Rest stops along the Garden State Parkway provide food, fuel, clean restrooms, and an education for famous New Jerseyians. Out-of-state visitors and local travelers can take a break from their vehicles to enjoy exhibits with artifacts, interactive video monitors, and memorabilia, as well as a plethora of fast food eateries, coffee shops, and convenience stores. In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy celebrated National New Jersey Day by announcing that the state’s turnpike authority would rename the service areas along the Garden State Parkway after nine members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Local icons who received the high honor of a dedicated rest stop include Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Judy Blume, Jon Bon Jovi, Connie Chung, James Gandolfini, Larry Doby, Celia Cruz, and Toni Morrison. Read on to learn more about the service areas and rest stops on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway.
Photo Credit: Famartin, Creative Commons
James Gandolfini Service Area — Montvale
172 Garden State Parkway, Montvale, NJ 07645
Milepost: 171, Center median between exits 171 and 172, north and southbound
James Gandolfini — best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO television series The Sopranos — grew up in Park Ridge and graduated from Rutgers University. As of August 2024, the James Gandolfini Service Area is closed for renovations. No food, fuel, or restrooms will be available at this rest stop until it reopens.
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Larry Doby Service Area — Brookdale North
Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Milepost: 153, between exits 151 and 153A, northbound
Larry Doby has a rest stop in Bloomfield named after him. The late baseball star who grew up in Paterson and later became the first Black player in the American League following Jackie Robinson. Services at the Larry Doby Service Area include an APlus Convenience Store, a Sunoco service station, electric vehicle charging stations (EVgo), and restrooms.
Connie Chung Service Area — Brookdale South
Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Milepost: 153
Even though television journalist Connie Chung was born in Washington D.C., her award-winning contributions to journalism and long-term residence in the state got her a dedicated rest stop on the parkway. The Connie Chung Service area has a Burger King, Applegreen, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and restrooms.
Whitney Houston Service Area — Vauxhall
1 Vauxhall Road, Union, NJ 07083
Milepost: 142.3
Singer, actress, and film producer Whitney Houston grew up in East Orange and got her start singing in a Newark church. The Whitney Houston rest stop, located in Union, New Jersey, has a Shake Shack, Popeyes, Sunoco, Applegreen, and restrooms. The commuter lot at the Whitney Houston Service Area is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days.
Jon Bon Jovi Service Area — Cheesequake
124 Garden State Parkway, South Amboy, NJ 08879
Milepost: 124, Center median between exits 124 and 124, just south of the Driscoll Bridge, north and southbound
Jon Bon Jovi, the lead singer of the rock band Bon Jovi, grew up in Sayreville. The rest stop formerly known as Cheesequake has a Starbucks, Burger King, Auntie Anne’s, Popeyes, Z Market, and restrooms. As of August 2024, there are no fuel services available at this location until further notice. There are two commuter lots in the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area. The carpool lot at the south end is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Bus service is provided by Academy from the lot at the north end of the service area.
Judy Blume Service Area — Monmouth
100 Garden State Parkway, Wall Township, NJ 07719
Milepost: 100, Located between Interchanges 98 and 100 north and southbound
Judy Blume, the celebrated children’s author who grew up in Elizabeth, has a service area named for her on the Garden State Parkway right at the Jersey Shore. The Judy Blume Service Area has a Starbucks, Shake Shack, Auntie Anne’s, Z Market, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. This service area has three commuter lots. The lot known as “Belmar South” is used primarily by carpoolers and can be accessed through backroads in Wall, New Jersey. The commuter lots are open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Bus Service from the Judy Blume Service Area is provided by the Academy at the Belmar North and LukOil Commuter Lots.
Celia Cruz Service Area — Forked River
76 Garden State Parkway, Forked River, NJ 08731
Milepost: 76, Center median between exits 74 and 80 north and southbound
Celia Cruz, most known as the “Queen of Salsa,” is one of the most influential and iconic figures in Latin music. Cruz lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and her dedicated service area is located in Forked River. Services at the Celia Cruz rest stop include Burger King, Z Market, Dunkin’, Nathan’s, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. The commuter lot at the Celia Cruz Service Area is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Academy provides bus service to New York City from this location.
Frank Sinatra Service Area — Atlantic
41.4 Garden State Parkway, Galloway, NJ 08205
Milepost: 41.4, Center median between exits 40 and 44 north and southbound
It’s no surprise that the Atlantic City rest area is dedicated to Frank Sinatra, the late singer, and actor who grew up in Hoboken and often performed in A.C. throughout the 1940s into the 1960s. The Frank Sinatra Service Area has Dunkin’, Burger King, Auntie Anne’s, Z Market, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. The commuter lot is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days.
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Toni Morrison Service Area — Ocean View
18 Garden State Parkway, Ocean View, NJ 08230
Milepost: 18.3, Center median between exits 17 and 20, north and southbound
The Toni Morrison Service Area is named after the late Nobel Prize-winning novelist who lived in Princeton and taught at Princeton University. Services at this rest area include an APlus Convenience Store, Sunoco service station, restrooms, and the New Jersey Tourism Information Center. The Toni Morrison Service area operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For the rest of the year, the hours of operation are 6AM to 10PM daily. The tourism info center is open all year from 8:30AM to 4:30PM seven days a week. The commuter lot is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days.
