What Vehicles Are Allowed On The Garden State Parkway

Topic: IS The Garden State Parkway Really OK For MH's

Posted By: LarryAck on 05/07/10 10:42am We just contacted their office and said there is a weight restriction of 7,500 pounds south of 105. I was always under the impression that it was ok to drive the entire length with a MH.

I realize that everybody does it, but can you get pulled over and ticketed at the whim of some officer based on weight.

2010 Tiffin Phaeton 40 QTH
2009 Jeep Wrangler

Posted By: wny_pat on 05/07/10 10:46am Parkways in NYS also have restrictons. That is why they came out with the passenger plates for pick-ups. If a pick-up has commercial plates and are on a NYS parkway, they can be ticketed. Don't know about motorhomes and NYS parkways.

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 05/07/10 11:00am Trucks are banned north of exit 105. The "truck" ban includes all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 7,000 lbs.

Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate

Posted By: bullydogs1 on 05/07/10 12:03pm Motorhomes (without commercial plates) are permitted the entire length of the GSP...note that dolly towing is not allowed on the Garden State Parkway...only 4 down towing...remember that between exits 131 to 138 there are some arched overpasses so you want to be in the second from the right lane (not extreme right) and you will be just fine.....any other info you need about the parkway, just PM me.

Stuart and Stella Denning
2016 Entegra Aspire 42RBQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Daisy, Sylvie and Stashie)
2018 Equinox Diesel (TOAD)

Posted By: Rich D. on 05/07/10 12:12pm

bullydogs1 wrote:

Motorhomes (without commercial plates) are permitted the entire length of the GSP...note that dolly towing is not allowed on the Garden State Parkway...only 4 down towing...remember that between exits 131 to 138 there are some arched overpasses so you want to be in the second from the right lane (not extreme right) and you will be just fine.....any other info you need about the parkway, just PM me.

bullydogs info is just what I observed last trip on the GSP. I also recall a couple of tolls that were expanded to the right to include more lanes. These are tight and require turning back to the left in order to exit the tollbooth. I made it with a 43' and toad but it was really tight. Bullydog may be able to help on which one(s).

Rich D. Wanderlodge M450 LXi

Posted By: caymann on 05/07/10 01:11pm Busses run GSPKY all the time

I have ran GSPKY many many times w/toad
Never had a problem in length, width, height or weight

Posted By: nancyinj on 05/07/10 02:01pm We have driven the GSP both ways from top to bottom in our MH towing four down with no problems. The restrictions are for commericial vehicles, ie: big trucks. If they didn't let the buses run to Atlantic City a lot of people would lose money, bus companies and casinos. Just try not to do it on a Friday night or Sunday from mid-day during rush hour and on summer weekends. Those "summer people" really crowd up the roads!

Posted By: jerseyjim on 05/07/10 02:10pm I've driven the length of the Garden State Pkway...from Cape May to the NY Thruway (to the Tappannzee Bridge) more than once....my motorhome alone, my motorhome pulling our toad and my motorhome pulling a trailer with 2 motorcycles on it. No problems at all.
My motorhome is a gasser...Ford Chassis rated at 20,500 pounds. It requires 11'6" clearance (I always check for 12'). Never a problem there, either.
Lots of tolls tho....I think every County has one and they are a PITA. But with EZPass, they're tolerable.

Posted By: spadoctor on 05/07/10 02:30pm No motorhomes...commercial vehicles...campers....or any vehicle with signage Except taxis on NYS Parkways. If you are going south of NJ..from New City I would take 287 to the Turnpike...a few extra miles but faster and no tolls till the turnpike.

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 05/07/10 02:49pm The fact that the NJ State Police have chosen to ignore the 7,000 lb rule north of exit 105 in relation to non-commercial passenger vehicles does not repeal the rule. They could change their position on that at any time.

Dutch

Posted By: phnguyk on 05/07/10 06:36pm

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Trucks are banned north of exit 105. The "truck" ban includes all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 7,000 lbs.

No, "truck" stands for commercial. Troopers are not "ignoring" the rule. Just like expressway, "cars only, no trucks" again refering to commercial large trucks. Live here, breathe here, fortunate to have an anal long time NJ trooper as an in-law.

Posted By: buta4 on 05/07/10 07:00pm If you get on the GSP after the Tappen Zee bridge approach, stay in the middle lane until you've passed under the older arched overpasses. After that section. you're home free.

Ray

Posted By: Scotchman on 05/08/10 10:30am Bulldog 1, might I suggest you recheck the regulations. AAA gave us a triptik through GSP from Tappanzee to the NJT, class C, towing our convertible on a TOW Dolly. I double checked with the GSP before leaving last fall for Florida and received an email stating that I could use the GSP with tow dolly etc.

It might have been the law several years ago, but things have changed.

Posted By: Jim Norman on 05/08/10 11:20am Specifically the GSP (Garden State Parkway) allows motor homes with tows the full length. The no trucks rule is as stated eleswhere for Commercial Vehicles only and does not include Buses, Motorhomes, RVs etc. Do be careful inthe section between Exits 120 and up around 141 or so as there are a few low bridges if you are in the outer lanes. These date back to before the whole road was the parkway and also before some more recent widening projects.

Jim

2016 Tiffin Allegro Red 38QBA
2008 Jeep Liberty (aka FireToad)

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 06/08/10 07:44am

jerseyjim wrote:

DUTCH 12078; "motor driven cycles"....you mean motor driven BICYLES? Surely not MOTORcycles...

I haven't found a good definition for what NYS considers "motor driven cycles" to include. I have seen many motorcycles on the various NYS parkways though, so either they're allowed, or like the 7,000 lb rule on the GSP, it's ignored by the police.

