The New Jersey Turnpike is one of the busiest highways in the United States, running about 118 miles from the Delaware Memorial Bridge in the south to the George Washington Bridge area in the north. Remarkably, the original road was built in about two years: construction began in 1950, and the Turnpike opened in stages between November 1951 and January 1952. Known for its “dual-dual” roadway, its rest areas named after famous New Jerseyans, and the joke “What exit?”, it is the spine of travel between New York City, Newark Airport and the rest of the Northeast.

At a glance
Length About 118 miles (mainline)
Built 1950–1951
Opened November 1951 – January 1952
Operator New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Famous for Dual-dual lanes, named service areas, Exit 13A for Newark Airport

Why it was built

After the Second World War, traffic between New York and Philadelphia overwhelmed older roads like Route 1. New Jersey created the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in 1948 to build a toll road financed by bonds, and construction moved at extraordinary speed.

The dual-dual roadway

In its busiest northern section, the Turnpike splits into inner lanes for cars only and outer lanes for cars, trucks and buses — the “dual-dual” design. It lets traffic spread out and keeps many cars away from heavy trucks.

Named service areas

The Turnpike’s rest stops are named after notable New Jerseyans and residents, such as Thomas Edison, Vince Lombardi, Walt Whitman, Clara Barton and Molly Pitcher.

“What exit?”

New Jerseyans famously identify where they live by their Turnpike or Parkway exit — a joke that became part of the state’s identity.

The Turnpike and your airport ride

For travelers, the Turnpike is the main route to Newark Liberty International Airport (Exit 13A) from Manhattan via the Holland or Lincoln tunnels and from much of New Jersey. A chauffeur will choose between the Turnpike and alternatives depending on traffic. Read our Newark Airport guide, tolls explained and the Garden State Parkway history.