New Jersey Turnpike

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HOWARD JOHNSON'S
with comfort and speed along the
NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE

When it officially opened on January 15, 1952, the New Jersey Turnpike was billed as "the world's most modern express highway engineered for utmost comfort and safety." The route to everywhere, "the NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE is the quickest and safest route connecting New York and New England with points South and West."

Having already set itself up as the premier name in roadside food, Howard Johnson's easily seized its position as exclusive food service provider for the Turnpike's travel/service plazas along the new modern super highway.

In all there were 14 Howard Johnson's along the New Jersey Turnpike. The twelve listed below were along the main route of the highway and remained HoJo's until 1973 when the Turnpike authority became excessively greedy awarding contracts to Marriott and Gladieux. Since the locations were Turnpike structures, they were not traditional Howard Johnson's Restaurant buildings, and were often cafeteria style. Additionally Howard Johnson's experimented with Snack Bars and Vending Machine stands at the service plazas.

After Howard Johnson's lost its position along the super highway which once boasted "NO CONGESTION...NO STRAIN," the names of the service plazas were changed, and other changes to the road itself were made. Recently the Turnpike has begun to demolish and rebuild the original service plazas that once offered "The Flavor of America."

OLD:

Southbound:

Secaucus

Woodbridge

Cranbury

Yardville

Haddenfield

Swedesboro

Northbound:

Swedesboro

Hartford

Yardville

Milltown

Woodbridge

Elizabeth

NEW:

Southbound:

A Hamilton 116E/ Lombardi 116

Thomas Edison 92.9

Molly Pitcher 71.7

Richard Stockton 58.7

Walt Whitman 30.2

Clara Barton 5.4

Northbound:

John Fenwick 5.4

James Fenimore Cooper 39.4

Woodrow Wilson 58.7

Joyce Kilmer 78.7

Grover Cleveland 92.8

Vince Lombardi 116

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