Dutch

Posted By: jerseyjim on 06/08/10 04:36am DUTCH 12078; "motor driven cycles"....you mean motor driven BICYLES? Surely not MOTORcycles...

CODFISH: That's exactly where GOOD SAM routed me once....lucky for me, I knew the parkway...and ignored their routing. I e-mailed them, and got a response that they're "looking into the problem". Hope they have....

Posted By: Codfish on 06/07/10 07:19am Don't go on the Saw Mill Pkwy in NY state. It is for cars only .I was directed there by my GPS and almost got into serious trouble with low bridges.

Posted By: jerseyjim on 06/07/10 02:06am Confusion: the "parkways" in and around NYC do not permit commercial trucks or motorhomes (due to overpass height). The Long Island Expressway takes anything.

The Garden State Parkway accepts motorhomes the entire length. Overpasses are just fine. (At least for my 11'6" unit)

Hope that helps a bit.

Posted By: fourmat on 06/07/10 05:19am

100% correct the 7,000 lb rule is commercial plates only Yes and be carefull of those bridges extreme L and R lanes are low

2009 Challenger

Posted By: Rick Jay on 06/07/10 06:03am

jerseyjim wrote:

The Garden State Parkway accepts motorhomes the entire length. Overpasses are just fine. (At least for my 11'6" unit)

I know there is at least one overpass on the northern stretch that will turn your motorhome into a convertible if you're in an outside lane. [emoticon]

buta4 wrote:

If you get on the GSP after the Tappen Zee bridge approach, stay in the middle lane until you've passed under the older arched overpasses. After that section. you're home free.

Agreed.

~Rick

2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (24-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (20), 2 boys (21 & 18).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 06/07/10 06:56am

norm2 wrote:

"the parkways are restricted to passenger car use."

just the paying parkways then? The freeways are o.k.? I have been on NY Thruway numerous times with my 44' long motorhome and have seen others too.

The NYS Thruway is part of the Interstate Highway system, and is fully accessible to commercial and passenger traffic. The Thruway is not a "parkway". NYS roads such as the Taconic State Parkway and the others with "Parkway" designations were designed as "scenic bypasses" originally. Most, if not all, of the NYS Parkway System is toll free.

The following vehicle types are not permitted on the Parkways within the NYS Parkway System, except under an agreement with the New York State DOT:

1- bicycles

2- buses

3- golf carts

4- hearses (some exceptions)

5- house coaches <---------------- (The NYS term for "motorhomes")

6- motor-driven cycles

7- school buses (some exceptions)

8- semitrailers

9- snowmobiles

10-tractors

11-trailers

12-trucks

Dutch

Posted By: norm2 on 06/06/10 01:45pm Hi,
Are there any restrictions for motorhomes on any freeway or parkway in the NY or NJ states?

norm2

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 06/06/10 02:22pm

norm2 wrote:

Hi,
Are there any restrictions for motorhomes on any freeway or parkway in the NY or NJ states?

In NY at least, with limited exceptions, the parkways are restricted to passenger car use. Pickup trucks with non-commercial plates are also permitted.

Posted By: norm2 on 06/06/10 02:33pm Thank you Dutch,

So, from what I read above, motorhomes are among passenger cars (if that makes any sense)according to their law?

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 06/06/10 02:39pm

norm2 wrote:

Thank you Dutch,

So, from what I read above, motorhomes are among passenger cars (if that makes any sense)according to their law?

No, motorhomes are NOT considered passenger cars for this purpose in NY. The first 7'2" clearance overpass you come to will make that very clear! [emoticon]

Dutch

Posted By: norm2 on 06/06/10 02:51pm "the parkways are restricted to passenger car use."

just the paying parkways then? The freeways are o.k.? I have been on NY Thruway numerous times with my 44' long motorhome and have seen others too.

* This post was edited 06/06/10 03:03pm by norm2 *

Posted By: Smitty814 on 05/10/10 10:46pm We drive the parkway from Rt. 287 (mile 125 or so) down to exit 82 every other weekend. There are no restrictions effecting motorhomes. We have a Sightseer 35' class A. Some of the exit toll booths are tight but you get used to it. Feels like only about 8 inches on each side of the rig.

Kevin

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 05/08/10 11:48am

phnguyk wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Trucks are banned north of exit 105. The "truck" ban includes all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 7,000 lbs.

Tell that to the NY Times:

Quote:

In New Jersey, the Garden State Parkway has different rules depending on where you are. There are no truck restrictions south of Exit 105 because trucks need to use the parkway to service the commercial needs of the area. North of the exit, vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings (including passengers and cargo) more than 7,000 pounds are banned. But state troopers are unlikely to ticket a family Suburban, which can weigh about 8,500 pounds fully loaded, ''with soccer balls hanging in the rear,'' said Capt. Kevin Burke of the New Jersey State Police.

He said officers who patrolled the area had presented to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a list of 70 passenger vehicles that exceed the weight limit, hoping the agency would update the rules. He said most troopers applied the rules mainly to commercial vehicles.

MOTORING; Behind the Beauty of the Parkways Is a Maze of Rules

Dutch

Posted By: markz73 on 05/09/10 06:55am It is fine. I have traveled it many times. The weight restrictions apply to commercial vehicles only. I've lived my entire life in NJ and even called the parkway when I purchased my first class A. They are permitted, unless they have commercial plates.

Bullydogs is correct about staying toward the middle between 131 and 138 as there are some stone arched overpasses with lower clearance on the sides.

Posted By: PaceArow on 05/10/10 08:04pm You can travel the whole route... The better question is why would you?

Dan
North Jersey
05 Pace Arrow 37C (WorkHorse W24)

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