Jessica Norton Rest stops along the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey provide travelers with convenient places to stop for gas, food, coffee, and clean restrooms while driving between North Jersey, the Jersey Shore, and Cape May. These Garden State Parkway service areas feature popular fast food restaurants, convenience stores, fuel stations, and seating areas where drivers can stretch their legs during long road trips. Many stops also highlight New Jersey history through exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays honoring famous residents. In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority would rename the Parkway’s service areas after nine New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees, including Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Judy Blume, Jon Bon Jovi, Connie Chung, James Gandolfini, Larry Doby, Celia Cruz, and Bruce Willis. Read on for a guide to every Garden State Parkway rest stop, including mile markers, locations, and amenities along the route.
Bruce Willis Service Area — Cape May
18 Garden State Parkway MP 18, Ocean View, NJ 08230
Milepost: 18.3, Center median between exits 17 and 20
Actor Bruce Willis, best known for his roles in the Die Hard franchise and the 1980s show Moonlighting, is not a New Jersey native, but while growing up, his family moved to Carneys Point, where he attended Penns Grove High School. Services at the Bruce Willis Service Area include APlus Convenience Store, Sunoco Service Station, restrooms, and the New Jersey Tourism Information Center, which is open all year, 7 days a week, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this service area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is open from 6 AM to 10 PM for the rest of the year.
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. Services at the James Gandolfini Service Area include Dunkin’, Auntie Anne’s, Nathan’s, Burger King, Applegreen Convenience Store, Sunoco Service Station, and restrooms.
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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 in Union, New Jersey, features Shake Shack, Popeyes, Sunoco, Applegreen, and restrooms. The commuter lot at the Whitney Houston Service Area is open from 4 AM to 2 AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. On all other days, there is a two-hour limit.
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. There are two commuter lots in the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area. The carpool lot at the south end is open from 4 AM to 2 AM 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 4 AM to 2 AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. The Academy provides bus service to New York City from this location.
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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 4 AM to 2 AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days.
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