Quick Summary:
- Many New Jersey left turns use a right-side slip road first.
- Move into the signed jughandle lane early, then follow the loop.
- Expect No Left Turn signs near interchanges on busy multi-lane highways.
- Use sat-nav lane guidance and avoid late multi-lane dives when possible.
If you are picking up car hire in New York and driving into New Jersey, the first surprise is often the left turn. On many major roads you cannot simply wait in the middle and turn across traffic. Instead, New Jersey uses jughandle turns, right-side slip roads that send you around to complete a left turn, a U-turn, or a crossing movement at the next signal. The design keeps fast traffic flowing and reduces conflicts in the centre of the road, but it can feel counter-intuitive if you learned to drive elsewhere.
This guide explains what a jughandle is, where you will meet them on routes out of New York, and exactly how to use them without last-second lane changes. It also covers close cousins, like U-turn loops and “no left turn” junctions, plus sat-nav settings that help you see the manoeuvre coming.
What is a New Jersey jughandle turn?
A jughandle is a ramp that leaves the main road to the right, then curves around so you can make what is effectively a left turn at a set of traffic lights or a stop-controlled junction. Picture a handle on a jug, sticking out to the right before curving back. That is the idea.
You will typically see a white sign with a black curved arrow or wording such as “Left Turn and U Turn” pointing to a right-side exit. Some jughandles are tight loops, others are longer ramps that lead to a signalised intersection where you wait and then proceed left when you get the green.
Jughandles appear on busy state highways and arterial roads, common once you cross the Hudson from New York into New Jersey and head towards Newark, the Meadowlands, and the shore routes. If you are collecting a vehicle around Newark Airport, the car hire at New Jersey EWR Airport area has several multi-lane roads where jughandles are normal.
Why New Jersey uses jughandles
They exist for a few practical reasons. First, they remove left-turning vehicles from the fast lanes, which reduces rear-end shunts caused by sudden braking. Second, they reduce the number of conflict points in the centre of the junction, which can improve throughput. Third, they allow more predictable signal timing, because turning traffic is separated from through traffic earlier.
For someone in a hire car, the key takeaway is simple: in New Jersey, you often prepare for a left turn by moving right, not left. That is the habit to build before you hit a busy corridor.
Step-by-step: how to make a left turn using a jughandle
Use these steps the first few times, then it becomes second nature.
1) Look for the early signage
On many roads, the first sign appears well before the junction, sometimes before the previous set of lights. If you wait until you are alongside the junction, you may already have passed the jughandle entrance.
2) Check mirrors, signal, and move into the jughandle lane early
The jughandle entrance is usually a dedicated right-hand lane or slip road. Do not cut across at the last second. If you are in the middle lane, aim to move right as soon as you confirm the sign. In heavier traffic, it is better to miss the turn and re-route than to force a lane change.
3) Follow the ramp, not your instinct
Once you leave the main road, you will curve around. You may meet a stop sign or a set of traffic lights. Sometimes you merge into a short two-way road feeding the junction. Reduce speed, keep a safe distance, and watch for pedestrians at crossings near the signal.
4) Stop at the line and wait for the correct signal
At the end of the jughandle you will usually face a normal signal head. When you get the green, you may either turn left onto the cross street or cross straight over the main road, depending on what movement the jughandle serves.
5) Complete the turn and get into the correct lane afterwards
After the junction, you may need to move to a different lane for your next manoeuvre. Do it calmly after you are clear of the intersection, using mirror checks and signals, rather than drifting across immediately.
If you are unfamiliar with the area and want a calmer start, collecting near Newark can help you practise this system right away. Hola Car Rentals has dedicated information for car hire in Newark EWR, which is a common gateway when leaving New York for New Jersey by road.
Common jughandle layouts you will encounter
Jughandles are not all identical. Knowing the main variations helps you anticipate what happens next.
Forward jughandle (most common)
You exit right before the intersection and loop to meet the cross street at the lights. This is the classic layout and the one most visitors notice.
Reverse jughandle
Less common, you pass the intersection first, then exit right and loop back to meet the cross street. Sat-nav lane guidance matters here, because you might think you have missed the junction when you have not.
Jughandle for U-turns
Some ramps are signed for “U Turn” so you can reverse direction safely. This is especially useful when you are on a divided highway with a median barrier.
Jughandle to go straight across
In certain places, the jughandle is used not only for left turns but also for crossing the main road to continue straight on the far side. Watch the painted arrows and the sign at the ramp entrance.
U-turn loops and “no left turn” junctions: what to do
When you see a “No Left Turn” sign, assume there is an alternate route built into the road design. The solution is usually one of these:
Option A: Jughandle ramp marked “Left Turn”
You exit right, queue, then turn left at the signal. Treat it as described above.
Option B: U-turn loop then right turn
Sometimes the left turn is achieved by making a U-turn at a signed loop, then making a right turn at the next junction. This can feel like extra distance, but it is normal in New Jersey and often faster than waiting for an unprotected left across multiple lanes.
