people to travel easily between the northern, central, and southern parts of the state. This connection is vital for daily life and business.

Supporting Tourism

New Jersey is famous for its beautiful beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. The Parkway makes it simple for people to drive to these popular vacation spots. It's a key route for summer trips and weekend getaways.

Images for kids

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  Typical entrance sign for the parkway

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

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  Garden State Parkway southbound in Cape May Court House

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in Egg Harbor Township

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in Bass River Township

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  Garden State Parkway southbound at CR 614 in Lacey Township

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in Wall Township

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

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  Garden State Parkway northbound approaching the Driscoll Bridge

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  Garden State Parkway southbound in Union Township

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in East Orange

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in Clifton

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  Garden State Parkway northbound in Paramus

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  Stone overpasses on the Garden State Parkway in Union County

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

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  Garden State Parkway southbound approaching exit 154

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  Garden State Parkway northbound at exit 114

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

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

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

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

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  Southbound approaching exit 30 in Somers Point

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  Southbound at the Great Egg Toll Plaza

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  Toll plaza on the southbound entrance ramp at exit 165

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

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  Historical picture of a Garden State Parkway toll plaza

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  The John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly picnic area

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  Northbound exit for the Forked River Service Area

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  Assurance sign to the Ocean View Service Area

See also

In Spanish: Garden State Parkway para niños