What’s Your Exit? The New Jersey Question That Says It All
If you’re from New Jersey, you’ve probably been asked a question that makes absolutely no sense to anyone else:
“What’s your exit?”
And somehow, answering with a number tells another Jersey person exactly where you’re from.
But how did a simple highway exit become such a big part of New Jersey culture?
How Did “What’s Your Exit?” Become a Thing?
New Jersey is connected by two of the country’s most recognizable highways: the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike.
For generations, Jersey residents have used highway exits to describe where they live, where they grew up, and where they spend their summers. Sometimes it’s just easier to give someone an exit number than explain where your town is.
The phrase became nationally famous on February 14, 1981, when New Jersey native Joe Piscopo used “What exit?” in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Deborah Harry.
What began as a joke about New Jersey eventually became something we embraced.
Because if there’s one thing Jersey people love, it’s being proud of where we’re from.
Every Exit Has a Story
Some exits are practically landmarks themselves.
Exit 0 – Cape May
The end of the Parkway and the beginning of beautiful beaches, Victorian charm, and unforgettable Shore vacations.
Exit 4 – Wildwood
Boardwalk rides, the famous tram car, wide sandy beaches, and generations of summer memories.
Exit 63 – Long Beach Island
For LBI regulars, Exit 63 means Route 72, crossing the bridge, and finally arriving at their favorite beach town.
Exit 82 – Seaside Heights
A classic Jersey Shore destination known for its lively boardwalk, amusement rides, pizza, and summer nights.
Exit 98 – Point Pleasant & Belmar
Whether it’s Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, the beaches of Belmar, or a favorite summer hangout, Exit 98 means Shore time for countless Jersey families.
Of course, not every meaningful exit leads to the beach. For many North Jersey residents, their Parkway or Turnpike exit simply means home.
It’s More Than a Number
To someone passing through New Jersey, an exit is just a sign along the highway.
But to us, it can mean so much more.
It’s the town where we grew up. The beach our parents took us to every summer. The neighborhood where we made lifelong friends.
It’s that familiar feeling of getting off the Parkway and knowing you’re almost home.
At Jersey Guy Designs, that’s what inspires our vintage exit sign shirts, hoodies, and hometown collections. We celebrate the places, people, and memories that make the Garden State special.
Because in New Jersey, your exit isn’t just a number. It’s part of your story.
So, What’s Your Exit?
Is it where you grew up, where you live now, or where you spend your summers?
Tell us your exit and what makes it special!
Every town. Every exit. Every Jersey story.