Option C: Signalised median U-turn (where permitted)
On some multi-lane roads you may see a dedicated U-turn pocket at a signal, with overhead arrows. Follow the lane markings exactly. If the sign restricts U-turns, do not attempt one.
Option D: Next intersection re-route
In dense areas, the safest approach is sometimes to continue straight and use the next legal turn sequence. With modern navigation, you can do this without stress.
Sat-nav tips for jughandles, without sudden lane changes
The biggest hazard for visitors is not the jughandle itself, it is the late move across lanes when the instruction arrives. Use these tactics to keep your driving smooth.
Use a navigation view that shows lane guidance
Choose a map view that provides lane arrows and early prompts. If your system offers “detailed voice guidance”, enable it, because the instruction often sounds like “turn right then turn left”, which is exactly what you want.
Listen for the clue words
If the sat-nav says “keep right to turn left” or gives a right turn very near a left-turn destination, that is usually a jughandle. When you hear it, begin scanning for the signed slip road immediately.
Increase following distance in the right lanes
Right-hand jughandle lanes often slow quickly as drivers queue. Leave extra room so you can brake gently and avoid being surprised by a stationary line.
Avoid “last exit” panic at complex interchanges
Around Newark and the Turnpike approaches, roads can braid together. If you miss the jughandle entrance, continue straight and let the sat-nav re-route. A missed ramp costs minutes, a risky swerve can cost much more.
Know your first 10 minutes before you set off
Before leaving your pick-up point, zoom in and identify the first two major manoeuvres. This is especially useful if you are starting near airport roads. If you are travelling with more luggage or a group, you might compare options such as van rental at Newark EWR so you can load up calmly and spend less time juggling bags at the kerb.
Lane positioning and safety in a hire car
Driving out of New York into New Jersey can involve fast multi-lane roads. Combine that with unfamiliar junction design and it is easy to feel rushed. A few habits help.
Stay out of the far left lane unless you need it
Because left turns may require a right-side exit, sitting in the far left lane can force multiple lane changes at the worst time. Use a middle lane where possible and move right early when you see the jughandle signs.
Expect short merge areas
Some ramps feed into short acceleration lanes or tight corners. Keep your speed controlled and check blind spots carefully, especially if the vehicle is larger than what you drive at home.
Watch for local turning patterns
Local drivers may brake earlier than you expect when approaching a jughandle entrance. Anticipate this and avoid tailgating.
Do not confuse “jughandle lane” with “right-turn only”
In many places the right lane serves both normal right turns and the jughandle. Read the overhead signs and the painted arrows on the road surface. If the arrow shows a right curve then a left, you are in the correct place for the jughandle movement.
Routes you might take from New York into New Jersey
Many visitors leave New York via the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge. From there, you may quickly be on roads where jughandles and “no left turn” restrictions are common. If your plan includes picking up near the airports, the surroundings of JFK are very different to Newark. Hola Car Rentals has a separate guide to car rental at New York JFK, which can help you compare starting points if your itinerary spans both states.
If you do collect in New Jersey, you may also notice brand-specific pick-up areas and signage. For example, you might see references to Dollar car rental in New Jersey EWR in the rental facility listings. That does not change the road rules, but it can help you orient yourself when planning the first junctions out of the airport complex.
How to recognise a jughandle before it is too late
Use a quick checklist as you drive.
Signage on the right shoulder mentions left turns or U-turns
This is the most obvious clue, especially if the sign includes a curved arrow looping right.
A dedicated right lane appears unusually early
If a right lane splits off well before a major junction, it may be a jughandle. Normal right turns usually peel off closer to the intersection.
The sat-nav instructs “turn right” for a left-turn destination
Trust it, but confirm with signs. If the signage contradicts the sat-nav, follow posted signs and let the route recalculate.
You see a queue on a right-side ramp near a busy junction
That queue may be left-turning traffic waiting at the signal.
FAQ
What exactly is a jughandle turn in New Jersey?
A jughandle is a right-side ramp used to complete a left turn, a U-turn, or a crossing movement at the next signal, common on busy multi-lane roads.
Do I always have to use a jughandle to turn left in New Jersey?
No, but on many major roads left turns are restricted with “No Left Turn” signs. Where left turns are allowed, you may still see protected left-turn arrows at signals.
What if I miss the jughandle entrance?
Continue straight and let your sat-nav re-route. It is normal to take the next legal loop or U-turn option, and it is safer than cutting across lanes.
Is a jughandle the same as a roundabout?
No. A jughandle is a slip road and loop used to manage turning movements at a junction, whereas a roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic circulates around a central island.
Any advice for first-time visitors driving from New York into New Jersey?
Plan the first two manoeuvres before you set off, keep a middle lane until you see signage, and move right early for left turns to avoid stressful late lane changes.
