Hi: We'll be traveling south later this week and will probably be stopping part way in the vicinity of Garden State Parkway between Staten Island and Phillie. We prefer something affordable/clean and relatively close to the highway so we can hop back on it in the morning. Suggestions? Don't need any nice amenities such as a pool. (My apologies...I'm not quite sure when the Parkway becomes the Jersey Turnpike so if my heading is wrong, I apologize).

GS Parkway and NJ Turnpike are 2 different roads.

The parkway heads to the shore, and the Turnpike goes to Delaware, in the vicinity of Phila.

The Woodbridge NJ area has a bunch of hotels not too far from the highway. I used Priceline last year and got a v. good rate on the Woodbridge Sheraton. OK 3* hotel for one night. There are better hotels in the area (see reviews on biddingfortravel.com) but the Sheraton was fine.

The GSP and NJ Turnpike cross in the Woodbridge area.

You'll have a wide choice of chain motels at exit 7 (Bordentown) and at exit 4 (Mount Laurel). Probably the ones further north (exit 7) are more affordable than the ones closer to Philly. If you will be going a distance on 95, I would recommend a book "Drive I-95" by Stan Posner. It lists what is at every exit along 95 and has become our bible for the frequent trips we make up the east coast.

If you go o freetrip.com you can check off hotels in your price range and they will be listed through your entire trip.

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I have also found the ones closer to major cities (like PHL) more expensive. Have often found good prices around the southernmost exit (Pennsville/Carney Point). Also often find good rates off I-95 between Delaware Memorial Bridge and Aberdeen MD.